It was hard... My life was hard. I was always on the run. I hated my family; they hated me. They said I was a freak of nature. I remember being called that so many times... It was a nightmare. I've been on the run for a good 5 years of my life. I'm 16 years old. I've lived in forests, caves, mountains, and valleys. I've stolen food and I'm not proud of it. I try maintaining a job for over a month, but I can never stay in one place that long. Sometimes I make money, and buy my essentials. I've never missed my family once, and I'm content with my life. I'm very good at sleuthing; years of practice have made me an expert. My life was running. I was a stowaway, a thief, and someone who hid most of the time. This was my life, and it was about to change. Drastically.
"Sylvia! Sylvia, you come here this instant! You think you can just run away like that?! I was worried sick!"
"Sure you were, Mom."
"Don't be sarcastic with me! You know what, I do so much crap for you and you don't even appreciate it! I HATE you, you freak of nature!"
"... Sylvia. SYLVIA!" Someone yells in my ear, breaking me out of the memory of my last conversation with my mother.
"What?! Why did you have to yell?" I turn around and see James, another clerk staring at me, exasperated. I look around the store where I work. No one was here, so I didn't understand what the problem was.
"We have to check all the receipts and then count the money and then work on tomorrow's inventory! I can't have you dozing off now!" James tells me. It was my fifth day here as a clerk at Jean's Warehouse. It's located in Pennsylvania, USA and it's a complete clothing store. I was hiding out at a nearby forest; acres and acres of green trees and moss and brush. I look at James, sadly, knowing that I won't be able to stay long. Soon they're going to find out that I stole a bus ticket and hopped on the bus to the closest area.
"Sorry, James," I say tiredly.
He looks at me sympathetically. "It's okay. Just keep working, okay?"
"Yeah sure, I'll do inventory." He nods at me. I usually do inventory because I have a really good memory and I can remember where everything goes. I work mechanically, sorting through everything and placing the clothes on the shelves. I think about my mother's last words to me: "You're a freak of nature!" I don't feel pain anymore, it's been so long since then. At first the pain was unbearable, but I'm immune now. Now I just feel a boiling hatred. Although, I don't understand why I think of that day. Sure, it was the day where everything began, but that was it. I sigh and put the memory out of my mind. I put the clothes away and go to James. I look at the clock and see that it's 6:45. My time to go.
I head to checkout, when James appears behind me and says, "Sylvia, nice job sorting, as usual." I glance at him and bob my head once. He stares back.
"What?" I didn't like his stare.
"You never smile, you don't talk about yourself, and you don't talk, period. Why?" He looks exasperated again.
"It's nothing." I walk out, and head down a side road that no one used. I think back to the last time I smiled. I haven't smiled since I was on the run. My only priority was keeping myself alive. Collecting food, making a living. I look towards the tall oaks that slowly grew taller as I grew closer. I walk into their mysterious shadows and head to the 23rd tree back. I climb the tree to the canopy. I could see everyone and everything from up here.
"Thank god those damn birds didn't come and take my stuff." I say to myself. I have food, water, two shirts, one pair of jeans, a rope, and a sleeping bag (which a kind lady unknowingly gave me) and knives that circle around my pile so no birds come near. I also put bug spray on twice a day. After tucking myself in, I tie the rope around my waist and legs, so I don't fall. I slowly close my eyes, drifting in and out of consciousness.
