Stitching Hearts

Chapter 1

10 years Later.

Destiny

My alarm clock woke me. I didn't want to get up out of bed. I just wanted to lay there. Forcing myself up, I walked across my room over to my desk so I could shut off my alarm. Looking at my calender I was reminded that it was October 1st. I hated Halloween. Not because of it being scary. Honestly, I really used to enjoy Halloween. Since I am older though, I have enjoyed it less because of the way people treat me. I was born disfigured. One of my eyes was always swollen, and my teeth weren't straight. The best way to describe myself is that I look like that hunchback character from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I am ten years old with no friends. Not even my own brother wants to hang around me. He won't look at me, or even talk to me. I don't know why he hates me. Maybe it is because of my face.

The bathroom was empty. I go inside and lock the door. In the mirror the ugly figure stared back at me. Quickly, I undress and get into the shower. The water is cold from where my dad and brother already took a shower. I don't stay in long. Once I am dried off and dressed, I begin to brush my hair.

"Destiny, breakfast is ready!" Dad calls from downstairs.

"Okay! Be down in a minute!" I brush my teeth the best I could from them being messed up, and then rush downstairs for breakfast.

Dad already had a plate made with eggs, bacon, sausage, and pancakes on it. He had even made everything to look like a smiley face on my plate. I smile at the thought that he tried to make the start of my day good. My dad is a police officer. So he's not home a lot of times. He has enough time to make sure we are up and off to the bus stop, but after that he is gone for most of the day. My brother is 17, so after school we are home alone with a spare key to get us in. I begin to eat my breakfast, and help clean everything up. Simon starts to head for the door.

"Simon, wait for your sister." Dad tells him.

"It's not like we ride the same bus. She is in elementary, I'm a senior in high school." He told him.

"Destiny, go ahead and go. I can clean this up." He kissed my cheek. "Have a good day, sweetie. Simon, have a good day, and don't leave without her."

I grab my bag and slide my feet into my shoes that I keep tied at all times. Then follow Simon out the door who is walking a lot faster than I can keep up.

"Simon, can you slow down a little?" He ignores me and even starts to walk faster. Our house is at the end of the street. The bus stops at the top of the street. Simon is already there, and about to board his bus before I even reach the bus stop. His bus speeds up, and I am left alone again. I don't have to wait long though before my bus shows up. I get on and take the front seat like I always do. Every time I ride the bus, I sit alone, and stare out the window the whole way there.

Once at school, I get off the bus first and quickly get to my classroom. I try to avoid as many people as I can on my way there. All the people that try to talk to me only makes fun of me, so I try to avoid people. There is one person at whole who seems to like me. She likes everyone, actually. Her name is Mrs. Hope. Hope is actually her first name. She doesn't like to go by her last name because she is going through a divorce. I heard other teachers talking about it with her before, about how she is in an abusive relationship and finally was able to file for a divorce.

When I reached the classroom Mrs. Hope was already there writing on the white board about today's first lesson. I took my seat and got everything ready for class. There was no other students in the class yet. When Mrs. Hope found out that I would get to class early and wait for her to arrive to open the door, she started getting to the classroom early to let me in. I haven't told her anything about being bullied at school, but I think she already knows.