Hatta Almawt

Alex

Drew's screams kept me up all night.

Ella's sobs kept me up all night.

My tears kept me up all night.

There are so many components that come together to make the most horrible life ever. I would say someone has it worse but is that all that true?

I feel bad for so many people, Ella, Ethan, Drew, Nita. Myself. So many people I shouldn't feel bad for! I don't know of any other way of life but I know, somewhere out there, a boy or girl is laughing and having the best time ever. I don't want to say I wish we could switch places, but, I do. I wish I could by a true happy. Except I don't think anyone would be willing to trade with me.

I hate my life.

Is this even considered life?
.....
Craig unlocks our cells for an hour each week. Exact. If we aren't in our cells in an hour, we get punished.

Drew , Ella and I were going to go out and look for escape routs but I doubt Drew can move.

I walk down the hallway listening to the soft padding of my bare feet on the smooth cement and the drone of voices outside. Who wants to stay inside when they could go outside on an acre of land shared by 20 thirteen year olds and a monster (Craig)?

I turn a corner into Drew's cell. Two people are already there. A brunet boy with chocolate eyes that are big and innocent, Ethan, and a flaxen haired girl who's puppy dog eyes are lighter blue than the sky, Ella.

They are nealing over Drew who's body is covered is cuts barley scabbed over and bruises a deep purplish-blue the size of a silver dollar. He has a gash in his shoulder, still bleeding, that could swallow a nickel whole.

"Hey Alex!" His voice strained and raspy.

"Hey Drew! You okay?" I feel tears forcing their way into my eyes. No. I told my self I wouldn't cry! I can't cry!

"Ehh." He responds with a little laugh that ends in a grimace of pain. Why so much pain?

"Better or worse than last year?" A voice as smooth as honey asks behind me. I turn around. Nita! Her black hair, dark brown eyes and chocolate skin glowing with a kind heart and smile that lights up a room the second she walks in. She is also my best friend.

"It's acually the same." Replies Drew. "Although I wish I didn't have a gaping whole in my shoulder." He smiles, a crack in his lip splitting.

Ethan stands up and looks at me. A sad and longing look in his eyes.

Drew must see it too because he says, "you two go on. I have other friends you know!"

"Thanks!" Ethan smiles walked to me and takes ny hand, leading me to his cell. He wraps his arms around my back as I wrap my arms around his neck. He leans his head forward gently pressing his lips on mine, kissing me. I kiss him back. I feel a hand creep up my back and tangle itself in my long, curley red hair. With his other hand he pushed on the small of my back. Pressing me into him. He takes his lips off mine and I open my eyes. I stare into his warm, inviting brown eyes as he states into my green eyes. We press our foreheads together. I'm the tallest girl but I'm still two inches shorter than him.

"I love you." He says.

"I love you." I respond.
Then he kisses me again and I loose all thought.
.....
The 10 minute warning bell rings, startling me and Ethan apart.

"You'd better go." He says sadly.

"Ya." I kiss him one more time and scurry out of the room. I say 'bye' as I pass Drews cell and hug Nita as I walk past hers. Ella hugs me and as she does lips a paper into the back pocket of my old ripped up jeans. As I step into my cell I pull the paper out and read it.

'3 weeks. We go, me, you, Drew, Ethan, Nita. Craig's going down.'
I smile. That's my girl!