Rotten Lemons

1: Then - Sierra

I woke up to the sound of not so muffled arguing. My right eye instantly popped open but it took my left eye a little while to catch up. My best guess was that it had swollen shut in my sleep. I groaned and glanced at the clock with my one good eye: 4:17 am. It was not uncommon for me to wake up and hear my parents arguing. My mother was weak and my father was a drunk and very abusive. Sometimes I wished I had a sibling to go through this torment with but then I would immediately hate myself for wishing that; no one else should have to live like this.

I decided to just get up since my alarm was set to go off in a little under two hours anyway. My body ached everywhere from the beating I had received the night before. I decided to go for a run because it would ease some of the cramping I could feel in my muscles. I quickly got dressed in a pair of running shorts and tank top before slowly opening my bedroom door and listening as closely as possible. I could no longer hear my parents screaming and so I assumed the argument had ended as quickly as it began. My parents room was just past mine and I passed it on my way to the stairs. I tiptoed past their room and held my breath. I made my way down the stairs as quickly as possible and slipped on a pair of athletic shoes that I kept by the front door. I slipped outside and let out the breath I had been holding.

It was colder outside than I had expected. I looked down at my bare legs and almost regretted putting on a pair of shorts. New bruises were already beginning to form on my legs while my old ones were still trying to heal. I shrugged and didn't waste any more time thinking about it, it was four in the morning and no one would be awake to see the bruises. Plus, I liked wearing shorts.

I started running at a relatively slow pace just to warm up. I reveled in the feel of the early morning air. Birds had begun waking up and I listened to their song with a feeling of peace. I gradually increased my pace until I noticed I was running through a path in the woods not too far from my house. I saw a flicker of movement to my right and decided to stop to get a better look. I continued staring into the woods as I slowed down when all of a sudden I slammed into a hard object.

I gasped and fell down onto the dirt path. I took a moment to gather my thoughts before looking up at the object that had obstructed my path. I was surprised to see a teenage boy standing above me and even more surprised to find that I couldn't look away. He had an intense look on his face, almost like he was angry but more like he was just disappointed. But when I Iooked into his green eyes, I didn't see anger or disappointment. His eyes just looked tired, like he'd carried the weight of the world on his shoulders for his entire life and he just couldn't keep it from crashing down around him.

I felt an instant connection with this boy. One that I had never felt before with anyone; I was drawn to him, all I wanted was to hold him in my arms and assure him that he didn't have to bear the weight of the world by himself any longer. I could help him now.

His voice interrupted my thoughts, "I'm sorry. Miss, are you alright?" That's when my world came crashing down around me. I couldn't help this boy, I couldn't even help myself. I put on a fake smile, the one I used everyday of my life.

"I'm fine. It's my fault really. I thought I saw something in the woods and so I wasn't looking where I was going." I grabbed the hand he offered and hauled myself off the ground with his help. Now that I was standing up it was easier for me to study him. He was rather tall, probably around 6'3" and he was kind of slender but also muscular.

I saw his eyes checking over my body to make sure I was, in fact, alright. I imagined what he saw when he was looking at me and winced, hoping he wouldn't ask about my bruises or my eye which I imagine has to be black by now.

I guess sometimes wishes do come true because he doesn't ask even though I can see the curiosity burning in his eyes. "Are you lost or something? I run this path a lot and I've never seen you before."