Finding Dani

Chapter 2

Danielle POV

Have you ever had something so bad happen to you and all you want to do is to forget it, but you can't? You wish you could easily block it from your memory but you can't find the switch to turn it off. Do you ever wish certain smells or figures would stop reminding you of the pain you experience?

How about when you close your eyes and you picture their face or when you finally get to sleep but your dreams make you relive the incident over and over?

It's been three days since I have had any decent sleep. Being back around people because of school has sparked everything again. I am beyond exhausted and I think I finally reached a breaking point.

I pace back and forth in my room with my body shaking. Everything hurts and I want it to stop. I need it to stop.

I get desperate. I want a way out, but I give hope one last chance.

I look at my phone and pull up my mom's contact. Neither her nor my father are back yet. Neither one of them has bothered to check in either.

The phone rings and rings. I was about to hang up not wanting to reach her voicemail when the ringing stopped.

"Is everything okay?" My mom doesn't say Hello. There is no concern in her voice, just annoyance.

"Everything is fine." I swallow the lump in my throat. "When will you be home?"

I hear her groan through the phone. "In a couple of days."

It was a mistake calling her. "Okay that is all I wanted."

I go to hit the end button but stop when I hear her voice. "Are you okay?"

This is the first time in over a year my mom has asked me if I was okay. I thought I would be relieved that maybe she does care, but instead I get angry.

"I am fine. I will see you when you get back." I hit the end button.

My phone starts vibrating in my hand and my mom's picture pops up.

I clinch the phone tightly in my hand before bringing my arm back. "It's too late." I mumble before throwing my phone against my bedroom wall.

Pieces and glass from the phone screen hit the ground. My breathing gets heavier, and my vision starts to blur.

Footsteps. I hear footsteps. 5...4...3...2...1

"What happened?"

Haley. Why is she always here?

"It slipped." I look down at my phone on the ground. "My bad."

Haley goes to the broken pieces and for some reason starts picking them up.

With her attention to the phone, I quietly slip out of my room. I rush down the stairs and head to the back door.

A rage of anger and sadness takes over. I thought I'd seen rock bottom, but I was wrong.

I just needed someone there. I needed someone to care and tell me everything's okay. I had backs turned to me for so long. Now I am used to being alone. It's the only natural thing I feel.

I walk out our back door, past our pool and out the back gate.

I have one destination and that's the ocean that is about three hundred feet away from the end of our property.

I pick up my pace as I get sadder. I want it to stop and I am almost there.

The sun shines down on me and the wind blows in my face. My vision is almost lost as I walk through the hot sand. I almost want to stop because the pain feels so good.