The Storm

My name is Abby Freeman and this is my way of finally telling the truth.  I'm 15 years old, although my birthday's coming up very soon. I'm five three; so pretty short, I have what some people call ivory skin, but I think of it only as too pale, light blue eyes and curly, dark brown hair. My nose is large for my face, but not so big that it's always the first thing people notice about me. I may not have the perfect face and body, but I'm by no means the worst out there.

My life was pretty good, before the storm hit. It doesn't sound like much, the storm. Not when that's all you call it, but it's much more. This storm was a life and death situation, and during it, some pretty crazy things happened. Things nobody would ever believe.   Now that I think about it, before the day of the storm if somebody was to tell me this story, I wouldn't have believed it either.

The day I had my last conversation with my sister was the worst day of my life.

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"Hey," my sister said to me, "are you okay?"

"Yes, of course I am. Why would you ask?" I asked her.

"Well, you look pale...maybe I'm just imagining things."

"Oh... well... okay." I respond. "Are you ready for school?"

"Yes, I've been ready for about 15 minutes now. That's another reason why I was worried. You're always done getting ready way before I am." I glance at the clock, and think about what she just said. Its 8:09 and I try to always be ready by 7:45. Usually I have to yell at Kenzie to get out of bed and have some breakfast, but today she did everything without a thought. It's almost like we switched roles this morning...well, except she never yelled at me to hurry up.

This morning didn't feel different from any other. I got up at the same time as usual, and everything felt like it was taking the same amount of time that it usually took. Only... I must have lost time somewhere. Maybe my shower was longer than my usual 4 minutes. Or...my pancakes took slower to make. Anything could be the reason for being late; it's just weird that I'm the late one for once.

"We should probably get going then. The bus will be here soon." Kenzie sighed. "I can't wait until you get your full license. Then we don't have to get on a bus that smells like all those niner boys. Like, how does somebody give off such horrible body odor this early in the morning? Don't they shower?"

"Probably not. And what makes you think I'll give you a ride to school? As soon as I get my car ill be gone all the time."

"Well, for one thing, I know you'll give me a ride because you love me," she smiles, "not only that, but mom would kill you if you didn't. Leaving me alone to go on a bus with those awful boys? What could possibly happen?"

I role my eyes "yeah, I guess you're right. I wouldn't be able to get away with not giving you a ride anyways, because you would always be in the car way before me. Hey! Maybe that's how I'll get you to be ready on time from now on!"

"I doubt it. And remember, you were the late one this morning."

I rolled my eyes at her, and then walk out the door to our house with my purse swinging on my shoulder. Kenzie's 12, but something about her makes everybody think she's much older. She's much prettier than me already, with her long blond hair and tall figure. We're so very different; however we share some of our features. We both have blue eyes and well, nothing else in common. But while my eyes are such a light blue they creep people out, hers are more of a dark blue. We're almost exact opposites, in some ways. I'm short, with lots of curves, while she's tall, and rail thin. Her hair it straight and golden blond, while mine is curly and the color of chocolate.  She's only 12, and already much taller than I am. So often, if my sister and I are together, people will mistake us to be only friends and will often be very surprised when they find out we're sisters. Kenzie is also much more likable than me. So often, I'll appear sullen, and as if I don't care, while she'll seem excited and bubbly.