Fears of the Broken

Fears of the Unexpected

Fog...

 that was all that I could view. As my steady breathing could be seen as the unrelenting chilly October night continued on.

I couldn't resist looking behind me for the fourth time as my gut twisted yet again while the feeling of uneasiness washed over my spine, causing me to waver with each step I took from the comfort of my childhood home that had always comforted me with warmth and protection from the demons of the outside world.

something isn't right... my conscious repeated to me. As doubt sunk deeper into the pit of my stomach, causing me to almost stumble over my fears.

Looking around me once again, I realized the twisting of my gut was correct.

Nothing... that's what was happening right now.

Usually there are lights illuminated through every house, seeing it was only 7:43. Mothers usually setting the table and calling their children in for supper while the kids playing street hockey attempted another point for their side. Groaning at the thought of meatloaf again, as it was the only thing fathers knew how to cook.

It wasn't ever this quiet, Never has been.

Except for that night...

I shivered as the memories of the horrid night that changed my life crawled its way into my mind.

It was dead silent, as I finally made it to Betty, the old pickup was still holding well. Which was surprising considering i'm the third generation to receive the yellow rusting beauty. My father had given her to me for my sixteenth birthday, two months before that night. She was one of the only things him and I bonded over, rather than our usual arguments over subjects that seemed so irrelevant.

now that he's no longer around, a tear slipped at that thought. The memory of seeing his bloodied body lashing out at me, causing me to whimper.

I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my sweatshirt,

I needed to be strong, ... for them...

Hopping into the pickup, I quickly slammed the door shut. Turning the ignition and blasting the heater up. I finally relaxed my muscles, having been stressed with the weight of the situation surrounding me.

I had been called to the police station early this morning, they needed a witness report of what I saw upon coming home that night.

Could barely make it past when i got out the damn truck...

Another whimper escaped me, I couldn't think about it.

The haunting night happened almost a month ago and the detectives still haven't found a lead as to who could have been a suspect.

Damned males couldn't even do their jobs... I thought bitterly recalling as they asked me to describe everything I saw that night, which I had done so in perfect detail. The images forever staining my memory.

I sighed, quickly pulling away from the side of the curb, speeding past the numerous houses that filled the neighborhood. Past the residence I could no longer call home. The fifteen minute drive to my new apartment, seeing as I had no relatives to take me in the department deemed it fit that I could live alone, had been a tense drive. All I wanted was a hot bath and the comfort of my bed.

And someone to share it with...

A feeling of loneliness washed over me as I turned the lock to my front door, I had made sure I was living in the best apartments Sandpoint, Idaho could offer, seeing as I had no one to share my living space with my apartment was still very empty. Smelling of new paint and polished wood floors, not the cinnamon and vanilla scents that had always filled me with comfort like I would prefer.

We need to go furniture shopping...... definitely...

I thought as I realized the only furnished room of my apartment was the bedroom, and that part of the flat housed only a California King and a dresser.

Courtesy of the department... I thought angrily. Infuriated that they thought that was all I would need in my own apartment, and with the reading of the will not for another two weeks I still had no idea how much I inherited.

Debt or fees? I questioned uneasily. Making my way to the master bathroom, in serious need for a good soak to relieve me of my worries as the day dawned on me.

First day back at school in a month tomorrow... I realized as my muscles relaxed in the scorching waters, a relieved sigh escaping my lips.

I was scared. Would everyone pity me like they had Jessica Anderson when her dog was ran over by the mail man? Or would everyone call me a freak of nature like they had when Jesse Norwood came out of the closet, announcing his relationship with the star kicker of our football team? Or would everyone avoid me like the plague?

The worst part about my racing thoughts, I wouldn't know unless I went tomorrow to the place I used to love, but now feared...

I always had a passion for education, I was ranked number three in my class of four hundred. I worked hard in all I did at school, and spent most of my off-time at the school library which housed over two thousand books!

That's where I had been when it happened...

I felt a chill go up my spine as I shivered in the almost burning bath waters...

Once I finished up in the tub I hopped out and pulled on an over-sized sweater and silky panties. Walking to my bed I dived into the comforter, wrapping myself up in the warmth.

Tomorrow was a new day...

I assured myself as I attempted to stay up as long as I could, wanting to prevent the inevitable amount of night terrors ready to haunt my restless sleep...

But eventually my protests were cut short as sleep dawned on me almost surprisingly, the memories coming with...