Glowing in the Dark

Chapter One

Inspired by the song Young Blood, by Bea Miller

Scarlett

Running away is hard. Especially when you live in an orphanage. But I managed to do it. If you just put your heart to it, it's not that hard…

My heart is beating fast as I ran through the street. It's 12 AM, midnight, the perfect time to escape. First of all, in midnight, everyone except for the guards at the orphanage is asleep. Second, I love the dark. And third….uh, just because. I shook my head. Man… It's hard to stay awake when you're really tired from planning out an escape plan.

I made a hard right turn. I almost fell but I fortunately didn't. To be honest, I don't know where I'm going, I only know that I need to get as far away as possible from the orphanage. No one noticed that I escaped, but they're gonna notice sooner or later, so I have to make sure that I'm nowhere near that place. It's like hell, but somehow much worse. No one gets me there. I've been living there since I was an infant, yet no one still adopted me. I don't care anymore… If no one wants me, so be it. They never choose the different ones, always the typical ones. From the blondes to the brunettes. Snobs.

I suddenly stopped when I realized that I'm already so far away, and very tired.

I opened my backpack, and scanned the things I brought. It's a bug out bag I had since I was twelve, I finally used it after all these years. Inside was clothes, money, underwear, my phone which was a gift that came along with earphones, water, and my birth certificate, just in case I need a job. Speaking of which, I really need a job so I can provide money for myself. Good thing I'm 19. I'm a legal adult, and am ready to get a job. But that might be hard, because in my whole homeschooling years, I only finished high-school.

I took my water jug out and drank half of it. I put it back in my bag, then started walking once again.

I looked around the city. It's like a maze here, you could really get lost. Fortunately, I found a map stand for tourists, so I took one and scanned it. With my money, I also bought a newspaper. I still can't believe that there's already newspapers at this hour. I looked through it until I found the job section where I could fine a work position.

I found a convinient store that is looking for a cashier guy. I could do that! I could take that job! And the salary might even just be enough to rent a small apartment. Great! Already in a good start, nice to know that life isn't all about misery…

I scanned the map for the place I'm looking for, and it turns out, I'm far away from it.

Great! Just what I needed!, I thought to myself sarcastically. Ugh…

I need to find the subway, coz I don't have enough money for a cab. I looked at the map again, looking for the subway. Once I found it, I started running again, but this time, much slower, because now I'm sure that no one can find me. I started slowing down when I saw the way down to the subway. Once I'm in, I saw a lot of people, probably from parties judging by the way they're dressed.

There are mostly teenagers, some are adults. I went to a booth to buy a ticket. The lady gave me the ticket as I paid. I flopped down on a bench and waited for the train to arrive, I took my phone out and put my earphones on, and started listening to music. I usually listen to acoustics or club songs to dance to. I used to khave a guitar back at the orphanage, but then, one of my used-to-be-friend smashed it on the floor. I cried all night, because that guitar is special, because it used to belong to my dad. People who work at the orphange said that it was next to me when my parents left me in front of the gate. I kept it ever since. And now, it's broken.

I tried my best not to cry when I heard the song I recorded in my phone. I'm playing my guitar while singing my favorite song when I was 13. It was Teardrops on my Guitar by Taylor Swift. I felt a tear run down my face as the 13 year old me reached the chorus. Oh how I miss that guitar…

I shot my head up when I noticed that the train is already boarding people. I quickly stood up from my seat and ran inside, just in time before the doors closed again. I breathed a sigh of relief when I sat down, and at the same time, Thumbs by Sabrina Carpenter started playing. I almost laughed, because the setting of music video is inside a subway. I started nodding my head to the rhythm, and sung along quietly, then, I stood up, and started to sing along louder to the song.

“Somewhere in the world they think they're working for themselves
They get up everyday to go to work for someone else
And somebody works for them and so they think they've got it made
But they're all just working to get paid the very same

And so they keep on twiddlin' them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum
They gonna keep on twiddlin' them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum
And so they keep on twiddlin' them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum
(Skiddly-dee-da-dum)
They gonna keep on twiddlin' them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum”

People around me started bobbing their heads, some lifted their phones up, and some danced along. I continued to sing once again…

“Somewhere in the world you got a robber and a bank
And the bank robbed the people, so the people rob the bank
And the police came to get him but they let him get away
'Cause they're all just workin' to get paid the very same

'Cause that's just the way of the world
It never ends till the end, then you start again
That's just the way of the world
That's just the way of the world

And so they keep on twiddlin' them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum
(Skiddly-dee-da-dum)
They gonna keep on twiddlin' them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum
And so they keep on twiddlin' them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum
(Skiddly-dee-da-dum)
They gonna keep on twiddlin' them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum

Don't believe everything that you hear
Let it go through your left and right ear
Don't just march to the beat of that drum
Don't be one of them people just twiddlin' them thumbs

'Cause that's just the way of the world
It never ends till the end and then you start again
That's just the way of the world
That's just the way of the world

And so they keep on twiddlin' them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum
(Skiddly-dee-da-dum)
They gonna keep on twiddlin' them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum
And so they keep on twiddlin' them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum
(Skiddly-dee-da-dum)
They gonna keep on twiddlin' them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum

And so they keep on twiddling them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum
They gonna keep on twiddling them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum
'Cause that's just the way of the world”

The time I ended the song, people around me clapped, some hooted, some whistled, and some just continued sleeping. People my age gave me high fives, some patted my back, and some gave me handshakes. I have never felt this way before… I have never felt so…

“Free.” A guy next to me said. “What?” I asked.

“You feel like you're free.” He said. My mouth hung open, unable to answer. I only nodded, and he laughed. “What's so funny?” I asked.

“You're supposed to say, ‘how did you know what I was thinking?’ or something like that…” I don't know how, but my mouth opened wider, and he just laughed again. “I know what you're thinking about, because I know that look. That big smile, that confidence to just sing and dance in a train, those are signs of freedom. God, it feels good doesn't it?” Being in a shocked condition, I only nodded. Did he ran away too?, I thought to myself. “Oh, and if you're wondering, I did run away. Only, two years ahead of you…” This time, I finally found my voice.

“Does it feel good? To run away? Is it worth it?” I asked quickly. Curiosity really got me. I don't want to suffer because of freedom… “Yeah! Of course it is! That is, if you know what you're doing…” He said as he put on headphones. I didn't reply back because I know that he can't hear me. I sighed and started listening to music again, this time, the song is acoustic.

I closed my eyes, calming my fast beating heart. What an adrenaline rush. I love dancing, but I have never done it in front of other people before. It's really fun, and it boosted my confidence. I quietly waited while listening to 12:51 by Krissy and Erika.

Next stop, Brooklyn.