The First Step

The flicker of orange, red and yellow grew higher in the night sky the more it was fed. It was contained in nothing but an old trashcan, that sat in an ally outside my apartment building. Sparks and ash shot off the flames to dance together, trapping me in the freeing smell of burning paper work.

Grabbing the last ten sheets of Miss. Owens files, I leaned in close to the fire. The edge of "her" laptest project lit, spreading smoke and and the smell of revenge through-out the pages.

I watched the files burn while holding it for a moment. I felt like I was holding a picture of an old boyfriend who had cheated. It was dirty. And seeing the flames sent a giddy feeling through me.

That's disturbing...

I couldn't help myself though. For the first time in my life I had stood up for myself. It was exhilarating!

I dropped the last of my hard work in to the heat for it to slowly disappear, with nothing to be traced by it but ash, and leaned back against the ally wall. For a while all I hear was the sound of the city, leaving to with my thoughts of what that devil did to me.

Screw you, Tara!

I smiled at my rant turning my head to the glistening night sky. It was such a big world out there. So much I haven't seen.

I need to get out of this city.

With that, I check the flames for any last sign of papers, and poured the bottle of water i brought with me on to the fire and headed off to my car. Listening to the sizzling of my past that was now floating in smoke behind me.

YEAR AND A HALF EARLIER

"I got the job!"

"Really! Oh, honey! This calls for a celebration! Thomas- wake up!" My mother cheered.

After all my schooling, I never thought I would get a job this quickly.

They warn you in school about how you'll have to start small. How no one gets a job right off the bat. So I took a shot at a big business and got a wonderful job that has room for me to grow, but gives me a head start.

My mother swatted at my sleeping father, "Thomas!" She shouted, "Get up, it is two in the afternoon and Amilia is here."

He groaned, and she didn't take to kindly to it. Standing, she shook him.

"Okay-okay! I'm up- I'm up!"

He straightens himself out on his chair and stretched, then scratched his beard.

His yawn was a mixture that after years of training I could understand, "So, what was this good news I heard you guys yellin' about?"

"Oh, so you heard that?" Mumbled my disgruntled mother as she sat back down on her chair with a huff.

"Well, I got a job working for World Tec., dad. I'll be working under a woman who, I've heard, is looking for a partner!"

I was giddy, because at 20 years old this was a big accomplishment. I have always tried to do my best. Graduating High school early, already taking some collage classes, I jumped easily into collage. I thought I had the whole world ahead of me. That there was endless possibilities. Getting this job proved just that, and I was ready to take this head on as I always had.

I was ready for anything.

If only I knew.

PLEASE READ, IMPORTANT!

So, I am really excited about this new story. However, I really need your help.

-Constructive Criticism/Editing (or Editor), please! I'm open to anything, you wont hurt my feelings.

-Anyone up for making me a cover? Or know someone? Inbox me!

-Please, please, PLEASE tell me what you think. You cant hurt my feelings, at all. However, I'm respectful, then you can be.

-I'm terrible at titles, if you got ideas, inbox me.

Well, that's it. Can't wait to hear from ya.

~Grace