Under The Surface [Editing]

Prologue

Sitting on the porch watching the storm, the girl didn’t bother to wipe the salty drops from her face. The rhythmic drumming of rain pelted the overgrown lawn mimicking the tears that fell down her cold yet flushed cheeks.

Despite being only eight, she understood what divorce meant. She often heard her school friends talk about the subject as if it was the next popular trend. The innocence of her childhood felt as if it was being torn away with the seven letter word-at least that was how she felt. Her parents had just announced their intent to divorce.

The thunderous roar of the wind and rain could not drown out the noise of her parents shouting vicious remarks to each other from inside the house as she sat on the porch steps, longing for some solace. For a long while she was lost in daydreams and prayers for a different outcome.

Looking up, her sobs stopped when she noticed a boy walking by in a banana yellow raincoat slick and soaked to the core. He’d stopped and saw a girl sobbing away the loss of innocence. She saw a boy from the poorer side, one already familiar with broken homes, and families. He was one of the kids who caused trouble, one of a band of misfits from the wrong side of town, the ones all the teachers complained about when they thought the other kids couldn’t hear, and said they would bring nothing but problems in the future.

Defiantly, with pride and stubbornness she stared at the little boy, determined to be strong and not let anyone see weakness as he watched meeting her gaze. He knew, he understood, because he could hear, despite the rain, the fighting from inside the house. He tried to give her a reassuring smile, so this girl from the nicer side of town would understand that she wasn’t alone. All she could see was someone judging her.

The smile on his face only made her cry harder, hating what she saw as pity. She couldn’t see there was no pity, only that he understood even if he didn’t know this little girl on the other side of the fence. He resumed his walk when she buried her face and her misery in her lap, hoping that maybe someday she’d realize he understood.