A Day of Freedom

Chapter 6-End

           Somehow I had forgotten who I was in the midst of it all. I was just a teenage girl sharing stories with new friends. It was remarkable. Amidst our laughter I saw Mother walking up, smiling. Though I was happy to see her, my heart broke in a way, it was ending too soon. Sighing somehow contentedly, I stood up and dusted the permanent grass stains from my pants.

            “Well there’s my mother. This was fun but it’s time for me to leave.”

            They nodded and smiled widely. “Yeah it was,” a boy named Pierre said.  

            “Another day then?” I tried to keep a smile on my lips.

            “Of course,” Drew said never losing his.

            I looked to the left to see the sun was slowly setting and hues of orange and pink blended together. My free day was ending. I waved goodbye to them.

           Mother and I turned to leave as I remembered something. “One second, I’ll be right back,” I said quickly as I ran back to the oak tree.

          I knelt down in front of the flower by the shadow’s edge. With care I plucked it from its spot and clutched it dearly in my fingers. I smiled at it for a moment before returning to Mother; we began to walk home.

       When we were out of sight from the others I brought my hands to my face once we were out of their sight. I wiped away the tears that refused to stop cascading my face. Mother shifted the groceries to one arm and wrapped the other around my shoulders, leaning her head on mine. We walked the entire way home like that.

            I went to bed almost immediately after we returned. Mother had given me a vase to place my keepsake in. I set it by my nightstand. My enthusiasm had dropped when I awoke the next morning. I got out of bed, the medicine still keeping the coughs and headaches at bay. I cleaned myself up for the day and sat in my usual spot at the window; today I refused to open it.

            I stared only at the horizon, eyes dried from old tears. I pulled a knee up close and leaned my chin on it. I began to close my eyes when Mother called my name in a happy tone that I hadn’t heard for a while. I raised an eyebrow in curiosity when she opened the door, a grin plastered on her face. I dropped my knee and turned towards her just in time to be bombarded by a group of giggling teenagers. I went almost numb and my eyes widened in shock. I was hugged by Charlotte and Emily, two of the younger girls.

            “What? How? Why?” the words barely voiced in gasps.

            “Like we’d really leave you all alone! Besides, we’re just getting to know you and we had so much fun with you yesterday!” Emily said happily.

            I looked around, my gaze landing on Drew. His cheeks were tainted red as he shoved towards me a large, stuffed, chocolate colored bear; his gaze glued to the floor. I looked at him quizzically and vaguely heard the others snicker.

            “A get well present,” he muttered embarrassedly.

            “Thank you Drew, how sweet.”

            He looked up from the spot on the floor and grinned only at me. I took the bear from his hands happily.

            They placed themselves around the room and started to chatter all at once. A laugh escaped my lips and a tear formed in my eye. I hugged the bear tightly. I glanced over at the flower in the vase and smiled. We aren’t forgotten, we’re not alone anymore.

End