In my own little world.

PART Seven

Outside for the first time in days, Lace thought to herself, "...finally". The warmth of the sun greeted her as the crisp cool air gently passed through her hair. The vibrant blues of the sky and the many shades of green that adorned the grass and trees sedated her. She could hear the birds singing a wonderful tune, smell the courteous spring blooming flowers, touch the ripped rubber of the swing chain, she could even taste the nature in her mouth but all of it made unenjoyable by the fence surrounding the small playground area. The people and children walking by staring at the kids who hate life like they were animals in a cage."The Freaks." Lace wasn't sure that it was worth it to come out, not if it made her feel like this. She decided to sit on the swing, away from their kids and their ukuleles.

"Lace!" Lace turned her head to look over to the picnic table. It was Melanie.

"Come on over here, have some fun with us." Lace shook her head. Why should she? The thought just happened to occurred to her now, why should she even be polite or interact with anyone? She'll know the people here for at least a week or two. Then they'll be gone from her life. Although, after she rejected the offer and chose to spend the outside time they had alone, they all persisted. Melanie came over to the single sad, rusted swing that sat a single, sad person. "You know how miserable you look right now?" She asked Lace. Lace overlooked the question. "Okay look, here's how things are going to go down, you're going to sit with us, and at least try to be happy but the only reason I'm not going to force you is because the counselor over there isn't going to like it. So we'll be waiting over there for you." Melanie gave a smile then went back to the bench with all the other kids. She was such a bitch about it but at the same time she was right, why sit here being miserable about the place she has no control over being in? Lace did not want to admit that to herself. She arose from the swing, her feet sinking in the soft, watery wood chips and walked forward. All their faces lit up, encouraging her to come over. She felt like a child on her first day of pre-school and her mother pushing and cheering her on to just go, or maybe she felt more like a celebrity with all her fans reaching and shouting for her autograph, but only she wasn't famous or loved as much as a celebrity. Either way, both comparisons were extremely annoying. She took her time walking to the park bench. Everyone cheered when she sat. The hermit finally came to talk to them and try to have a good time. She sat down next to Melanie on the bench, however it was like she was watching a TV that was put on mute. The kids that she has became friends with like Gabe and Melanie and then the other kids that she still didn't know that well were all sitting and chatting, but she was unable to process it. Maybe her thoughts were louder than the outside volume or maybe she was trying to comprehend how these kids worked, smiling and laughing like nothing was the matter at all. Like happiness could be a possibility. They began to play a song on the ukulele and everyone started to sing to it. Everyone seemed so happy. Everyone seemed to be in the moment, but her.

"Is this real?" she asked herself.