Girl;Unknown

t h e b e g i n n i n g

          There she is.... alone, in the dark, with no one. All except one even knew she existed that's what she most appreciated, she was always there for her. That's what everyone who saw her referred to (if they saw her) "her". She had a name, Artemis. Her thoughts always remained.... "When will it be my time to be noticed, to be appreciated, important....to exist?"

          Artemis felt sorry for herself, but she didn't want to, she always taught herself to be strong ever since her father left, left her out in the cold, and her world fell apart. Having her mom didn't help, the woman was a workaholic, Artemis couldn't stand that, she was practically raising herself, she never ate much, only when she THOUGHT she had to, she always was writing in her spare time, she always read books, and listened to music. Artemis needed reading and writing as much as she needed air. It's like reading and writing revolved around her entire world, and she couldn't live without either.

          Artemis knows what she wants, but is scared to take it, it's like she's trapped inside these walls that only get smaller and smaller, closing in on her and she couldn't escape. Fear was holding her back, it wasn't anyone—or anything but fear, and she had to break out of that shell, she wanted to... but she didn't know how. She was crying for help... but no one would listen. Artemis was a good student in school, but she never talked in class, every time she raised her hand and TRIED to talk, someone would interrupt or talk over her. She never understood...

          Amara. That was her name, the only person that Artemis talked to- the only person who talked to her, Amara was beautiful, she had hair that fell perfectly down to her waist, beautiful dark brown hair that could take your breath away. Eyes that warmed your soul, and introduced you to paradise, that a better day will come, that tomorrow will be better than yesterday. Amara was the person everyone wanted to be around.

          Amara's friends: Anaya, Ashanti, Tadeo, Sabella, and Jordan always heard Amara constantly talking about Artemis. They all just thought she was crazy and had an imaginary friend, that also sounded like a real person. "Amara there is no Artemis Rose that goes to this school!" Anaya said in frustration as if she's said this a thousand times before (which she has). "YES there is! I'm not crazy guys, she's real, she's constantly with me at my house!" Amara has been through this with her friends a thousand times before, but they never believed her.

Meanwhile, the school day goes by pretty fast, Amara went to go look around for Artemis and she was nowhere to be found, Amara was worried until she saw Artemis walking by herself like she had no emotion, she didn't talk to anyone (as usual). It was almost like she was possessed, like something had completely taken over....EVERYTHING, her soul, body, everything. Amara was both relieved and confused. So, she goes up to her, "Hey, Artemis." Amara greets. Not a word, not even a motion to show that she was aware that Amara was standing next to her. Blank, nothing she just kept... staring forward. Breathing heavily, that sent Amara chills up and down her spine, so carefully and slowly backed away and walked home.

Artemis slowly let out a breath of relief like she wanted Amara to leave, like she didn't want her to be in her existence at all. When Artemis got home, her mom was on the phone she didn't bother to talk to her she just went straight to her room. Artemis felt bad the way she ignored Amara. To be fair, she had a lot on her mind and she didn't want to talk to anyone. Artemis didn't want Amara near her because she just wanted to be alone so she could think to herself, she was thinking about a lot. Artemis thought about running away because she wanted to go try to find her dad... to let him explain, but after a while of thinking, she did realize that she wanted to stay because she knows that he will just lie to her and come up with excuses.

Since Artemis felt bad, she called Amara and explained everything to her and apologized. "Artemis, why didn't you just tell me that?" Amara asked. "I don't know, I just didn't feel like talking at all and I just didn't want to exist, well not that I already don't exist you are the only one that knows who I am. I'm honestly just tired of it." There was a dead silence for a few minutes. Amara felt really bad, she didn't know what to say... so she just hung up and left Artemis there alone, with a dead silence and hurt feelings. Artemis wasn't surprised... she was used to feeling abandoned and alone. As a tear fell down her face she went into her drawer and fished out a book, it was a classy, inviting, elegant, dark red. It had a huge lock on it. Around her neck was a key that happened to open that book. At times she would write in it, but most of the pages were already filled... it was writings from her great grandmother who was very interesting...Artemis' great grandmother had words of wisdom, that always helped her get through the day... having hope of another tomorrow. Artemis turned to a page of the book, her favorite that always helped her when she was the most upset and hurt, it read:

"Dear sweet child,

You can always have hope of

Another day, if you just have the lord by

Your side, he will get you through the night, and

Hold your hand, and always love you, he shall guide you,

You just have to have faith, baby girl.

Love, Nana"

"I love you, too, Nana and I miss you, so much.." Artemis pleads kissing the key around her neck gently closing the book, yet holding it tight to her chest. That page always warmed her soul, it always made the grass greener, the sun shine, and put hope in her heart. Although she hated to admit it, Artemis stopped believing in that, she always asks herself, "Well if that's the case why hasn't he guided me yet, WHEN WILL IT BE MY TIME?!" Artemis was growing impatient, she always believed that it would have to be a miracle for that to happen, she began to feel sick, like there was suddenly a big lump in her throat, like it took her voice away, it took her strength away.... It took her soul away. Artemis safely put the book away, and she went to go change into pajamas because she felt so tired, but she didn't want to go to school. She knew she had to so she prayed for a better day, "Another day... a new tomorrow, can't lose hope now, I need to keep the faith, I promise I will, Nana."