My Redneck Savior || D. D.

Drunken Mistake? || 17

Alex's Point of View

I'd reckon that I've succeeded in losing Daryl. I weaved in and out of the trailers in am attempt to find Rick. Out of pure prayer, I see him guarding the fence on the opposite side of the park. "Rick!" I ran to him.

"What's up Alex," his eyebrows furrow together in confusion. Without even thinking he walks over to me and sees the heavy, full bag in my hand. A smile creeps on his face. "Woah, this sure is a lot of stuff--."

"Yeah, yeah. I gotta go. See you later. Sorry," I say with a tint of worry in my voice. I throw the bag at him, not even concerned with my own belongings in it, and hug him. His arms wrap around my mid-back. For a second I feel safe. But I know I have to go. I wiggle out of his grasp and, for the second time today, he gives me a concerned glance. Quickly and without thought, I run around the outskirts of the place. If Daryl were looking for me, he would probably be looking for me at our trailer. So, I just won't go there. But where can I go to, I think. My feet are stunned, not knowing which direction to go. I look to my left. Playground. I look to my right. Pond. All of these places looked like obvious hiding places, not to mention they were in the open. No, no. This can't be happening. Argh!

"Sweetheart, are you okay? You look a little worried?" Some woman calls from behind me. As I turn around I see familiar gray hair and a pleasant face.

"Carol, thank God it is just you," I sigh in relief. She walks toward me and holds both of my sweaty hands.

Out of the kindness of her heart, she holds the back of her hand up to my forehead "Are you sick? You look a little flushed." I didn't really notice I was hot, and it was probably just from the running, but I needed an excuse to get away. And I figured that Carol would take me somewhere, anywhere besides here.

"Yeah I do feel a little sick. Must of caught a cold last night." I coughed, raising my arm up go my mouth to silence myself. What an actor I am.

"Well, dear, you just come with me to my trailer and get some rest." Yes, away from here. Both of us start to walk towards her trailer. Occasionally I cough to sell the act. Then, I hear it.

"Alex!" The sound rings on the distance, seeming to linger all around me, inspiring a surge of panic. Again someone sounds, "Pett!" It must be him. Daryl. I just had to hope Carol didn't hear the screams. She just continued the walk. Smiling at me occasionally, twiddling with a piece of short hair that kept falling in her face. It seemed like she was too entranced to notice. Guess I shouldn't be acting weird then, everything was going to be fine. Fine? When is anything fine.

Caught in thought I barely noticed that Carol was in a trailer, beckoning me to enter. It was nice and neat in here. Paintings of children and flowers lined the walls. But one frame caught my eye, one filled with a photograph rather than a hand-drawn picture. I shuffle towards the picture, walking on the balls of my feet to not upset the creaky floor. As I approach the photo I see a little girl. Using my right hand I run my fingers across the frame covered in a satin finish, admiring the cuteness of the child.

Carol speaks as she rustles through her cabinet for some Tylenol, "Beautiful isn't she." She truly was with those large, chocolate colored freckles. Not to mention the girl had beautiful brown eyes, just like mine.

I smile and turn to look at Carol. "Yeah, she's so pretty. Probably has a pretty name too."

"Sophia." Carol's smile is one of a proud mother.

"Is she yours?" I again divert my attention to the photograph. The more I stare at it, the more I see Carol in the girl.

"She was."