Sara's Savior

Morning Escape

The bitter cold of an autumn breeze chilled Sara's skin to the bone, blowing her hair from her face. It was always like this on these cold nights she spent in her uncles attic. Because he, 'Didn't want her sneaking out like the s**t she is' and 'Didn't want to see her ugly face'.  And because of that, she was locked in her makeshift bedroom day dreaming instead of doing homework, wrapped in a ratty blanket just to fight for some warmth.

*BEEP*

It was Abigail Hamme. Sara's only sorta friend ever. The one who cared too much, talked too much, and tried to see every moment as a learning opportunity like a mother would. But of course, Sara couldn't really care less.

"R u heading to rachels party tmrw?"

"No, I  don't think so, I have something to do." Sara lied, hoping Abby would leave her to her thoughts in the cold silence of the room. 

"Wut?!? Y???? R u grounded?" Oh great. She was panicking. This wouldn't end as peacefully as she initially thought.

"Nonononono. I'm fine. I just have a project is all." Sara cringed at how the sounds of the keys rang in the attic. Hopefully, Uncle Dave was asleep. 

"Oh. kk. U sure?" Great. Now she was worried. Just what she needed. An over worried friend who already blabbed like crazy.

"Yes. I'm just fine. Pinky promise." This would calm her down. It always did once you pulled out the pinky promise. Mainly because of her childish ways. But Sara had to admit, she was jealous of her ability to stick to her childish ways despite reality slowly creeping towards them as Graduation grew nearer with every day.

Despite it, she thought of other the things in life that bothered her. There was the 'Popular Kids' who made it their goal to attack and prove she was worthless. There was Uncle Dave who was relentless in his remindings to her that she was useless. She shivered as a freezing breeze blew through her room. She shifted slightly and had to stifle a whimper of pain. She had just put pressure onto her bruises. Bruises she had recieved for not being home on time.

But, nonetheless, she had to focus on the small stack of papers, homework that hadn't been finished. Mainly so that she could get some sleep, but also because of how Uncle Dave hated it when her homework piled up. Most of it was her cousin's, whom had become a Freshman at her high school this year. She, being two years his senior, had already done it previously.

So, putting pencil to paper, she completed equations and answered questions, double checking so as to be absolutely sure. For multiple reasons.

*****

Sara rubbed her eyes, and put down the complete homework, before checking the time on her phone. 

2:26 AM

She groaned lightly, not wanting to draw attention to anything, seeing as Uncle Dave was a incredibly light sleeper. She shuffled a little before lying down on the small army cot. She debated a little as to doing her morning chores early, but decided against it. She knew that she would have to do it anyhow, but really just wanted to sleep. So, she followed her third instinct, and closed her eyes, even just for a little........

*****

*BEEP-BEEP*

"........"

*BEEP-BEEP*

Sara's eyes snapped open at the fourth beep from her third alarm. She immediately turned towards her phone, eyes widening at the time.

5:15 AM

"Shit," she murmured, tossing her blanket off of her body, and putting on her old, worn-out shoes. She looked at herself in the grimy mirror and frowned. She looked the same as before, blue skinny jeans, faded at the knees. A faded burgundy cable knit sweater, patched at the elbows and fraying at the cuffs. It was her lucky, and only, sweater. It did its job well enough. Now to mention her yellow baseball hat, with a hole in the bill. She decided not to wear it today.

Pivoting towards her backpack, she quickly grabbed her umbrella, shoving it into the already stuffed cavern of school and work. She carefully ran down the stairs, not making a sound, hoping that Uncle Dave wasn't awake yet.

Making a beeline to the kitchen, she took four slices of bread and put them into the toaster. She frantically scrambled eggs and put them on plates, then put the plates on their respected places on the table. Pouring hastily made coffee into a mug, and orange juice into a cup, she put those on the table as well. Buttering the toast, she applied those to the plates as well. 

Taking two paper bags, she put in an apple, a sandwich, and two different drinks into each.  She almost dropped the small ham and cheese sandwich, cringing as the meat made contact with her exposed thumb. 

"Sara, did you just wake up?" She stiffened at the groggy voice of her cousin. Turning slowly, she nodded. Barely meeting his gaze.

"No. Unlike you, sleepy head, I woke up early." She replied, doing her best to hide her sleepiness. She met his eyes to find him smiling.

"Sure you did. Now get going, I'll pretend I didn't see you." She looked back at her shoes whilst nodding. She walked to the door, pulling on the gloves that were two times too small. 

She left just as her Uncle complained about the morning. Running to make sure that he wouldn't be able to see her if he looked out the window.

So enraptured in her escape, she didn't notice the gaze of another, watching as she ran. She didn't notice their frown or concern. 

She didn't notice the boy watching from the window.

Should I continue?