Sudden Relief

Prologue

3 hours and 23 minutes before before;

 "Yes mom I do understand that I am going to miss dinner, and that I am asking you to drive in two hours making you miss the beginning of your book club. Please I have a lot of extra work to do and you know that our house isn't a suitable place to work with Gwen's constant music and parties" I pleaded to my mother on the phone. I had so much to do for school and my own real book club. I can't go home and listen to Gwen's stupid parties. Gwen is or neighbor, who is very young to have her own house, but her fathers blood rich and pays her dues. My mothers slow breaths hit the phone speaker causing a bit of static against my ear. 

 "Fine Doll, but not a minute later then 6:15 okay, meet me at the bus station and I will pick you up" she agreed "but if you're late, you're walking the 2 miles got it!" oh mother your sweet voice.

"Ya sure mom bye"  the frost bite nipped at my nose. I ended the call and walked back into my school, the only staff member that stays 3 hours after school is the library lady Ms. Walkers. She didn't have much of a social life, that is why we get along so well. We talk about the stupidity of my fellow students and other dramatic events like the ridiculous lunch menu.  

As you can tell I am either very boring or have matured to quickly for my age. When you're sixteen you shouldn't be discussing "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt. I think I feel much smarter than I truly am, so that may be the reason I don't have many friends. I just don't have much in common with teens now-adays. I truly was born in the wrong generation, but we will all soon grow old and forget about the daily trends and how to use apps like instagram and twitter. 

The library at George S. High is one of my favorite places in this town, its old and smells like book pages and lavender. Walking in I always greet Ms.Walkers, who is engaged but they are both holding off the wedding because of fiance problems. And I believe them, the economy everywhere is plummeting, since there is a lack of jobs and teaching is very underpaid, since they are teaching the next generation of bosses and workers they need to make more. 

Anyway I sit down at the far right table near the fiction novels, and pull out all of my work and my own copy of  "Life After Life" by Kate Atkinson. I am only on chapter 7, while my group is on 10. The first thing I do is read my book, it's about a women who dies but gets reborn multiple times. I do enjoy it, but it isn't my favorite. 

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37 minutes before; 

         I am quite surprised I finished early, 1 essay on world war ||, 50 questions of math, a completely shaded still art of a lantern and roses, and 4 chapters of "Life After Life". Yes I did read 1 chapter extra, I couldn't help myself. The library was vacant and quiet, except for Ms. Walkers tapping pen, the sky was getting dark, but I could still see the glimmer of white icy snow. Snow flakes were falling slightly and the crows yapped. I started to slowly pack up to the beat of Ms. Walkers pen. I organized my things carefully and got up, and slipped my black beanie back on my head. "Hows it going with Jonathan Ms.Walkers?" I asked walking up to her desk with my navy jean backpack on my shoulders. 

"Oh every things great Dakota!" she smiled and her eyes twinkled. She stopped tapping her pen "Yesterday we watched The Breakfast Club and made cake" she laughed as if remembering the whole thing in her head "It got quite messy" she winked! I laughed fairly hard, she did the same. Maybe by the way I described her you wouldn't realize she was only 25.  

"That's great Ms. Walkers, or should I call you Mrs. Shoreman now?" I winked and she smiled even bigger. 

"Not quite yet Miss Lacey" 

"Oh that's my mothers name, please call me Dakota" I joked as if I were serious. 

"Well be careful going home okay Dakota"  

"I will be, I always keep pepper spray near by" She let out a small laugh and nodded. That was my cue to leave. I pulled my beanie once more and walked past the sliding doors out into the 65 degree parking lot. I should have brought my gloves. The bus stop is about 3 blocks from the library, so I started the small walk. Only about 10 minutes.

I guess you can call Ms.Walkers my best friend, but I don't know if I'm supposed to have a 25 year old as a best friend?

But I really enjoy having someone to relate to, I can't do that with my mother. The "Book Club" she is going to be late for is 6 women about twice her age reading the bible. I don't have anything against Jesus or God, I am catholic myself. But my mother takes it very far, and she gets upset with me when I mention gays or society. She believes many people are going to hell and I rather not discuss sin. I rather see good in people, but I do judge people I do admit. But she overdose it. 

Reaching the bus stop was relief, since it was cold and my feet are going numb. I huddle into a ball and sit on the wooden bench to wait the 3 minutes until 6:15. The light source above me flickers and shuts off, leaving it darker than I would like, since it is December and it will turn pitch black at 6:45. I hum the melody of Goodnight Moon hoping it distracts my body from the bitter cold. I can tell my mom is late because I can no longer feel my ears. 

I huff out a big angry breath of air and begin to walk home. As I walk down the curb of Oak and Stonewall two police cars, and an ambulance rush past me nearly making me deaf. I can feel all the heat in my ears again, although the cold is very obvious its suddenly gets very viscous and I have no feeling in my toes. I start to run home and hold my slugging bag over my shoulder tightly, as the sirens get even closer I can see what has happen. Two cars have crashed and one is completely flipped over, police struggle to get the door open and then it happens. I see the dangling cross made of dry noodles and glue upside down on the mirror, that's when I see my mothers blood covered face, blue eyes wide open and red. Jerking back and forth and then it explodes the whole thing, and everyone 3 feet away from it is blown backwards landing on the ground. 

"MOM!"