Star Girl

The room was small, dark, and musky. I'd been here before. Cautiously, I took a step towards the door. She came out from behind it, then, a hand gun nestled next to her thigh. My breath became heavy and labored. My heart was pounding like a jack hammer in my chest. I stumbled backwards and tripped over a rug. There was a loud clacking coming closer to me. I struggled to my knees. I felt the cold, hard barrel of the gun against my temple. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited. There was a flash and crack...

I shot up in bed, my hand tangled in my long hair. I groaned and slammed my palm down on the alarm clock. How many times have I had this dream? To many for me to remeber. Perhaps that was something to be happy about... but I wasn't. I wanted the dream to go away. I removed my hand and slipped on shorts and a fresh shirt. Yawning, I walked over to the small bureau in the corner of my equally small room. I ran a brush through my hair. I tied it back with an elastic and sighed at my image in the mirror. There was a dark purple circle under my right eye.

I got up and walked into the kitchen. I made a pot of coffee and a small breakfast. Mother walked in just as I was pouring her cup. I saw the black bags under her eyes even with the pounds of make-up she had applied. Obviously she was still sobering up.

"What are you staring at?!" She snapped.

"Oh-uh-," I stammered!

"Answer me when I'm talking to you!" She commanded.

"I was just think how nice you looked." I blurted out.

"Good of you to notice." She said, tugging on her black blazer.

I just nodded and waited for her to continue.

"Now for your chores today. I need the laundry done, bathrooms scrubbed, and my room needs a good cleaning." She stated.

"Yes, Ma'am, but-" I began

"But what?" She nearly shouted.

"I-I was hopin' that maybe I could go and visit with my friends today." I looked down at the counter top.

"Ashley," She said, walking around the counter to stand infront of me."Don't ever disregard what I tell you to do!"

She reenforced this with hard slap across my face. I stumbled back and gasped. "Go get my purse."

I stumbled out of the kitchen to the dinning room. I grabbed her bag and keys from the table and took them back to her. She snatched them from my hand and walked to the door. I waited for the slam and the car to start. When it did, I dumbed the contents down the drain. I set my hands down on the counter tops. Before the sigh had even escaped my lips, a tear hit the counter. The sting was still there on my face. I punched the counter and paced the floor.

I heard it then. The sound of an idling engine. I raced to the front window. There it was, my knight in a white van. The mail man. I forced myself to wait till he had moved on down the block. Slowly, I walked down to the mail boxer, keeper of my future. I retrieved the letters and walked back into the house, holding my breath all the while. I shut the door behind me and flipped through all the bills and junk. I fle the thick, soft stationary then. I fingered the engraved address. I took a knife from its drawer and slit the seal. The letter fell out easily. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I read the letter slowly, then again. I choked on a sob. I was free. I was leaving this Hell hole. I was going to London, England. I was going to Angelstone's Academy for Young Girls. I was free...