Searching for Safety

Chapter 1

 I sighed and looked down at the ground, the soft green grass was littered with tiny white flower petals. I leaned against the trunk of the tree and rested one of my legs on the branch I was sitting on. I could go higher, but judging by the orange and pink sky, I would have to go home soon. The leaves swayed in the breeze, sending more of the Willow's flower petals to the ground below. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, relaxing in the warmth of the setting sun, surrounded by the sent of summer. Even knowing today was my last day of freedom before school started again, I was completely content. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I sat up, carefully lowering myself down onto another sturdy branch before hopping to the ground. I looked at the screen, seeing a text from my mom. I started walking home without bothering to open the message.

I opened the door and immediately could smell mashed potatoes, my favorite food. I shook my head with a small smile and closed the door behind me.

"Elaina? Can you come set the table for me please?" My mom called in. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed three plates from the cabinet and three sets of silverware. I set the table and made sure we had enough napkins, then sat down

"Thank you. I would've had your dad do it but he hurt his wrist." She said sitting next to me. I eyed the bandage around my dad's wrist and nodded.

"It's fine, it's not like it's hard to do." I said starting to serve everyone. She smiled and looked at her plate as my dad grunted. I had almost no appetite, so I ate slowly and only ate half of what I would normally eat, they didn't notice. I cleared my dishes from the table and washed them, then went up to my room.

I changed into a light gray tee shirt and black shorts, then brushed my hair into a ponytail. I went through my backpack making sure I had everything I'd need for tomorrow and sighed. My nerves were running high now. I thought moving back would be less nerve racking. I walked over to my dresser and looked in the mirror, I had no makeup on from today and I looked tired. I grabbed my medicine bottle from the corner and took one of the small white pills, hoping I'd be able to relax enough to fall asleep tonight. I turned my light off and my fairy lights on, I couldn't sleep in total darkness even at 18. I set my alarm to go off half an hour earlier than I had originally planned, locked my door, and laid down. I starred at my ceiling, my eyes following the patters in the plaster, trying not to think. My light gray curtains swayed gently and I realized my window was still cracked open, but I shrugged and let myself drift into a dreamless sleep.

I jolted upright and quickly grabbed my phone, turning the alarm off. I took a deep breath and got up slowly, my heart still pounding. That was gonna take some getting used to. I went into the bathroom and locked the door, then I stripped down and got in the shower, not bothering to wait for the water to get warm. After I was done I got out and and dried off with my towel enough to put my underwear on. I wrapped my hair in the towel and put my robe on, then went back into my room and turned the light on. I opened my dresser drawer and pulled out a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and quickly pulled them on. Then I finished towel drying my hair and used my blow dryer to dry it the rest of the way. My hair had a natural wavy curl to it, it was always really obvious when I showered in the morning rather than the night before. I brushed through it and pulled it into a high ponytail, smiling at my reflection in the mirror. The shifting shades of light and dark brown were more noticeable with my hair like this.

After digging around for a shirt I found a black t-shirt that said "Need More Sleep." I chuckled holding it up and put it on. I decided to do light makeup, neutral browns for the eyeshadow and subtle pink lipstick, then I winged my eyeliner like I always did. I grabbed my shoes from beside my bed and put them on, then grabbed my backpack and went downstairs. It was weird to be the only one awake and out of bed, I was used to at least my mom being awake, but I was up pretty early. I checked my phone and headed out the door, walking to school. Technically I didn't have to walk, I could catch a bus, but I didn't feel like going through all the unnecessary paperwork to get a bus pass when I could just leave fifteen minutes early and walk. As long as I got to school on time it wasn't a problem. I shifted my bag on my shoulders so the weight was distributed properly and sighed. My nerves were starting to act up.