Tales of Purple Lake

chapter three - new life

I've been home for a month..

I hopped out of bed and headed into the shower. The tiles were white with small peach coloured flowered tiles randomly placed. There was a window above the toilet next to the shower, a cabinet mirror on the other side above the porcelain sink. And in the middle was a square bath. My personal bathroom, I had always wanted one. Now it just felt lonely.

I pulled off my boot and placed it to the side before pulling a bag over the cast on my arm. I was glad the hospital rented me a shower chair. I sat down, turned on the water and let it soak my body.

I scrubbed myself clean, before drying off and pulling on blue jeans with a teal crop top that pulled over my head with a t-shirt fit. I put a converse high top on my left foot before putting the boot back on my right.

I was finishing my last year of school..

Fancy doing that with a bloody big space boot on my foot. I sighed, pulling out my brush and running it through my long dark blonde hair. I pulled my hair back into a low pony tail, before bushing my teeth.

I stared at myself in the mirror for a little while, my pale face now held a sadness and had bags underneath them I felt like no one could understand.

Except me..

The lady who has been staying with me has been really kind, although I never spoke much to her she taught me the basics of being an adult. I could already cook some, clean but the old woman had some good tips and tricks.

She had wrinkles under her eyes and always wore her grey hair pulled back into a bun. Her brown eyes held kindness and sincerity all the time. Her smile was polite, and she was just like how I'd imagine my grandma would be like. Always baking treats, and making different foods. She always picked books from the library, and always picked me up something from there too to keep my mind occupied.

She even helped organise the house, it was already paid off, my family left behind money that would help me get by with bills and food and even a car. She told me that once I have been approved that she would take me to buy my first car, but in the meantime has been helping me build my resume to find a part-time job.

My father's work company sent flowers, sharing their condolences. They arrived the day after my small ceremony for my parents. I picked beautiful stone headstones, they curved at the top and a metal plaque which had their names and years of birth and death. Around the outside of the plaque was engraved with a leafy pattern that flowed around nicely. It was just something plain, but respectful of their lives and for taking care of me.

I made my way downstairs and breakfast was waiting for me by my volunteer, Margaret. "Good morning, dear." She smiled as I sat down, putting a plate of bacon and eggs in the middle of the table. I nodded, returning her good morning with a grumpy moan of my own and helping myself to a serving of bacon and eggs. I gobbled them down fast, and sipped on my coffee that was slowly waking me up.

"The nurses called, next week you need to go in for a check up to get this boot off your foot." She sipped her coffee and continued, "I also feel like you are doing amazing with your recovery, the cast won't be on for much longer either."

I thanked her, hoping that they would come off soon. Often I have felt like shoving a fork or a stick down there and scratching the impossible itch from the cast, at least I could take the boot off to scratch my foot. The cast, bloody painful.

"Once the boot and cast is off, we will get you a car. It will be a second hand one for now, you can upgrade when you save up money from your job." She smiled, but looked a little sad. "But, once we have done that, I'm afraid I'm going to have to move on and let you live."

I knew that this day was coming, she has been teaching me as much as she could so I could fend for myself. She mentioned that even though she can't work herself, that she felt like she needed to help our community by giving her time to people like me. She truly was a kind soul. It made me a little sad to think that she had to go.

"I'll always be one phone call away if you get stuck, you know that." She touched my wrist, rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand. "But, there are people out there who need me more than you do right now."

I nodded in understanding, if it weren't for this woman I would have been so lost. "Thank you, Margaret. For everything." I smiled, it was a genuine smile. The first in a long time, I was truly appreciative of everything this human has done for me.

She nodded, picking up her purse. She asked if I was ready and I just nodded, I was nervous. I was finally going to school. I followed her out the door and made my way down the path to her car.

The drive to school was quiet, my nerves were bubbling up in my stomach. Twisting knots made me feel a little sick. I didn't know what to expect, I just knew that I had to concentrate on my school work and knuckle down so I can get it over and done with. I thanked Margaret, and headed up towards the front gate.

The school was small, in the front entrance was a school office which was where I picked up my schedule. Down further, was a gymnasium, and the rest was a playground. My first was roll call in block C, room one. I made my way down past the library and a sheltered seating area before I hit the blocks.

I found my room, and headed to the door. Students were already seated, which would explain why the halls were empty. Everyone's eyes were on me, mostly curious as to who I was.

"Ah, you must be Miss Monday." The teacher looked at me from under his glasses, pushing them up further over his grey eyes. "I understand that it is your first day, but I don't appreciate tardiness. Be here on time." I nodded and mumbled an apology before I took the only empty seat in the room in the middle row and sat down. I pulled out a book about zombies and began reading while I waited for names to be called.