Apartment 306

Chapter 1

I was ten when my parents died and though, I don't remember them much. I do remember being happy. My name was Macy May Anderson but I never really cared for my name so I just went by Mac. My grandmother hated it. She always said that I should appreciate the name my parents gave me. She took me in and raised me but to her, I was just a burden. She said so often. To her I was just someone she felt she had to take care of because we shared the same blood. I wasn't angry. She was the way she was. I tried my best to stay out of her way and for years it seemed to work for us.

I learned to grow up fast after my parents died. Taking care of myself anyway I could. I was mature for my age but that's because I had to be. I didn't go out, party, or mess around like my friends did. They never understood that I was just too busy trying to survive. By the time I was seventeen and Grandma died I didn't even bat an eye. Sure I was sad and I knew I would miss the cranky old woman. She was the only family I had but I've been taking care of myself for so long. I was use to being alone. Truth be told I didn't really know her. She was gone most days and only came home at night. She yelled a lot but ultimately she was harmless. So, even though I was now alone in this world I knew I would be fine.

Since I was seventeen at the time, I ended up going to some group home for girls until I turned eighteen in the summer and finish out high school. As much as I hated that group home it was better than living on the streets. So for a full year, I lived out my senior year surrounded by complete strangers. It was strange at first but I learn to get used to it. My friends were sympathetic but really what could they do.

By the time I graduated I was practically begging to be kicked out. It's been a full week since I turned eighteen and I would be lying if I said I wasn't a tiny bit nervous. I stood out front looking into my new apartment building feeling for the first time since my grandmother died completely alone. I didn't have many possessions so it took hardly any time to pack up my grandma's old car and take off to my new place.

Besides the Occasional good-bye from some of the girls. I don't think anyone really cared. The girls at the group home were just like me. Too busy learning to survive and getting by to take the time to get to know someone who they knew was going to leave them eventually.

Grandma's home was sold to pay off past debts but the car was given to me. Even though I was alone and had no job, The one solace I had was both parents and grandmother had left me everything when they had died. I was in complete tears when I found out. I was lucky. I had no idea what I was going to do after I turned 18 but come to find our if I managed it right. I could live comfortable for the rest of my life. I didn't want to depend on it though. So College starts in the fall.

I picked a place not too far from my new college but far enough from my home town. I still couldn't believe this place was all mine. Lakewood apartment 305. The landlord was apprehensive at first but once I explain my situation and paid for the first years rent in full. He quickly gave me the place. It was a little over seven grand but I figured that would be one last bill I would need to worry about.

I didn't have much furniture only what was save from my grandmother place once most of everything was sold. I only kept what I thought I might need but I figured I didn't need much. It was a one bedroom apartment with cream-colored walls and hardwood floors, just on the outskirts of the city. It was a fairly safe area so I wasn't scared to be alone. It wasn't very big but me being one person that was fine.

None of that was why I picked this place though. It was the balcony that had me sold. It had a perfect view of the city that took my breath away. The group home felt like a cage. It even had bars on all the windows. All you could see was brick. It was depressing but this view had just the right view. Where it could be dark enough that I could sit back and look up at the stars and close enough where I could see the lights of the city.