The Willow Tree

Chapter 2

Hey guys! It's me AzaleaEden! Sorry this chapter is so short but I really wanted it to end that way (you'll understand when you get there.) Part of being a writer is that I really like it when you like/comment, it gives me the motivation to keep writing! So please like and comment even if you don't usually do that! Thanks! Now, on with the story!

I took up a job at a knitting factory a few minutes walk from home, my hands are blistered and scabbed and my working conditions are less than ideal. I'm not working for myself, I'm working for Sawyer. The factory is threatening to fire anyone who doesn't knit enough, because there are far too many girls working and many more who would love to take anyone's place. As I walk down the long road to the factory I see Dylan and his posse I wisely turn onto a different street doubling my time to get to the factory, but they follow me. I pick up my pace into a brisk walk but they can walk faster. I don't have time to brace myself before I feel a hard slap on the side of my face, then a punch in the eye. The area stings and i can feel it begin to swell. I run as fast as my weak legs can take me.

I hurry into the large factory of helpless children, quickly I run up the stairs and sit with two other girls, both younger than me. The one to the right of me is knitting a pair of mittens and the other is a small girl who catches my eye, she has bold copper hair and small but somehow large eyes that make you feel immensely bad for her. She looks about eleven years old and she does not deserve this terrible place one bit.

"My name is Ruben what's yours?" she says with so much happiness that my heart breaks a tiny bit.

"I'm Willow," I say

"Can be best friends? Is your face okay?"

I give her a small smile, and answer both her questions "yes".

After hours of killing our hands, Ruben and I walk home together, as we turn around the first corner I see Dylan. I quickly step in front of Ruben, I'm certainly no match for Dylan but this little eleven-year-old is so small, so pure I couldn't bear for her to get hurt.

"Hey weeping Willow, are you going to cry on us? No Sawyer to save you now!" He has a grin on his face that can only be described as horrible. Ruben steps out from behind me looking shocked. I try to push her back but she won't budge, she just stares at Dylan tears streaming down her face.

"Ruben It's Ok, stay behind me and you'll be safe, please," I plead.

"I don't believe it," she stammers.

Then I look at Dylan, "I don't believe it," he says.

Ruben steps forward again so that she is in front of me.

"Dylan, how could you? Why would you say that?" she says, screams. "Is that what you do every day, bully people? Do Mom and Dad know?"

Her sad face hurts me even more than any of Dylan's taunts.