Shadow Girl

Prologue

There once was a girl, whose family was falling apart, who felt as if no one was trying to hold it together, except for herself. She used to be bullied at school, was indifferent to the bullying, so the bullying stoped. She was Invisible, except when she was needed. So this story is the story of a Shadow Girl. 

Chapter 1

The rain drips down the window in my bedroom. I'm sitting curled up on my bed, thinking. My family is falling apart. I am invisible. Unless I'm needed. I'm never wanted, not anymore. I hear footsteps coming up the stairs. whoever it is passes by my door without even pausing. It wasn't always like this, it used to be we were all happy, but it slowly started to deteriorate. Same with doors. They always used to be open, all of them, all the time, but not anymore. Now even my door is closed. The front door opens and slams shut. Dad. He is late again. My sister, Maria, used to get worried whenever anyone was very late. then she got over it, but still didn't like dad not telling us when he would be late, but now she doesn't care at all. Dad was supposed to be home by five, but it is seven. After a few minutes dad comes upstairs. I hear my parents bedroom door open and close twice, and then mom knocks on my door as she goes by, telling me it is time for dinner. I slip off the bed, and wince as my door squeaks open. I slowly walk downstairs, and sit at the table. Maria is across from me, and mom sits down to my right as dad brings the food over. I scoop my rice into my mouth as fast as I can, hopeing to get away from the table before I have to talk to anyone. "Don't eat so fast. It isn't a race." Mom looks pointedly from Maria to me. I slow down just a bit, and give up completely while the cold, cut off conversation begins between mom and dad. They talk as if they have just met, and have already decided not to like each other. "You're late. Again." Says mom, eyeing dad. "I got groceries, down in the U.S." Says dad, moving the rice, peas and corn around on his plate. "Oh. Well you could have taken the girls with you. It would be nice for them to get out." Says mom sharply. "It was raining." Dad replies blandly. The talk dies down. "How was school?" Asks dad, breaking the silence. Maria and I both mumble a good. How can I tell them about school? All I do is work, and hide behind the tree at recess. No one calls me by name, they all just say Shadow Girl. Sometimes even the teachers forget. No one even really adresses me, unless they need me. I wonder if most people have forgotten my name. 

After dinner I hesitate in front of Maria's door. We used to be really close, but now she just wants alone time. We are both introverts, so when we were told that we going to stop homeschooling and go to public school, we were both shocked. I take a breath and nock on the door. "I'm having alone time." Maria says in a robotic voice, probably because she has to tell me so much. I feel like I am the only one that would care if this family fell apart, split down the middle. I just don't see why we can't all just try. I am close to stopping myself. It might seem like i'm not trying to hold everything together, but I am. I really really am.