A Week With Him

Chapter 1 - Small Memories

*Eleven years ago*

I hid behind the bins to stay out of sight from the mean girls in my class, I didn't really mind sitting here since I don't run around on the field anyway. I was crouched down on the hard concrete ground just flicking and kicking stones, I was waiting for my friend to come back, he said he'll return soon.

Once I got bored of kicking stones around I took out a penny from my pocket which I found on the walk to school this morning. Mummy said if I keep it with me it'll bring good luck. I smiled and rubbed away the bit of dirt that got stuck to it, and then flipped the coin in the air several times to entertain myself again.

I hummed a nursery rhyme as I continued flipping the coin, making it go higher and higher by the minute. I was startled a little when I didn't catch it this time, the penny hit the ground making a loud 'chink' sound and rolled away out into the open. Without thinking I scrambled to my feet and ran out to get it back, by the time I picked it up the mean girls spotted me and rushed over. I clutched my penny hard and moved away a little, trying not to look in their eyes. "What's that you've got there Casey?"one of them asked me. I took another step back. "Nothing,"I lied, but I clamped my fingers over the penny tighter making it slightly obvious I was hiding something. She grabbed my hand and pried it open making me whimper loudly, her eyes shining when she found the penny in my palm. Of course it wasn't worth anything, but to a five year old girl it seemed important. She snatched it away from me while the other girl pushed me backwards, I tried desperately to get it back and my face turned red from the effort, but I was smaller than them.

After a while I got so upset that I actually screeched,"It's mine! Give it BACK!" Some of the other kids stopped playing chase and football to watch this fight, unfortunately the teachers were too far away to notice. Both the girls shoved me roughly in the chest sending me to the ground on my back. My vision even went blurry for a second from how harsh the push was, the back of my head was throbbing badly but the girls just snickered and ran off quickly before the teachers could catch them in the act.

I had my eyes closed for a few seconds before opening them again and sitting up slowly, I touched the back of my head to find a bit of blood left behind on my fingers. A few kids were pointing at me and calling for a teacher. I sniffed as I rubbed my scraped elbows before I suddenly heard a loud screaming from the whole playground. "She's bleeding!!"everyone shrieked. I was confused for a moment, I wasn't bleeding that much. But when I finally got back on my feet, I realised everyone was screaming and crying over the girls who pushed me, I saw them both lying unconscious on the ground, a pool of blood surrounding them. The teachers called the police and an ambulance while trying to calm the children and ushering them away from the scene fast.

I was trying to find my friend while my whole class pushed by to get inside, he said he'd be back and I wanted his comfort, I felt scared and confused as to what just happened. In the distance I could see him since he was the only one wearing a white hoodie while the rest of us had to wear school uniforms, he didn't attend our school but he'd sneak into the playground to talk to me. I was always alone so he made me feel better. When I squinted my eyes a little more I could see him firmly holding something in hand, but I couldn't make out what it was as he disappeared into the woods surrounding our school.

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We all got sent home early, everyone was crying and shaking while I just rested my head down on the table as I waited for mummy to pick me up, it hurt too much and I felt dazed. When I thought of all that blood in the playground I was afraid I'd be sick, but luckily the bile stayed in my throat.

Mummy made a great fuss over me when she reached my classroom, hugging me tight and kissing my chubby baby cheeks. "Casey my baby, are you alright?"she asked urgently. I didn't know how to respond but mummy and my teacher were understanding about it, realising I'm in shock.