Sage

Chapter Three

"G-good afternoon Father," Sage stuttered as she bowed her head.

"Drugs?! You've been abusing drugs?! What is wrong with you, huh?" Mr Woods shouted across from Sage.

Sage wondered how he found that out, they hardly took note of her at home. Nobody knew she had been using, nobody except for her dealer.

"You cause nothing but trouble. Depression was a cover-up for your filthy habit! Who else knows?" Mr Woods questioned, looking at his daughter. His nose flared and jaw clenched. "WHO ELSE?!"

Sage jumped a little, "Nobody Father."

With swift movement, Mr Woods was in front of Sage with his hands on her neck, his face in hers. She let loose tears that she had held back. Clawing at her father's hold.

"I should kill you right now. What a disgrace you are," his eyes had a sheet of hatred as he looked at the girl before him. He let go and sat back in his seat, straightening his tie then shirt at his wrists.

Sage coughed as she held on to her aching neck, "I apologize Father." She croaked.

Mr Woods looked out the window, "Henry, stop the car," he then looked at Sage, "Get out."

"W-what?" Sage was stunned, "I mean I beg your pardon, Father."

"You clearly do not appreciate all we do for you. Right under my nose, you take drugs, under my roof?" He calmly said, as though he had no energy left to carry out the speech he had prepared.

"I'm so..." Sage started but was cut off by her father's hand gesture.

"Too late with all that, I will not accept a junkie for a daughter," he shook his head and rubbed his temples, "I should've seen this coming, your mother was a junkie before I cleaned her up," he said more to himself.

"Where am I supposed to go daddy?" Sage sounded like his six-year-old little girl, with tears staining her face.

"I do not care, you chose this. Live with the consequences. Henry open the door, let Sage out."

"No daddy, I have nowhere to go. Please don't do this," Sage cried.

Henry hesitated but opened the door. Sage sat still, refusing to get out.

"Sage, get out or you'll be forced out. Stop causing a scene," Mr Woods said through gritted teeth.

"No, I'm not leaving. Y-you... You can't do this," Sage sobbed.

"Henry get her bags out and get her out," Mr Woods ordered then took his phone out to occupy himself, "Please bring my laptop as well."

"Yes Sir," Henry, the family chauffeur obliged.

"No Daddy, nooo!" Sage cried as she looked at her father who no longer acknowledged her presence.

Henry went to the boot of the car and took out a pink suitcase and a laptop bag. He knocked on Mr Woods's window, it rolled down and Mr Woods took the laptop bag from Henry. He then returned to the open door.

"Miss Woods, if you may," Henry held the open door as he waited for Sage to get out of the car. Sage sat still, looking at her father, contemplating on what to do.

"I will not change my mind, get out now," Mr Woods said without looking up from his laptop.

Sage reluctantly exited the car. Henry closed the door, signaled to her suitcase and returned to the driver's seat. Sage stood facing the car, as it took off slowly. She stared at her reflection move along the windows standing by her suitcase, watching the car pick up speed as it drove further away.

She could not believe what just happened, maybe it was punishment and her father would return. Maybe he was scaring her and sure enough she was scared and learned a lesson. She'll have to wait around here.

She wiped her face and looked around, taking in her surroundings. She was in a central place, it had a lot of shops and flats. Behind her was a coffee shop. She gave a small thanks and walked towards it with her suitcase.

Has her life become one out of a suitcase? She wondered. Just days ago, this same suitcase had traveled from a facility to home, now it is traveling to a coffee shop. She was certain May packed her bag at the orders of her father. What did her mother say to all this? Her thoughts were all over the place and were cut short as the bell above the door frame rang out. She walked up to the counter and stopped. She checked her school blazer inside pocket for any change and took it out. She bought a can of cool drink and went to occupy a long table by the window.

She planned on waiting there until the shiny long black car came back.

She was relieved to be in a shop that hardly had business, well at least not on that day. She imagined she looked suspicious. Sitting alone with a big pink suitcase still dressed in red and navy school uniform.

She sat there cradling the can in her hands. Wondering how her father found out. She wondered if it was May who found a stash she forgot about. Or an empty plastic. Did May know all along? Because she played sick when it came to May. What did her father mean about her mother? Her mind felt like it would burst from all the thoughts and the aching.

She thought back to how the drug was given to her and she was told that it would not harm her because she is disciplined so she won't get addicted. Little did her giver know that she was not strong-willed, she found solace in sniffing white powder and feeling invincible. She found power in feeling on top of the world and not beneath it. Her thoughts didn't attack her, instead, she held them hostage and laughed at the pain that attempted to numb her euphoria. She got hooked and used all her pocket money on her addiction. She worked hard at keeping it hidden, and fortunately her parents would go weeks without seeing their daughter. She convinced May she was under stress and May seemed to have believed her.

"...about to close."

She believed her father would return, she'll give him a few more hours. He can't leave her stranded. She is only 17 years of age. Her father would not do that.

"Ma'am..." a loud voice disrupted her thoughts. Sage looked up at the lady who had taken her order earlier. She looked irritated, "We are about to close."

"Okay," Sage answered. She took her phone out to check the time. It was shortly before 18h00. She looked out the window and saw an image of the family car. How she wished it was not in her mind.

She turned around to ask the lady a question, but she was no longer there. Sage sighed before unlocking her phone, then went to contacts. She clicked on her mother's contact and listened to the ringing. It rang until it went to voicemail. She tried three more times, still no answer.

"Let me try my father," she sighed then called his number. It was off. It went straight to voicemail. She groaned and thought of calling Chelsea, but she did not want to face her yet, especially with the whole truth. Chelsea would be furious.

So she decided to call her dealer. The only person who would not judge her right now. She placed the phone to her ear as it rang, after the fourth ring a voice greeted.

"Uhm hey, please come get me..."