The Bench

The Walk to School

"At least swing by the new club after school!" Called Mrs. Woodfield from the kitchen.

She rolled her eyes as she grabbed her hoodie and threw it on.

"I'm late!" She called back. She hates lying, but she also hates disappointing people. Even if they annoy me. She thought grimly.

She closed the door and took a deep breath of the muggy Denver air. It was still pretty chilly this time of year, normal for Colorado. She watched her breath cloud out in front of her. Now for the next challenge; school.

She positioned her headphones snugly over her pierced ears and pressed the play button in preparation for the long walk to Machebeuf high.

Cecilia Iris wasn't tall. She wasn't short either, but she made up for her average height with her build. She used to get bullied for being able to eat as much as the boys and never gain an ounce of weight, but she learned to develop a, "Leave me alone" attitude. She usually wore a hoodie to disguise her skinny arms. That, and some ripped up short shorts with black leggings and some high topped army boots made up her look for the day... well, for any day really.

She slowed to wait for the little white man to appear, and readjusted her backpack. It only takes about 10 minutes to get to the school if she rides her bike, but she needed to get away from the house again, so she decided to leave early to avoid people. It's not that she hated people, or her family, simply, they were making her life difficult. She started walking before the light changed. Funny how things work. One day you think you'll be happy forever, and the next, disappointment after disappointment. She shook her head to clear her mind. "Lord, I give these frustrations to you." She murmured. Almost as if God himself had given inspiration, she remembered that there was Adoration tonight at Blessed Sacrament. She would have to take the bus, but it would be worth it.

Her thoughts were pulled toward the nice looking houses that she was passing. How much money would someone have to be able to afford a place like that? If only they would be interested in fostering someone like her. I bet they wouldn't care which after school club I chose. She sighed and closed her eyes for a second. "Sorry Lord." she apologized again. Sometimes it was so difficult to love people.

She checked her phone. Plenty of time to get to school so she wouldn't cut through the park this time. She didn't mind the homeless people, some of them were actually quite pleasant, but she needed to be alone with her thoughts this morning.

Too soon, she arrived at the looming high school. Grateful that she hadn't brought her bike, (the only bike racks were on the other side of the huge building) she took her headphones off and stuffed them in her backpack. She shivered as she stepped into the cold brick building. I can't wait till I'm 18 and I don't have to come here anymore.

A tall, blonde muscular looking guy turned the corner and narrowly missed running right into her. He was just about to start apologizing, but as he caught her eyes, his face became somber. "Sorry Cecilia." He muttered and awkwardly excused himself.

The feeling of the hot tears threatening to arise made her swallow hard, turn sharply and hurry to her homeroom before the bell rang.