Journal
Nobody understands me. The way I feel can not be explained. I feel alone and even unloved at times. But that still doesn't explain what I usually feel. As I write this, tears well up in my eyes and I feel the same feeling that there are not enough words to explain and the same feeling that constantly causes my eyes to water. When I speak, I feel misunderstood. The word 'misunderstood' matches me so well because that is what my name translates to. Cheyenne. Cheyenne is my name, and the exact translation is 'incoherent speaker'. As I grew up, people treated me as if I were foreign and incapable of solving problems. But I coped with my life knowing there was no way out. I was trapped. Like a castle in siege. Like monsters in the underworld. And now I am free. Free from the sorrow and despair. I found the secret passageway. But who knows what that passageway would find for me.
PROLOGUE
"Where is she? The authorities are onto us," he said, sweating like a pig. "I have no clue. That little piece of crap. She probably did it just to piss us off," she huffed. He nodded and exhaled sharply, putting his right hand on his hip. "Remember how devastated her parents were?" he cackled. "The deed had to be done, didn't it?" a familiar husky voice sounded from behind them. Whoosh. He immediately halted his laughter, and turned around as his wife fell to the ground. Whoosh. The noise came again. But it was too late, for the white light had already consumed him.
CHAPTER ONE
I stared at the bright traffic lights, thinking of where I would go. I was a 14-year-old-girl roaming the streets of L.A. At least it was better than being a maid at my old foster home. That was the craziest life in the world! It was so sad the way my so-called "parents" made me run around like Cinderella. But that was my past, and I am so glad that I'm done with that life. I looked down at the gum-stained sidewalk. What was I going to do? I pondered this as I tapped the cross walk button numerous times so I could cross the street. I noticed the sky starting to turn a milky gray color as the walking signal showed at the other end of the street. I took baby steps, not caring how long it took me to get to the other side. Symbolic for my life. Har, har. I guess I was taking forever because before I knew it, car horns were booming in front of me. I heard the rhythmic steps that my feet were making as I sped up. Tap. Tap. Tap. How was I going to pull this off? Where was I going to sleep? I stepped up onto the curb and stopped in front of a trashy fabric store. Great, I was in the bad part of LA. I started to notice a few people rushing along the sidewalk, some with children, some couples, and some people that were on their own, like me. Why were they walking so fast? I heard a toddler scream clearly, "It is RAINING!!" That explained the running. How did I not notice the rain? I guess I really didn't notice anything anymore.
I looked behind the fabric outlet and there was a lot. A grassy lot covered by a tarp. This would be the best sheltering I could get. It was a good thing I brought my only heavy jacket. It would keep me warm. I started making my way to the narrow gated grass lot. Tap. Tap. Tap. It was going to be a long night.
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I woke up the next morning, surprised that I was still in one piece. I was still a little wet, so I decided to stand up and take a walk. I slid under the gate (I was sickeningly skinny) and started walking towards the 80's style store a couple doors down. You never know what you could find in a retro store! I was in my own little world.
"Hey, watch out!" someone called. I turned my head to see a blonde teenager on a bicycle rushing towards me. "Oh my gosh!" I jumped to the side, and the bike skidded to a stop. "Are you out of your mind?" I yelled as I brushed myself off. "Look, I am so sorry! Let me help you up." He reached for my hand, but I pulled it away. "I don't need your help!" I snapped. "Well, it does look like you could use a hand. Come on, I could give you a ride." He offered. "But I really don't know you. I don't know. This doesn't feel right." I said. His lips began to tilt up into a cocky smile. "I promise I'm not a stalker or anything." I stifled a giggle. "I wasn't saying that you were a stalker. I was saying that I don't know you, so how am I supposed to trust you? Besides, you just nearly ran me over. How is that a good first impression?" I arched an eyebrow. "Alright, you got me there." He nodded. "But I was just feeling in the mood to be helpful today. You know, treat others the way you would want to be treated? Reach out to others? All that Disney pep-talk stuff." I could'nt resist the urge to laugh. "Just take my hand and I can take you wherever you want." He chuckled. "That would be nice if I had a place to go." I mumbled as I took his hand. He didn't hear me. He pulled me to my feet. "So, you from around here?" he asked. I looked into his hazel eyes and nodded. "Hmm, well my name's Cody." He smiled warmly. That smile made me calm down. "Hi, I'm Cheyenne." We both smiled together. "So, what street do you live on?" Cody asked. I thought about what I was going to say. I shifted uncomfortably. "I, uh, don't really live anywhere." I looked down. "What do you mean. Like you are homeless?" He looked at his bike. "I guess you could say that." I shrugged. "It's a long story. I can explain it later." "Okay." Cody nodded. "So, do you have an idea of where you would like to go?" Cody asked politely. "I'll think about it as we ride." I said. He got on his bike and I hopped on his back. We were off.
