Prologue
You know,in movies they show one pivotal moment that changes the character’s life. One decision they made that irrevocably alters their path in life.
It always seems so minor at the time, but turns out to be the catalyst for some huge event that transforms their perception of the world.
I never believed in these moments. They were always cinematic views on what the world should be like.
I never believed it.
Until it happened to me.
One
As the sunlightfilters through the dingy windows, I slowly open my eyes. Snores from the bedroom flow out into the living room where I am sleeping.
Last night was a good night compared to normal. I was able to come in and catch a few Z’s for a couple of hours in peace.
My mother turned her tricks early enough to score some smack and pass out by two in the morning, giving me a solid four hours of rest. Well, if you call tossing and turning and waking at every noise, sleep. But beggars can’t be choosers, and I rather have a night of tossing and turning than waking up to a stranger’s touch.
I shiver thinking about it.
I get up quietly, making my way to the bathroom. I give myself a whore’s bath, not willing to wake the dragon this early. Nothing good would come of that. At least she’s in there alone. The nights she’s not, I end up sleeping under the stars. During the summer it’s all right, but in the fall and winter, it gets too cold.
After I clean up, I rush out the door. Once outside, I take a deep breath and relax. I have about twenty minutes to change my clothes and get something for breakfast.
I make my way to the back of the trailer park, looking around before slipping through the small hole in the fence. I used to hop the fence, but then this hole showed up. I avoided the area for a while, worried someone else would find my hiding spot, but after a while, I realized no one else comes back here.
Anyone would be crazy to come back here.
The woods behind the trailer park are owned by the Rockfords. No one has actually seen their house back here, but we all know it’s here somewhere. Anytime anyone goes down their driveway, they are met with a shotgun to the face before they can even get to the house.
That’s why I stay on the outskirts. No one ever bothers me, and I never get close enough for them to know I’m here.
It’s the perfect place to hide my bag with my clothes and my box of food. After years of hiding out here, I’ve got the perfect little setup.
Lifting myself up into the tree, I pull my box of food from the branches. I hide my items up here so no one can see it, but it also offers it some semblance of protection.
I pull out a honeybun and a bottle of water. Not much, but the shelter only gives out what they can. When I was younger, I would get more because they felt bad for the young girl coming in to get food all by herself. Then I got older, grew a chest, and they started giving me less. I guess when you look old enough to get a job; they expect you to get one.
The one problem with that is no one wants to hire a girl from the trailer park who has no ID or social security card, and well, they can’t legally hire me.
My mom won’t help me get what I need, so I’m stuck in limbo until I turn eighteen. Then I can apply for all that stuff on my own and get a job the next town over. I can save up and get out of this shithole.
If only.
Mom would say I’m lost in daydreams. She seems to think I’ll never leave this place, but I’m determined to prove her wrong.
Not everyone wants to end up living in a dump and following in their mother’s footsteps.
Leaning back against the tree trunk, I close my eyes and eat. I listen to the birds chirp and the leaves rustle, giving me a sense of comfort.
After finishing my breakfast, I pull out a T-shirt. I switch it out for my current shirt and stuff it back in the bag. My jeans should be good enough for now. I sniff the shirt to make sure it smells okay. It still has a use or two before I’ll have to sneak change from the trailer to wash them.
Putting my items back in their hiding spot, I jump back down and look around. I didn’t expect to see anything, but I still check every time.
Then I rush back to the trailer park and to the bus stop just in time. It has just pulled up as the trailer park kids load on.
I get on last, sliding into an empty seat.
