You Are Reading
Age: Middle School
Reading Level: 4.1
Chapter 1
It was one of those days when the rain just wouldn't stop. It was cold and wet and the only sounds were the downpour and the occasional blasts of thunder. The sun was blotted out just enough so that it wasn't dark enough to be dark, but it also wasn't light enough to be light.
Truly, it was a somber landscape.
But Lucy wasn't running to get out of the rain.
She was just walking along her way, down some old road with cracks woven throughout and weeds lacing the shoulders.
Wasn't she worried about getting wet? No, her clothes and long, black hair were already soaked to the point where the water just rolled off of her in beads. Wasn't she cold? Yes, but it was something she could feel that didn't hurt. All she ever heard in her foster home were harsh, scathing words and orders.
"Lucy! Why don't you ever wear anything nice? You're an embarrassment!"
"Lucy! I thought I told you to do the dishes! I don't care what kind of homework you have! DO THE DISHES!"
"Lucy! Why are you so incompetent?!"
Why was she? She didn't know. She didn't know why everyone hated her, but there must have been a reason. Her parents abandoned her and she had been bounced around from home to home as long as she could remember.
She was all alone.
The simple truth: she was running, no, walking away.
She was walking down that old, forgotten road simply so she didn't have to turn around and go back inside. Inside where her demons dwelt. Inside where no one cared. Inside where she was locked up, forgotten about, and no one bothered to care. Just the thought made her green eyes well up with tears.
Maybe she'd get lost. Lost would be nice. That way, she'd never have to go inside. No one would miss her, anyway. Maybe she'd die. While not the preferable option, at least she might get some peace that way. Maybe someone would finally notice her.
What she really wanted was someone who'd listen to her thoughts and feelings and legitimately CARE. Someone who'd let her get her two cents in without interrupting her. Someone who wouldn't put words in her mouth or accuse her of feeling things she didn't feel or thinking things she didn't think.
Her wishing was interrupted suddenly when a voice called out over the rain, "Looking for something?"