I'm running, the wind whipping through my hair, my legs pumping, aching with the speed with which I was running. My breath comes in ragged gasps, and when I look behind me there are streaks of colors, almost like lightning.
I'm pulled out of my dream by a voice calling to me. "Rose... Rose time for school!" I groan in protest "Coming, mom!" I get dressed and using my upper body, I pull myself into my wheelchair. I drive out to the kitchen where I find my mother making my favorite breakfast, chocolate chip pancakes with bacon and eggs.
As I drive to the table she comes over and sets my plate in front of me, "Are you excited about your surgery?" She asks, a smile on her face. "Yea," I say, trying to act casual but I was screaming on the inside. I never liked the doctors at the hospital, their smiles were always too wide, showing too many teeth. But at the same time, I knew that this was the only way to be normal again. My appointment is in two months and I'll never be ready for it.
When I was eight years old, my parents and I were on our way to a destination, they wouldn't tell me where we were going. That's when we were hit by a vehicle. The next thing I knew I was upside down struggling to breathe and my mom was screaming. It turns out, somehow the car caught fire after, even though there was no gas leak. My dad went into a coma and died three weeks later.
I arrive at the school and like any day I search for my best friend Lilly, we've been friends since we were in first grade. Even after the crash when all my other friends left me, she stayed.
Finally, I spot her sitting on the steps to go into the school with her head in her hand. I watch her debating if I should go over or not, that's when she looks up and I see her tear-stained face but she nods beckoning me to come over.
Before I can say anything to her she says something that I never expected. " R-Rose I-I'm leaving." I just sit there and try to process what she said. "No, this can't be happening." My mind is racing. But... Lilly, you can't leave... " I'm sorry Rose I have no choice in this but stay safe ok?" "Safe? Safe from what?" My eyes get blurry as hot tears run down my face, I watch her get up and walk into the building.
All of a sudden I feel someone's eyes boring into the back of my head so I turned around and looked to see a boy about my age. He looks to be about five foot eight with brown hair and deep green eyes. Our eyes lock then he just... disappears like he was never there. I blink and shake my head just as the bell goes off indicating school has now started. so I use the ramp and head inside as I wipe away my tears. " Who was that? Was I dreaming or..."
Later that day during lunch I sit alone. Unlike me, Lilly has other friends she can sit with. No one bothers to look at me as they walk by my table. I look down at my food. An untouched grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup sit on my tray.
"You gonna eat that food or stare at it?" I look up and my eyes widen. "You're the guy who was watching me from across the courtyard earlier!" He looks at me smirking "Why so surprised hmm?" His green eyes sparkle with mischief. I feel my face warm and look down. I hear the thud of his tray as he sets it down sitting across from me. "So Brownies, what's your name?" I glare up at him, "Why are you even sitting here no one sits with me so why you? I'm not saying anything else till you tell me your name." I roll my eyes as he waits for my answer.
"Rose, now tell me why you're sitting here… please." He shrugs, picking up his sandwich "You looked like you could use a friend plus I'm the new kid." "Well new kid what's your name?" I ask as he takes a bite of food "Alex" He says swallowing, "Alex Smith." "Well Alex, it was a nice chat but I have to go." With that, I take my tray and wheel away from him.
As I head around the corner the lunch bell rings "dang it!" I go over to the left side of the hallway, pressing myself close to the wall. " Why do you let people push you around like that?" I jump looking to see Alex next to me leaning against the bricks. "They don't." "Ok then…" he's smirking then all of a sudden he grabs the handles of my chair pushing into the people who are in the way. "Excuse us!" Everyone jumps out of the way scowling at me. I avoid all their eyes as we pass them.
"Why did you do that?" he laughs when I ask him "You need to get in there, make yourself be seen or you'll be in the dark forever." "You say that like you know how it feels." I look up at him as he looks down at me, his eyes are closed off. "That's because I do." "What do you-" he cuts me off before I can ask the question that's in my mind. "Where's your next class?" "down this hallway…" he walks me there in complete silence as I look ahead. He stops near the entrance. "Well, here we are." I smile at him as he turns to face me. "Thank you Alex and…sorry for prying. He shrugs as he looks into my icy blue eyes "it's ok… we'll see you soon." He turns away from me making his way up the stairs as I watch his back. He turns the corner and I head into my art class.
I go to my desk and pull my backpack off the handles of my wheelchair, setting the bag on the floor next to me. Putting my books in front of me I grab my sketchbook and start doodling with the pen I found in the bottom of my bag. Before I'm finished with it I realize I'm drawing a picture of myself with lightning streaks behind me. "What in the world…? First, seeing Alex disappear right before my eyes then this? What's going on?" I think as I look at the thing I just drew. Slamming the book shut I stuff it back in its place in my bag. "Rose, why are you putting your sketch pad away?" Mrs. Frost's voice says from behind me. "Well I-I um…"
"Well let's see it." She waits for me to pull it out. I do so reluctantly flipping through the pages till I get to the right one. "This is a very good drawing Mrs. Lord but this is not the self-portrait I asked for." Her eyes puzzle me. They seem almost worried. My mind is racing, "Why is she so worried about a picture?" All I can think about is Mrs. Frost's reaction to my picture and how the rest of my day went. All the teachers were giving me weird looks and asking how I was feeling.
Finally, the school day is over and I head outside ready to get home when a familiar voice calls out to me. "Hey Brownie! Everyone who is in hearing range follows his eyes to see me sitting there awkwardly as he walks over. "Can you not do that!" I hiss " Why? It's fun! Plus you're cute when you sit there embarrassed". I blush not expecting his answer and continue to wheel away from him. "Hey wait for me!" he chases after me as I go faster. " Why are you following me? I'm going home jeez why are you so angry? I've had a bad day, ok just go away." He follows me anyway as I drive off campus and onto the sidewalk. "I'm not going anywhere because you're not my boss." I ignore him and concentrate as I try to go across the road.
"Here…" He grabs the back and pushes me. I don't object because my arms are tired. "Why are you hanging out with me?'' "Well because you looked like you were lonely and believe it or not I know how that feels. I was like you once." I chuckle and look at him. "Like me?" He looks at me for a moment, perplexed, then realized what I meant. He snickers and looks both ways "Well not exactly like you. My point is I know what it's like to lose friends and feel out of place." I nod when he doesn't continue just as we come up to my house. He looks at the little ramp that replaced the stairs nine years ago and smiles as I head inside. I turn around and face him before he walks away. I grin as he watches me "See you tomorrow?" he winks "where else would I be?" With that, he turns and walks away.