I don’t even know how I got here. I was running like a crazy person with no sense of navigation then the next thing I knew I was here. I didn’t think I remembered which path to take to come here but apparently that’s the first place my sub conscience drove me to when I felt my world crumbling down once again. This is where the dreadful day happened.

            To any normal person this is simply the beautiful “Aurora Park”. With its lovely winter flowers lining up every path made up of pure black rocks, grass green as emeralds embracing every inch of empty land, and a crystal blue lake which gave the impression of an aurora when the sun is setting, it was the ideal pace for a fairy tale wedding. A place to fall in love. People loved to have romantic walks in the parks and kiss like there’s nobody next to them under the antic looking bridge. From the look of its cracked cement and crooked piles, the bridge would collapsed at any moment but apparently it was a predetermined design.

            No matter how hard I tried to convince myself, I knew that this was not the reason why I’ve always felt a chill anytime I even catch a glance of this bridge in a picture. It was because of the memories that came with it. The memories of my mother.  It was the place where my perfect little life was turned upside-down.

            I stood there, staring at the giant mocking bridge which is tempting me to take another step towards. I took half of a step before stopping in my track. A strangely familiar shadow was leaning on my nightmare but I couldn’t detect whose it was. He was well hiding by a bush.

            After what seemed like ages, a face appeared behind the bush scanning the park. He froze when his eyes locked with mine.

            Great, that creepy guy again. Is he stalking me now?

            “You again!” I started in his directions but he was already long gone by the time I got there.

            Weird! What the hell is his…? My mind completely shut down once I realized where I was. The idiot had lured me into hell. Sweat started to drip from my forehead, I fist my damp palms next to me. My heart was hammering in my chest, I’ve never heard it beat so loud. I was aware of people giving me strange looks as they passed by. None of them knew the battle I was having right now with my brain. Should I run or wait to face the pain?

            I knew I should probably have stayed and just get it over with but I wasn’t ready for that just like I wasn’t ready for it twelve years ago. I ran out of there as fast I could without looking back. I didn’t bother to excuse myself to anybody, I sprint the entire way back home shoving everybody in my way.

            It wasn’t until I was turning my key in the lock that it hit me. I didn’t want to be here either. My home was no longer a safe heaven. If I went inside, I would have to face another painful memory. I’ve had enough of difficult reminiscence for today. But where else can I go?

            A vibration in my hoodie’s pocket put my thoughts to a halt. I retrieved my phone and answered it without looking at the caller ID.

            “Hel…”

            “Thank God, you’re still alive,” Roxie’s voice interrupted me.

            “You were expecting me to be dead? I thought we were best friends.” I feigned hurt.

            “Well, you’re not in school.” She said as if that explained everything.

            School! That’s what I forgot to do.

            “So what? I can miss a day of school.”  I countered even though I knew she wouldn’t buy it. “Skipping is healthy sometimes.” I kept digging myself into the hole.

            “Nikkie, you don’t skip. I don’t even think you know what the word skipping means.” I knew she would see right through it.

            “I’m a fast learner.” I kept trying.

            “Nikkie.” She warned. “Stop shitting me. What’s going on?”

            “Ohhh, you just cursed.” I exaggerated hoping to side track the conversation.

            “Nikkie, I’m waiting.” I knew she wasn’t going to let it go until I let it all out. She was always pushing me to confront my monsters.

            “I don’t want to talk on the phone about it. I’m coming to school.” I ended the call without waiting for her reply.

            While I was stepping out of the yard, I happened to glance down and what I saw was one hell of a wakeup call. I was barefooted. I’ve been walking in the streets all morning with no shoes on. How the hell did I not feel anything? No wonder people were giving me curious stares. The shock didn’t stop there. As I checked myself out, I realized that I was wearing the same outfit I put on yesterday evening before I fell asleep in the middle of the entire work load.

            Did I even take a shower this morning? Probably not, I thought once I got a sniff of my armpits.

            I groaned loudly while turning around to face my house. Now, I HAVE to get in there.

                __________________________________________________________

School was already half way done by the time I got there. I stood in the entrance debating whether to go inside or just miss the entire day. I could just wait for Roxie in the parking lot. My good students instincts started to kick and by my next inhalation I was already walking towards my English class. I took a deep breath before pulling at the knob.

I wished I had been a delinquent who didn’t care about grades nor school attendance. If I was one, I would have taken my other option and waited for Roxie in the parking lot where it was safe. I wouldn’t be awkwardly shifting on my chicken legs while being judge by twenty pairs of curious eyes and an incredibly irritated one. This was one of those moments when I wouldn’t mind being invisible. Scratch that, I wouldn’t mind being invisible all the time.

“Finally decided to join us, Ms. Craig.” Ms. Kim announced with her hands crossed over her overly generous breasts.

“Huh.” A nervous laugh came out of me. My eyes shifted to everything in the room that didn’t have a pair of eye balls trying to pierce my soul.

“Do you have a pass?” She asked with her no-nonsense voice.

“Not really.” My eyes were inspecting my black and white converse as if it was the most fascinating object ever made.

“May I ask why you are interrupting my class in the middle of an extremely important lecture with absolutely no reasonable excuse?” Her sharp voice caused my head to shoot upward. The sight of her angry brown eyes almost made me peed my pants. Her arms were now on her hips while her mouth was set on a thin line.

I think I stood immobile for a whole minute before she finally snapped and sent me to the office to get a pass. I actually don’t know what spirit took possession of me but I never made it to the office. I felt like since my entire world is being knock down, I had the right to go crazy for a while. However, there was one gigantic flaw to my plan. I had no idea how to go crazy. When you spent your entire life following the rules constantly, it’s hard to suddenly turn your back on them. I was overwhelmed by the sensation to do as I was told but I refused. Why should I keep being good when life was screwing me over?

I started to walk around the halls aimlessly. I was aware of the cameras on every corner of the school but I knew they wouldn’t care about me. That was one advantage for always doing the right thing. People trust you. I passed by the gym which had its doors wide open. Inside, a bunch of shirtless wannabe weightlifters were doing a series of weird exercises which might results in a very long coma. I came across the dance room which was shaking to the beat of Pump It by The Black Eyed Peas. I couldn’t resist the urge to spy on them. There was a small window in the back that gave a full view of the classroom. I quickly went searching for one of the doors that lead outside but wasn’t in full view of a surveillance camera. There wasn’t any so I just took my chance.

The school’s courtyard resembled a ghost town. It was totally empty. A needle falling in the ground would probably resonate like the scream of teenage girls at a Justin Bieber concert or a machine gun firing in an empty field. It’s all the same to me. Nevertheless, I was still being controlled by paranoia. I checked every corner to make sure nobody was there. Even after I was sure nobody was there, I kept looking over my shoulders at the smallest sound which made me wonder how I did not hear him approached. I must have been really mesmerized by the dancers.

I’m not particularly a fan of hip-hop music but I had to admit that the dances that go along with it was quite entertaining. The dancers were losing themselves to the beat as if it was their oxygen. None of them missed a step; it appeared like they were moving as one. I have no idea how such movements were possibly. Did they even have bones in their body? They didn’t move like it. They were turning and stretching every little joint that could be moved. It was so far the most fascinating thing I have seen. I was lost in awe when his voice coming behind me made me jump out of my skin.

“That’s just down right creepy.” He had uttered in his annoyingly deep voice.

When my eyes met his, I blushed scarlet red and rapidly dropped my gaze to my converse. My shoes had spiked my interest to a whole other level, today. I didn’t know what to say. I must have looked like a voyeur from his perspective. Wait a second, why do I feel self-conscience in front of this jerk?

“Not as creepy as you scaring a girl to death in an empty school yard.” I retorted. “What are you doing here anyway besides being a complete asshole?”

“Ouch, little shy girl has a mouth. I’m astonished,” said Ken McCall as he put his hands on his heart. He took his phone out of his pockets and focused on me.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Nobody is going to believe me if I tell them you can swear so I have to take a video.” He explained.

Is he serious right now? I had to pinch myself as to not punch that prick on school ground. He was looking at me as if I was some freak show at the circus. I took a deep breath in and turned to walk away. I did not feel like altering my good record because of some stupid bastard who has nothing better to do than to annoy everyone in his path.

“Wait!” He had the audacity to actually touch me.

“What?” I spat out without even turning to look at him.

“How am I supposed to take a video of you without you? Come on, do it again.” He once again shoved his phone in my face.

Without a second thought I grabbed the phone and smashed it on the floor. Every single little piece went flying on the school. Then, I ran. Again.