Emily Johnston kept running. Blinded by tears and exhausted from her enduring hate and sorrow.

Past the small village that was making slow progress due to the lack of men to build homes, past the garden where women gossiped and spoke before thinking, past a cluster of children who sat in the dirt, both hungry and worn.

She did not stop until she came to the edge of a forest. The shade beckoned her and a strong tree trunk whispered words of comfort. Before long she had settled down, her back against the large trunk of an oak tree.

Emily leaned her head back and looked up at the foliage of leaves above her. Lovely bright oranges, vibrant deep reds and warm soft browns entranced her tired eyes. Some had not yet fallen, but those that were falling, danced before her as they gracefully sailed down to meet her.

~~~~~~~

The girl suddenly woke with a start as a gust of icy wind blew into her face. The sun had begun to set and  darkness was growing in. Stiff and sore, she slowly stood. As she stood a few leaves tumbled to the ground that had landed on her dress.

'Surely I've been missed.' She thought to herself.

Memories of that day had come back. The harsh words she had said, and then running away and not returning until evening. Though she admitted it was wrong to run off like that, she was in no mood to explain or to be scolded.

'Prehaps a search party was sent out to find me.' This thought grew as did the glee of giving others troubled minds and worries.

'I should not be the only one to endure these feelings." Emily concluded as she decided these thoughts were right in her eyes.

As the sky began to darken, she quickened her pace. As the completion of sturdy homes was slow, all the pilgrims had no option but to return to the ship for meals and sleep. It was disheartening and a discouragement to the pilgrims but it made them all the more determined to carry on.

As Emily boarded the ship that she so despised, she noticed none called out that she had returned.

Down below, families were eating their meager dinner. The orphan had to pass by her old section to get to the the Smith's. Most times she forced herself to look away and ignore the past. Tonight all she could wonder was what her family would say if they knew she had run away for the day. Her brother would have complained that he had had to work and it wasn't fair, he mother would have first embraced Emily then scold her for her irresponsibility. Then there was her father. A stern and sharp look she would receive in punishment but before bed, a warm hug would tell her that he loved her.

"Oh Emily there you are!"

Emily felt her heart skip a beat at being jolted out of her imaginings. Looking now at the cold and empty Johnston section, sat only ghosts of her memories.

Before her, Mrs. Smith was handing out bowls of watery soup to her family. Emily said nothing as she sat beside Betty, the Smith's only true child and daughter. Betty was but seven years old but her imagination was ageless and limitless. Her blond hair curled at the ends and her green eyes sparkled with youth.

"Hi Emily!" The young girl said cheerfully.

Emily said not a word. Dinner was slow and unbearably agonizing. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith wanted to ask where the girl had been but knew any attempts would only make things worse.

Surprisingly, it was Emily who began.

"Did you not notice I was gone all today?" Her tone held a daring note.

"We did." Said Mrs. Smith camly.

"Did you not care?" Returned Emily.

Mr. Smith looked hard at the girl. "If we did not care, we would have never taken you in."

"If you had not, someone else would have." She mumbled back angrily.

Mr. Smith opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by the touch of his wife.

"Why did you run away?" Asked Mrs. Smith gently.

"Why do you ask when you do not care?"

Mr. Smith stood and glared at Emily. "You speak lies, Mary cares more for you than you care for yourself or any one else!"

Emily too stood and returned the glare. "Do not speak to me that way you heartless beast!"

Out of nowhere a hand, calloused from work, flew across Emily's cheek. The sudden sting surprised her and her hand reached to feel it.

"You are in this family now and you will treat us with respect." He said darkly.

"I shall never belong to this horrible family! I hate you all!'

Running again, she fled up on deck and hid under a large piece of tent covering. Crying from anger and the sting on her face she punched the wooden floor and ripped at her hair.

Now, more than ever, she fervently wished this was all a nightmare and she would wake up in England, where everything was as it should be.

A/N
I know I'm really putting Emily through hard times but things will get better. Thanks for reading, and if you enjoyed it please vote and be sure to comment your thoughts.