top. She pushes
open the first door on the left and steps inside. I stop at the threshold and
stare into the room, taking in everything. The walls are a pale gray trimmed in
bright white. There is one window surrounded by thin yellow curtains that match
the large bed in the middle of the room. There has to be over a dozen pillows
on it, all different sizes and shapes. All mine, I think to myself. Wendy opens
a door next to the large white chest of drawers and shows me the spacious empty
closet, and then she walks to the other side of the room and opens another
door, gesturing for me to look.
I step into the room, my feet sinking into
the fluffy cream colored carpet with each step I take until I reach her side.
The other door leads to another room about half the size of the bedroom, just
enough room for the small sink and toilet and the shower. My very own bathroom.
No more worrying about walking in on Mom or Frank when I have to pee in the
middle of the night. Tears fill my eyes. I turn, wrapping my arms tightly
around this new strange woman who has been so kind and thoughtful to me. I
stand there squeezing her as she gently rubs circles on my back. The tears turn
to sobs, soaking her shirt. I can't explain why I am crying now, of all times,
but I can't stop it either. The tears just flow uncontrollably, only stopping
when I hear voices downstairs. I pull away, wiping my snotty nose on the end of
my t-shirt. I want to say something, anything, but no words come.
“Go ahead and run some bath water,
sweetie. I’ll grab you a towel and some clean clothes, okay?” She doesn't wait
for an answer. Turning on her heel, she walks out of the bathroom, wiping tears
from her cheeks as she goes.
There is no trace of her crying when she
comes back in carrying a fluffy white towel and wash rag. She changes shirts,
and in her arms, I see she has another, along with a pair of black leggings.
She sets the towels on the back of the toilet and the clothes on the bathroom
sink. The tub is almost full, the hot, steamy water filling the air. She pours
some liquid from one of the bottles in the cabinet into the water, and the air
fills with sweetness. It reminds me of my Granny’s flower beds.
“Come to the kitchen when you're done and
I'll make you some lunch. Take your time, and don't forget to wash behind your
ears.”
I nod my head, silently wondering why I
need to wash behind my ears.
Chapter
Thirteen
Lucas
I haven’t been to this zoo in over six
years. It holds so many great memories for me, some that are almost too good to
relive, but when I was trying to think of somewhere to take Charlee today, this
is the first place that popped in my mind. It just felt right.
Every time I glance at her, I see a
beautiful, brilliantly passionate girl who’s hiding deep inside her own
sadness. She covers it well, but being as I have spent my fair share of days
miserable and hiding from the world, it’s easy for me to spot. I want to grab
hold of her and never let go. There is an undeniable urge to protect her from
anything in this world that could think to harm her. I want to be her savior, her
Prince Charming.
Her face lit up with excitement when she
realized where I was taking her, and the amount of pure joy I have witnessed
since walking through the gate proves this was the perfect decision. I can’t
think of a time I have ever seen someone enjoy the zoo as much as she has
today. My only thought when we set out to leave is when I can bring her back. I
want to see her smile every day of her life. She deserves that. I want to be
the one to make it happen.
Over and over and over again.
I want to be the only person to ever do
that again. I want every smile she has to be meant just for me. I know it
sounds crazy, considering I literally just met her, but there is something
about her that is just right.
Chapter Fourteen
Charlee
I'm not sure exactly when, but sometime
over the last three hours, this day has gone from
open the first door on the left and steps inside. I stop at the threshold and
stare into the room, taking in everything. The walls are a pale gray trimmed in
bright white. There is one window surrounded by thin yellow curtains that match
the large bed in the middle of the room. There has to be over a dozen pillows
on it, all different sizes and shapes. All mine, I think to myself. Wendy opens
a door next to the large white chest of drawers and shows me the spacious empty
closet, and then she walks to the other side of the room and opens another
door, gesturing for me to look.
I step into the room, my feet sinking into
the fluffy cream colored carpet with each step I take until I reach her side.
The other door leads to another room about half the size of the bedroom, just
enough room for the small sink and toilet and the shower. My very own bathroom.
No more worrying about walking in on Mom or Frank when I have to pee in the
middle of the night. Tears fill my eyes. I turn, wrapping my arms tightly
around this new strange woman who has been so kind and thoughtful to me. I
stand there squeezing her as she gently rubs circles on my back. The tears turn
to sobs, soaking her shirt. I can't explain why I am crying now, of all times,
but I can't stop it either. The tears just flow uncontrollably, only stopping
when I hear voices downstairs. I pull away, wiping my snotty nose on the end of
my t-shirt. I want to say something, anything, but no words come.
“Go ahead and run some bath water,
sweetie. I’ll grab you a towel and some clean clothes, okay?” She doesn't wait
for an answer. Turning on her heel, she walks out of the bathroom, wiping tears
from her cheeks as she goes.
There is no trace of her crying when she
comes back in carrying a fluffy white towel and wash rag. She changes shirts,
and in her arms, I see she has another, along with a pair of black leggings.
She sets the towels on the back of the toilet and the clothes on the bathroom
sink. The tub is almost full, the hot, steamy water filling the air. She pours
some liquid from one of the bottles in the cabinet into the water, and the air
fills with sweetness. It reminds me of my Granny’s flower beds.
“Come to the kitchen when you're done and
I'll make you some lunch. Take your time, and don't forget to wash behind your
ears.”
I nod my head, silently wondering why I
need to wash behind my ears.
Chapter
Thirteen
Lucas
I haven’t been to this zoo in over six
years. It holds so many great memories for me, some that are almost too good to
relive, but when I was trying to think of somewhere to take Charlee today, this
is the first place that popped in my mind. It just felt right.
Every time I glance at her, I see a
beautiful, brilliantly passionate girl who’s hiding deep inside her own
sadness. She covers it well, but being as I have spent my fair share of days
miserable and hiding from the world, it’s easy for me to spot. I want to grab
hold of her and never let go. There is an undeniable urge to protect her from
anything in this world that could think to harm her. I want to be her savior, her
Prince Charming.
Her face lit up with excitement when she
realized where I was taking her, and the amount of pure joy I have witnessed
since walking through the gate proves this was the perfect decision. I can’t
think of a time I have ever seen someone enjoy the zoo as much as she has
today. My only thought when we set out to leave is when I can bring her back. I
want to see her smile every day of her life. She deserves that. I want to be
the one to make it happen.
Over and over and over again.
I want to be the only person to ever do
that again. I want every smile she has to be meant just for me. I know it
sounds crazy, considering I literally just met her, but there is something
about her that is just right.
Chapter Fourteen
Charlee
I'm not sure exactly when, but sometime
over the last three hours, this day has gone from
Similar Books
