Category : Stories

Sub Category : Fantasy

     I watched as my familiar surroundings slowly changed into unrecognizable trees and fields filled with nothing but grass for miles. Every once in a while I see an animal, whether it be a cow, horse, or goat. My anxiety starts kicking in, and I start repeating the steps to calm myself down as my counselor has taught me to. I slowly start calming down, but then the fear starts entering my thoughts, 'What if no one likes me?' 'What if they think I'm a freak?' 'What if they find out what happened at my last school?' I start hyperventilating, as my sister who sits to my left starts telling me to count down from ten to one. But I can't hear her, my vision starts to go out, but as she roughly shakes my arm, I snap out of it.

     "Take a deep breath, then countdown from ten to one Maya." I do as she says, taking another deep breath each time I get through a number. She copies my actions and as I get to one, my anxiety is under control.

     Seconds turn to minutes, minutes turn to hours, until I have no idea how much time has passed. I slowly grow impatient wishing I was out of the car already. I focused on my surroundings, finally noticing the city lights and darkness surrounding the car. I notice Brooklyn is already asleep, soon the car reaches a full and complete stop, I practically jump out of the car.

     While my sister helps our parents get out the bags, I sense a feeling of being watched, as I look around the court of houses, I notice that one of the windows on the second floor is illuminated by light, and a figure is close by as if studying me. His figure is masculine, and he shuts his curtains quickly before turning off the light. Peculiar.

     "Maya, come help us unload the car." I walked over to the trunk and grabbed the lightest item I could find, a wooden chair.

     When we finally got settled in the house, it was after midnight. I went up to my new room, which was filled with a few boxes and an air mattress laid out for me.

     "Knock knock, can I come in." I turn to see my sister with an empathetic look on her face. I motion for her to sit beside me. She takes a seat, and after a minute which felt like an hour, she says, "I know how hard it must be to move to a new school in the middle of a year. I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone if you ever need someone to talk to I'm always available." She takes a few seconds before sighing at my lack of response. "You know, the first time we moved you were six, and I had a hard time fitting in at a brand new school. But one-day mom took me out for ice cream and bought me this." She brought out a jewelry box with a blue velvet cover, opening it she revealed the wooden bracelet, with a skull carved off the bead in the middle. "It helped me adjust, and I ended up being able to make a few friends. I wanted to give it to you, as proof that this is a new start." She took it out of the box and slid on my wrist, using the strings to adjust it. "Have a goodnight, Maya." And with that, she slipped out of the room. I took a few seconds to admire the bracelet before shutting off the lights and laying on the bed, waiting for sleep to come even though I knew it wouldn't...