Page 6 of Vexed
But Daddy, he taught me to embrace my uniqueness. He would say,“People fear what they don’t understand, pumpkin. Don’t ever change who you are just to fit in. Stand tall and be proud of your individuality.”
A gentle touch on my head brings me back to the present. Mommy’s delicate fingers brush against my hair.
“Are you ready to go, honey?” she asks, her voice filled with a mix of sadness and tenderness.
“Just a few more minutes, please?” She offers me a small smile before turning and slowly making her way towards the car.
As I turn back to the headstone, my breath catches in my throat. A black crow perches on top of it, its shiny feathers glistening in the sunlight.
Caw!
The piercing sound startles me, causing me to jump to my feet, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the bird.
“Are...are you the same crow from the playground?” I ask, half-expecting it to respond. The crow tilts its head, its beady eyes locked with mine. Slowly, I raise my hand, my heart pounding in my chest.
Please don’t peck me.
With trembling fingers, I tentatively brush the soft feathers on its head, a smile spreading across my face.
Caw!
Startled, I quickly retract my hand, and the crow takes flight. I lift my head, watching as it soars away, becoming a mere speck in the vast sky.
CHAPTER FOUR
Lily
* Aged 18 *
I swear to God, if Tracy throws a piece of paper at my head again, I am going to flip her off her chair and crush her skull with my foot. We’re basically adults and she still behaves like a damn child.
Annoying little bitch.
There are only three weeks before graduation and to say that I can’t wait is an understatement.
It is bad enough that we have been in the same class since we were seven, and now I’m dating her brother, well, probably not exclusively dating.
Just fooling around more than we should and every time I go over to their house, I have to contain myself so I don’t drown her in their pool. I don’t know where she gets her fucked up attitude because her parents are so sweet.
Most of the time I don’t think they are aware of the type of person their daughter is. At least when we graduate, I don’t have to see her fucking face for a while. She’s not going to college, saying she wants to ‘see the world’ before settling down.
I considered going to college to study psychology with my best friend, Hannah. We have been friends since we were fourteen. She doesn’t know it yet, but she saved me. I was ready to give up.
The constant bullying and losing my dad were getting to me. But when she came into my life, everything changed. I was happy again. She was my first real friend after Vex disappeared.
Vex.
I remember him vaguely. It has been years since I last saw him. I struggled to remember what his face looked like. Or what his voice sounded like. All I do remember is his eyes, their piercing silver color etched into my memory.
But then again, I hardly remember what my dad’s voice sounded like, too. He’s been gone so long, yet it feels like my whole world came crashing down just yesterday. I miss him.
My real passion is writing. Ever since I could write, my mom would buy me diaries and I would write in them every day, the feel of the pen gliding across the paper soothing my restless mind. I love expressing myself through words on paper.
It’s a lot easier than trying to express myself through words, which always seem to fail me. Hannah said she would be my assistant, which sounds like the best thing ever.
We decided to get an apartment together because there was no way we would be able to afford it on our own. I couldn’t say no to that. We know it won’t always be easy, but living with your best friend… it wouldn’t get any better than that. The thought fills me with a warm sense of anticipation, like a cozy blanket on a chilly night.
“Hey, are you planning on going to Austin’s party tonight?” Hannah interrupts my thoughts, her voice cutting through the air. Startled, I turn towards her, and as I do, I catch a glimpse of her big brown eyes shimmering with excitement.
