Chapter One

I was flying.The rush in my ears,red hair billowing around me.The sun was shining."Lizzie" said my father.The black motorcycle beneath me was flying at highest speed.I was...happy.I hadn't felt like this for a year,three months and twenty-seven days.I had been counting.Because a year,three months and twenty-seven days ago my mom died.Passed away had never seemed to be the right word for it.Just then,I forgot what I was supposed to be doing,and I fell.I fell on the hard sun-baked sandy ground.I was dizzy.My mind was swirling away from my head...

"Lizzie"I heard a familiar voice echo in my head."Liz,are you alright?"I opened my eyes.I was on the couch,my arm bandaged and bloody."D-dad?" I stammered."Yes,Liz" he said soothingly,stroking my head."It's okay."He was sitting beside me,his palm on my forehead.It was so cool.I felt hot and feverish."Dad,what happened?" I asked."You fell off the motorcycle.It fell on top of you and you weren't breathing."His voice was cracked."Okay,Dad" I said.He nodded.Dad's black hair had a streak of red in it,probably from carrying me and my bloody arm.I stood up and stumbled."Liz,honey,can you walk?"I heard Dad say.I nodded.He didn't look convinced.I staggered up the stairs,flinging open a door.The faded blue door with the clumsy yellow L painted on it.Childhood memories swarmed my brain.My room was the same as ever.THe pale pink walls,the yellow lace curtains.The little cherrywood bed with the blue blanket and white pillow,the tiny purple closet.I collapsed on my bed.It smelled of roses,and faintly of kittens.I smiled,remembering the day my mom had brought mewing kittens home.One had done it's thing on my hand.It had not been so long ago.But long enough.

More of Chapter One coming soon...