I was talking? Oh no, what did I say? Was it bad?
Principal Lawrence continued speaking, but I’d tuned her out as I wondered what I could have possibly said in near unconsciousness. My mind went through many scenarios in a small space of time. “Miss Monroe did you hear me?” she asked impatiently.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” She huffed as if I was wasting her time. I fought the grin tugging at my lips from her mini tantrum. The staff at school sucked and I didn't care for any of them but that was mostly due to the fact that they turned a blind eye to my tormentor and the reign he had over the school. It was too fucked up for words. “I said we think you should speak to Mrs. Gilmore.” I immediately looked at Willow, wondering if she told anything to make them want to involve the counselor. She immediately shook her head, knowing what I was asking.
So it was bad.
I was saved from answering, however, by my Aunt rushing into the nurse’s office, followed by the flustered school secretary. My aunt could be a worrier.
“Lake!” she exclaimed as she bounded forward to grab me in a hug. “What happened, why did you faint? Are you okay? Let me look at you. Hold still!”
I never moved an inch but my aunt was far from rational right now. She would make an incredible mother, but she never had children or a man in her life despite the fact that she was beautiful in every way.
She looked a lot like my mom, her sister – blonde with blue eyes, long legs, great body and personality. She was also one of those Star Trek geeks who liked anything sci-fi. I guess that's why she is a best-selling fantasy fiction author. I was proud.
We’ve grown close after the disappearance of my parents ten years ago after…well it happened during that summer. I don’t know if they are dead or if they abandoned me. My aunt is adamant that my parents would never leave me willingly. It hurt either way. They were gone. Just like that, out of thin air. I found out a month after the playground incident. It had been my birthday and we’d just left the doctor’s office after an X-ray for my arm.
I had been unconscious for two days and suffered a broken arm after he pushed me off the monkey bars. It was pretty harsh stuff for an eight-year old. I never said a word and neither did anyone else. The adults pretty much assumed I fell off trying to help Buddy. I wonder even now how he could hold so much power at a tender age, but I’ve learned over time and after years of torture that there was nothing tender about him.
Focus.
“Honey, they want you to speak to the school counselor,” my aunt said but it was more of a question than a statement. Despite our closeness, I never told my aunt anything about what happens to me within these halls, outside these halls, in my nightmares, in my dreams. Knowing my aunt she would move us away and I couldn't do that. My aunt loves Six Forks. She says it inspires her. Whatever that means. I just know I couldn't take that away.
So I endured.
Ten long years of endurance and then it would be over and I could finally breathe and finally live, without fear, without control, without desire for the dark and unobtainable.
Yeah, not going there.
Mrs. Gilmore had arrived and immediately introduced herself to my aunt and me. I already knew who she was but we had never crossed paths before. Like I said, I’ve endured.
“Why don’t you two follow me to my office so we can talk privately?” I wasn't ready for this but what could I do? I needed to know what I said while I was unconscious.