Where She Belonged

Crystal raced through the corridor, her breath hitching. The old wooden floor cracked beneath her feet but she was used to the unstable surface.

She threw herself at the door as she placed the key in the lock, the only way to get it to open. Right then, a high pitched yell tore through the night. She stiffened. Her parents were in a bad mood. Again.

Her head dropped and her shoulders slumped as she walked past her parents’ screaming fit. She knew better than to try to calm them down. It would only get her hit on the head and thrown out of the apartment.

She slipped into the bathroom and quietly locked the door. She dropped to the dirty tiles and hugged her knees. She would just hide out here until they quieted down.

The hot tears bubbling in her eyes were hard to contain. Her feet stung, in fact every part of her body hurt. She had started her day by working at the bakery before going to her high school. After school, she had to walk a few miles to get to the café that had hired her recently. That was her second job; it ran until late at night. And at the end of such a tiring day, she had to come home to this mess.

The loud sound of a door shutting jerked her out of her thoughts. Slowly, she rose to her feet and made her way to the living room. A goofy smile grew on her face as she realized her parents had left. She was all alone, finally.

With a sudden burst of energy, she reached under the couch and pulled out her most prized possession. A worn-out book. Sighing in happiness, she sat down and opened it.

As she turned the pages, the world around her began fading. Witches and dragons were now keeping her company, filling her soul with strength. She was no longer just a powerless kid. She could be whatever she wanted.

Her smile drew even bigger.

She was where she belonged.

She was finally at home.