The small puffs of condensation escaped from her mouth. It was too cold in the room. Bodies laid around her as she pressed against the wound in her shoulder. The door was now locked with a desk pressed against it. She could still hear students screaming and gunshots echoing through the halls. Her feet moved tripping over her teachers dead body as she made her way to the back of the room and slid to the ground.
Twenty seven students had been in her class. Twenty eight if she counted the teacher. Twenty seven now laid dead in front of her. She couldn't tell how long she had stayed in that room. How many minutes? Hours? It all had passed by so quickly. Soon police had broken down the door and stood there just staring at her before jumping into action. They took her out of the school and sat her on the back of an ambulance. A crowd of people stood outside of school. Many people crying, some on the floor, others hugging. Listening to people talk she caught the dead body count.
Forty three people laid dead inside of the school. The most were from her class, were all were shot. Except her. Only a bullet in her shoulder. They took her to the hospital and immediately put her under to take out the bullet. She said in the hospital for a few weeks before she was let go. Her mother of course was freaked out and took her out of school insisting on homeschooling her. That only lasted a few months. After countless therapy sessions and hospital visits her mother decided she couldn't deal with it and shipped her off to live with her father.
A month before she moved her mother got her a service dog for her PTSD and anxiety attacks. Her dog Lerian was a Caucasian Ovcharka with thick black fur, making him look like a bear. She loved him nonetheless. As the day came that she was moving her mother became distant. As if it was her fault that she has anxiety. They made it to the airport with an hour to spare. Her mother helped her get her luggage checked in and stood with her at security.
"Astrid, your stuff as already arrived at your dad's house. I expect you to be on your best behavior. And please try and be nice to your sister." Her mother sighed putting a hand on her shoulder.
She silently nodded and took a step back. Turning around she made her way through the security. Soon she was on a plane to Washington. Lerian laid at her feet the whole flight without any trouble. The air changed drastically from the air in Florida. It was tighter and honestly scary. It could be that she hated flying and small spaces. She was the first to get off the plane after it landed. A security guard helped her locate her bag and help her get to her father without any hassle. She hadn't seen her dad in a 4 years. He hadn't changed as much as she thought. Same thick mustache. Same blue flannel and worn blue jeans. Same black work boots. Same man she missed. Both were bad at communication but both knew that they cared so much about each other.
Before reaching him she noticed her sisters absence. Taking off the pair of Ray Ban that sat on the bridge of her nose. A smile came to her face as she moved to embrace her father.
"Hey Dad." Her voice came out as a hushed whisper.
He dad was no fool. He knew what she had been through and was not going to push her for questions. He also knew that she had therapy sessions scheduled here. Sighing the older man gripped his daughter with a sense of relief.
"Hey kiddo, let's get you home." His smile was the same as she remembered it.
Forks was what she remembered, beautiful and full of mystery. She had arrived in May, which was difficult but after some haggling with the school her dad was able to get her into classes. The ride home was filled with nice silence. Unlike her mother, her dad didn't feel the need to pressure her into talking. She appreciated him like that.
Arriving at the house she took in the familiar building. It was different. The paint looked new. And there was a red truck and a porsche. A yellow porsche, I knew neither of my family members could afford it. Her father let out a deep sigh as he lifted up her two suitcases. With the trunk closed and the car doors locked they made their way up the steps to the front door.
"Bella has a friend over, Alice Cullen, a nice girl, smart too." He opened the door and let me go in first.
Looking around I took notice that the inside looked the same. Except that new black couch. The yellow wall paint was still peeling and looked more mustard yellow than light yellow. A voice brought her out of living in the past. It was soft and nervous. She knew exactly who that voice belonged to. Her older sister Bella. She hadn't seen her sister in a year. She hadn't changed. Nothing changes here.
She didn't know what to say to her sister so she nodded and gave her a quick hug before leaving to her room upstairs. It was Charlie's old office. It was cleaned out and in its place was a twin bed, a desk, and a dresser. Attached to the bedroom was a bathroom. Sitting on the small bed she stared out the window and waited for the pain. She knew it would come soon. It was always there. Even before the incident had happened. She had almost forgot that Lerian was there before he came prancing in her room and landed at her feet. She was ready for it now. And here it came.