Elizabeth ran. Ran through the wildflower fields that seemed to whisper in the wind. Ran past the ravens perched upon a scarecrow that resembled her father. Ran all the way to the border. The border between her world and everyone else's. She wasn't allowed to go past it. If she did, something terrible would happen. She heard her mother's voice calling her name.
"Elizabeth! Elizabeth! It's time for supper!" Elizabeth listened to the sounds of her little brothers eagerly skipping to their house. Of course they were hungry, Elizabeth thought, They were little boys. Not her though. She stood ther, watching the trees sway, the lake glisten, and the leaves rustle. Somewhere there are other girls and boys, she wondered, Kids just like me, but unlike me, they'd be playing with each other and having fun. If she could just slip her hand outside the border, feel the grass, smell the air, splash the lake. Elizabeth reached out...
And was instantly repelled back by her mother's jinx. She felt a burning sensation in her hand and gasped in horror. The pale green tint of her skin gave way to a burnt pink. It seeped up her palm then abruptly stopped at her wrist. The pain was terrible, but Elizabeth was tough and shook it off. She still needed her parents help, though. Maybe one of her mother's spells or father's brews could soothe the agony she was feeling. Then Elizabeth remembered. She had burnt her hand trying to get past the border. She would get in lots of trouble if they found out. But it was time to go home. After all, there's no place like home.