Amber Breath

Chapter 1: Quitting the nest

Hi, I'm Mélanie but call me Mel for short. I'm from Canada and I've been living in a small town since I'm little but right now I'm quitting this town, to go live in New York…alone.

Yea, I'm only 15 years old but I'm going 16 soon and it's a challenge that my parents gave me. We took the decision together. I thought I wouldn't know what to do later, so I try now so I'll be ready later. They bought the apartment and that's it, I pay the rest myself. The trip was long and hard, I despised long car trips. I only stopped for food and sleep. My dad had given me his GPS so I wouldn't get lost, of course. They also gave me a cell with a forfeit of worldwide calls so it wouldn't cost a lot of money just to call. I had to do the trip on my own, since it was a part of the challenge. I had an old Chrysler that was my grandpa's. It was old but it looked new.

- In New York-

- You've arrived to the destination. Said the GPS robotic voice. Finally I thought stopping the car infront of a big apartment building. I got out of the car and shivered at the cold autumn air but it smelled good though. I stretched my numb limbs and went to retrieve my stuff in the trunk and backseat. I struggled with my stuff to the apartment and went to fish the key into my pocket and opened the door. An awful smell hit my nose and I scrunched my nose in disgust. I got in and closed the door. I put my stuff on the floor and explored while putting my scarf over my nose, since the smell was giving me a headache. There was a big living room with a kitchen connected to it , there was a white couch, with a small table with a lamp on it, a big TV, other then that, the living room was quite empty. In the kitchen, there was an Inoxidable stove, fridge, dishwasher and an Isle with stools. I was about to visit the bathroom when a heard a knock at the door. I went to answer and saw a kind looking old lady. She was the lady who had sold the apartment.

- Hello dear, what do you think of your apartment. She asked warmly while smiling. She wasn't tall, I was taller then her. She had obviously died her hair, she looked in mid sixties.

- Yes, I didn't get to visit all yet. I smiled at her.

- by the way, sorry for the smell, the last persons that were here weren't all that clean and I didn't had time to clean up, since I had an heart attack last week. She explained and I nodded in understandment.

- It's ok, Mrs, I understand, I need to do some groceries so I buy some cleaning supplies. I said while leaning against the doorframe.

- you don't need to do that dear, I have cleaning supplies with me so I'll give them to you and please don't call me Mrs, makes me feel old, call me Blanche. She said laughing and I smiled at the nice old lady.

- come now, let's go get this stuff. She said beckoning me with her to her apartment. As she opened the door, a little black Chihuahua came running out, wagging its tail, along with his while body. He or she wore a diamond collar and a cute little white jacket. I giggled and kneeled down to him and he came scrambling up to me putting its little paws on my knees. I picked him up and held him to my chest as he licked my hand. Blanche turned around and smiled.

- You must be lucky; she doesn't like a lot of ppl. She said while I checked her name. On the name tag was written Felicity. I held back a laugh at her name and got in the old lady's apartment. It was well decorated, but there was one default… it was all pink, with cats. I looked around while I heard her rummage through a closet. She had knitted blankets, things that elderly ladies do. I held the small dog into my arms as she got comfortable, putting her head on my shoulder. As I heard a oww, I gently set down the ink colored Chihuahua and went over to the noise. I saw Blanche holding her lower back. I rushed over to her.

- Are you ok? I asked concerned. I helped her over to a chair and help her ease down on it.

- Yes, its just my back, no biggie. She said waving a hand in a dismissive manner. I went to pick up the cleaning supplies and head for the door.

- Well I'll be going, if there's anything you want, you can come and see me or I can leave you my cell phone number. I said putting the cell phone number onto her table. She came over to me with her cane and patted my arm.

- Your such a nice child, thanks for you help. She said while picking up her little dog. I smiled and exited her apartment and slowly went up to mine. I have to admit that the cleaning supplies were a little heavy. Once to my apartment, I went to visit the bathroom. A glass shower and a large bathtub, a counter with a sink and a mirror. I glanced into the bath and saw big hairy spiders. Eeek!!! I ran out of the bathroom. I went to see in the bedroom. It had carpeted floor, with cigarettes burns and ash. A king sized bed with two nightstand with a lamp each. I went to the closet and saw that it was a walk-in closet. I gasped, always wanted to have a closet like that. I got out and now it was cleaning time.

-After the cleaning time-

I let myself drop onto the couch with a tired sigh. The carpet burns had been a pain in the ass but they disappeared after rubbing the spot for at least 10 minutes. I glanced at the oven's clock and saw that it was 7:00 pm. I jerked up and grabbed my cell, keys and purse. I put on my high heeled boots and got out of my apartment and locked the door and Walked down the stairs and got out of the apartment building. I walked over to my car and got in while throwing my purse on the passager seat and putted the key in the contact. The motor didn't want to start. I tried again but it didn't work. I swore, slamming my hands onto the steering wheels. I sighed in frustration and took my purse and got out of the car, locked it and started to walk toward a random direction while saying a string of colourful words. I walked for a good 10 minutes and gave up, having a feeling that I was lost. I sighed in annoyance sat down on a bench putting my elbows on my knees and leaned my head on my hands. I stared into emptiness until a voice snapped me out of my daze. I looked up at the person. Infront of me, stood a woman in her twenties and she had shoulder length red hair and green eyes.

- Is something wrong? She asked kindly while taking a seat next to me.

- I'm new here and I got lost while looking for a grocery store and my car won't start. I said sighing once again.

- I can take you if you want. She suggested.

- Really? Thank you very much. I said in gratitude.

- April O'Neil. She said sticking her hand out.

- Mélanie Turcotte, call me Mel please. I said while shaking her hand smiling. We got up and started our way to the nearest grocery store. While we walked, even with our age difference, we were talking like we knew each other for a long time. She told me where she lived and said that I could come and visit anytime that I wanted. I walked slowly toward my apartment, enjoying the scenery of the sun setting behind the tall buildings. As I walked near an alley, I heard a crash and snapped my head into its direction. I saw a baby Doberman that was limping and whimpering. I dropped my bags and rushed over to it and kneeled down to the poor thing. Its fur was matted with dirt and soil and adds to that, it seemed to have been beaten. I picked the poor thing up and it looked at me with pleading eyes. It shivered in my arms, so I opened my jacket and tucked him close to my body and tightly closed the jacket. While holding him with an arm, I picked my bags up with one hand and continued on my way home.