Paige was a very lonely object. It wasn't because they wanted to be alone, they actually quite enjoyed other people and craved desperately to have friends. It was simply because no one wanted to be around them. They didn't quite understand why though. They didn't think, or could even recall ever doing anything wrong. But still, people seemed to hate them automatically, from the moment they said their name.
Even though Paige was alone very often, they tried to not let it put a damper on their morale. They loved to draw, and always brought a sketchbook with them every day, the very object they were based on. They tried to seclude themself away from the inside of the neighborhood, where no one could find them. It was safer that way. They'd sit under a tree for hours coming up with all sorts of ideas, and drawing from nature. Even though they were 16, they didn't spend much time in school. It was safer that way. The only person that was nice to Paige was their dad. There wasn't anyone else around to be nice. Whenever they wanted to go home for the day, they'd take a secret route. It was safer that way.
Paige folded their sketchbook closed and shoved their pencil in the pocket of their skirt. The sun began to lower beneath the line of trees. It was time to go home.
The little object snuck out of the park and crawled on top of a brick wall, using the divots between the bricks as hooks for their fingers, like rock climbing. Once they reached the top, they teetered precariously as they walked across the thin wall. Paige had to be fast though, this was the most open part of the route, and someone could easily knock them off with any number of projectiles. It did cause them a slight bit of anxiety every time they went home.
Paige heaved themself onto the roof of an apartment building and sprinted across it, taking great joy in hopping across the tops of the buildings on the way home. It was like a game to them, except with slightly higher stakes. It had been so many years since they'd mapped out this route that they knew every little inch of these roofs and could speed across them without so much as tripping. On their best days, they could get home in under 10 minutes. Paige turned their head to watch the sun pass below the horizon in all its beauty. They would stop to watch, but then someone might see them.
Paige hopped off the final building and wrapped themself around a gutter, sliding down like a fireman into their backyard. They'd always had a strange fascination with fire, even though as a paper based object it would hurt them even more than normal.
Paige swung open the back door dramatically. "I'm HOOOOME!"
"Hello sweetheart! Did you make any good breakthroughs with your art?"
"Mm, not really," Paige shrugged as they brushed the dust off their shirt.
"And... did you get in any trouble?"
Paige's face fell and they paused before shaking their head no.
"...Well, can I see your sketchbook?"
"Yeah, sure." They casually tossed the book in their dad's general direction.
"Gosh, you just get better every day," he marveled as he flipped through each page. "I still don't get how you do it!"
"You only say that cuz your my dad though," they smiled.
He handed it back to his child. "True, but that doesn't mean you're not good."
Paige rolled their eyes and walked up the stairs to their bedroom. As they flicked on the light switch, their eyes were immediately drawn to the brick resting on the floor, followed by the shattered window above their bed.
"Well that's just great..." Paige picked up the brick and untied the message written on it. "Honestly, they could at least come up with a more creative or original method. Why does it have to be a brick?"
Their eyes passively scanned the note before reading something that made their heart stop.
"Crap... OH CRAP!"
Paige thrust their drawer open and shoved a pair of scissors into their pocket, self defense and all, before sprinting out the room and jumping all the way down the stairs.
"What're you so in a rush fo-"
"Uh- I FORGOT SOMETHING AT THE TREE I GOTTA GO GET IT BE RIGHT BACK-"
"Why are you bringing your sketchbook?"
"Uh- oh, I totally didn't even notice I was still holding it would you look at that, isn't that funny? Well might as well bring it anyways hey ACTUALLY!" Paige pivoted themself and pointed at their dad. "Why don't you go to the store right now! We're outta... MILK! And eggs! Go get those two things!"
"Uh... alright?" Paige's dad picked up his wallet off the counter. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes I am, I'm just thinking about the thing I left!" Paige began shoving their dad out the front door. "Anyways, see you later I love you goodbye!" And with that they burst out the back door and raced across the roofs once again.
...
Paige was well past the park, and the town, at this point, but they had to get as far away as possible. They clutched their ribs as a stitch shot through them and they curled up on the ground. Thankfully, they were at the edge of a wood on the outskirts of town. Surely no one would bother them here. Paige hazarded a glance to see what state their house was in.
They spotted a fire flaring up right in the middle of town. Looks like they made good on their threat after all. At least their dad was safe...
Paige found themself gasping for breath and they forced themself to stand up. This... this wasn't... they couldn't do this anymore. They couldn't get anyone hurt because everyone else hated them, even if they didn't know why.
They had to leave. Find a new home. Alone.
At least the others got what they wanted. Paige was now out of town. Permanently.
The little object pressed their hand against their heart. Their pulse was erratic, like a train running across a railroad track. They groaned in frustration and leaned against a tree trunk.
"At least things can only go up from here..."