~Alone~
She gripped her pencil as if it would run away if she let go. She stared blankly at the image she had drawn. Her mind drifting off to the place where she was wanted…
Sarah was twenty-six years old. She lived in a small, closet-like apartment…. And she was alone.
Ever since her mother left she shied away from love and affection. The only time she allowed anyone to show her emotions and hold her was in the labyrinth. She had been hugged numerous times by her faithful friends and had danced with the Goblin King. Never again did she allow her walls to break, nor did she ever dance again.
She had moved out of her father's house at the age of 18. Things were never good for her there. Her father and Karen never paid any attention to her except when they wanted her money or for her to watch Toby. When Sarah had announced that she was leaving they didn't seem to care. Toby was growing up and seemed to distance himself from everyone except Sarah. He had found comfort within her room so many times before, but then the comfort was gone for Sarah could not withstand the pressure bearing down on her. Toby knew that her moving was inevitable… if she had stayed, the pain and anguish would have crushed her. So he accepted her fate and was the only person to bid her farewell.
Sarah had worked at the local Dairy Queen since she was fifteen. They had always told her that she was a very important part of the Dairy Queen family. She had found that very untrue for when she told them of her plans to leave town they hardly seemed to care and found a replacement within the hour. Sarah was a little hurt by these gestures but then found a sliver of happiness when she thought of what her new life would hold.
Sarah's life had been one disappointment after another. She had moved to Florida to escape her depression and have an adventure. Although it did not pan out that way at all. She thought that if she worked in a small bookstore and saved enough money within the year she could go to the local college and study to become a veterinarian. But it never happened. Sarah was wrongfully accused of stealing from the store and was fired. Sarah was upset because of this and decided that maybe working for the government might not be so bad. She left Florida and went to Texas after registering onto the U.S. Air Force. She spent four miserable years there, cleaning pots and pans and handing towels to the airmen in the gym. She trained hard but had gotten nowhere. When her four years of service were up Sarah packed her few processions and left.
Sarah decided to pursue a career in art. She had been drawing ever since she could pick up a pencil and her art was good. So Sarah decided to try and make a name for herself in New York City. There she found a small space in which she would call home. Sarah had now been living there a little over two years. She didn't have a lot of furniture for half of her apartment was surrounded by paintings and sketches that she had done. Sarah had a few buyers of her work but not enough to pay her bills. So consequently she had also taken up a job as a secretary for a large business in Manhattan.
Although Sarah had been there for two years she had no friends and never once met her neighbors. She had casual acquaintances but kept them far away from her as she possibly could in her work environment. Sarah kept to herself insuring that her walls would not fall and she be exposed. She truly was alone.
Sarah had lost her strength, her hope and her will to live…. All at the innocent age of 15. She knew that she could always call upon her friends from the Labyrinth, and wouldn't be alone, if she should need them. Yet she never once called. Her friends knew that she did not need them. She needed Him. She needed the one who loved her unconditionally… she needed Jareth.