"I'm getting married!"

I, Orihime Inoue, am now not only utterly and completely lost but furious. I don't even know who this man is?!

Chp 2

My New Goal

After the bombshell my mom dropped on me, I walked back to my room. I didn't say anything to her face about how absurd this idea was and what a mistake she was making. She wouldn't have listened anyways.

It seems to surprise me every time she chooses to make a life altering decision without asking my opinion on it. It's difficult for me to understand how she cannot contemplate that everything she does in her life, every mistake she makes, in the end will always affect not only herself but the people close to her. She is not only ruining MY life but her now "fiances" family. He was married and had a daughter! A child! She single handedly just broke apart a family because of her own selfish desires. Finally reaching the outside of my room, I looked at the door adjacent to it. Sora's bedroom… I missed him. It's almost been a year since I hadn't talked to him and my mom hasn't even brought his name up once. Last summer he had said that he would check up on us around this time, but I'm starting to doubt he ever will after everything that's happened.

I'm starting my first year of high school soon and I really wanted him to be a part of it. Walking in to my room I look at my reflection on the mirror above my dresser. My cheeks were pink and my eyes were puffy, I was crying and didn't even know. Wiping away my tears, I opened my closet and took out a suit case. I began to carelessly throw clothing inside of it without a care in the world. Getting up and standing on my tippy toes, I began to remove the things on the top shelf of my closet. I had a clutter of materials in my arms; attempting to walk backwards I ended up falling down. I sighed and began to pick up the materials that I dropped; my gaze fell upon an old photo album. Opening it, the first picture there was of my brother, our parents, and me, smiling. Together. Not fighting and cursing but smiling, like a real family. After a whole year of attempting to suppress this feeling, the pain finally broke through all the barriers I had built. I couldn't prevent it and the tears didn't stop. I couldn't see anything in front of me; it was all a blur thanks to the tears.

I felt like a baby.

I felt broken.

Alone.

Lost.

Lonely.

I couldn't stand it anymore. I no longer could look at this picture and smile, it reminded me of a past I can no longer have, a family that is no longer there, all it brought me was pain. I grabbed the photo album and escaped from the consignment of the jail I call my room. My vision was blurry and my chest hurt, the grip I had on the album tightened, and I ran down the stairs. My mother didn't even look up to see the state I was in. All she was doing was glancing down, smiling, at her left ring finger with the diamond of the rock on it.

I sprinted to the door and slammed it shut, throwing the photo album in the trashcan on our driveway, I began to run. I wanted to run away from that house that contains my past. From a mother that doesn't care enough to love me. From a brother who I am worried sick over, unable to contact. From a father who was never there. I was running away from a monster I refer to as pain, but it seemed no matter where I went, it followed me. It shadowed my every movement and thought. I couldn't even think straight so I chose not to think at all. Letting my feet carry themselves and guide me upon an unknown path, I refused to look up, because if I did, I would be reminded of the hell I call reality.

I no longer cared about my safety I just had to get away. I ran and ran until my feet got tired and it hurt to move. Bending down and attempting to catch my breath, all I could hear were birds chirping. The wind rustled the sea of long auburn hair on my head, tangling it. Looking up, there were trees surrounding an old playground. There were flowers of all verities and a tire swing on one of the trees. This area didn't seem familiar to me so I knew I ran quiet far away from the house that no longer felt like home to me. For once in my life, I felt I was in peace.

Walking into the tranquil scene, my tears had dried long ago. I wasn't even thinking about what I was doing here or where here was. Entranced by the beauty of all the flowers, this place was mesmerizing. Walking further and noticing a large tree on a hill, i began to climb it. What I saw on top of it surprised me.

It was a girl, holding her knees they were blocking the view of her face, she seemed to be shaking. She was crying and looked so broken. Not thinking twice, I walked up to her, bent down on my knees, and hugged her. Slightly tight enough to comfort her but loose enough to not hurt her; I began rubbing her back like a good mother would to her child. I knew how she was feeling for I felt it just a moment ago, it was pain. And I knew that a hug and a glimmer of care, even from a stranger, could mend the cracks formed in ones heart right beneath there chest.

Even though I was only thirteen, I knew I could help this person and I did. After sitting there and comforting her for a few minutes she stopped trembling and I no longer heard her crying too hard. She slowly lifted her head and I backed away, trying to make her feel more secure I smiled a warm smile, a true smile, a real smile, a smile that I hadn't made since last summer.

"Hey, do you feel better?" I questioned her.

She stared at me and then quietly mumbled something barely above a whisper, "Why?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why… Why did you... do what you did?"

"Hug you?" She nodded. I laughed and began to nervously began to play with my fingers.

"I'm sorry, when I feel sad normally I just want someone there for me who I can kind of lean on. I understand if that made you feel weird. Sorry again." I began to get up.

"No, wait!" She exclaimed.

I looked down with a questioning face.

"Thank you," she said and began to silently cry once more. I immediately went back to her and let her cry on my shoulder. We stayed in that position for a while and once she calmed down I sat next to her. Looking at the sum set, I turned my face to actually take a good look at her. She had black hair that went a little past her shoulder and violet eyes.

"Do you feel better?"

"Yes, thank you," for the first time since I met her she smiled. I smiled back.

"Well that's good! By the way I'm Orihime Inoue, thirteen years old."

"Rukia Kuchiki, also thirteen years old."

"Hey it looks like we have more than one thing in common!" I said and began to laugh.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh um nothing, its not important." I looked away. "Would you like to talk about it Rukia?"

"No," she immediately responded and looked down.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

"Don't apologize; it's not your fault. My mom she... Never mind, it's just not my day."

I sighed, "Trust me, I know the feeling."

"Its becoming dark, don't you have somewhere to be?" She questioned looking at me.

I stared at her, misunderstanding her question for a minute. Do I have somewhere to be? Is there someone waiting up for me? Curious about where I am or if I'm okay?

While I was questioning myself, we heard footsteps. Turning around I saw two fairly tall boys with orange and red hair running our direction up the hill.

"Renji! Ichigo!" I hear Rukia yell while she got up and ran up to them. Looking up at the sky I noticed it was getting darker so I quietly retreated while they were reminiscing. I was no longer needed so I just left. Walking back to my home in the dark I began to think back to the conversation Rukia and I had. The walk back to my soon to be sold house was long. I felt good, I helped someone today. Rukia had people there for her, I didn't have to worry. She would be okay. I smiled, because that's all I had left. Walking back home, I made myself a promise that day. No matter what happens in my life, I will never loose my smile in the presence of other people, because even if I'm sad, I could help brighten up someone's day with that small act of kindness. Walking back home I kept that smile on my face even though my heart was slowly beginning to crumble in my chest once more.

I didn't have somewhere I needed to be, there was no one waiting up for me, there was no one worried if I was in danger. The one thing that helped me deal with this was the fact that people had it worse than me, even if I couldn't help myself I would help them. No matter what it takes. And at the end of every tunnel there's a light right? Mine is just a little harder to find than most peoples. With my new goal I continued my journey back to my house.

When will Orihime meet her new step-dad?

Will she ever see her brother again?

How will these people impact her life?

Thank you for reading this story, It means a lot to me! Reviews are always appreciated!

lovelots,

loverofliterature_111