Author's (Much Shorter) Note: Wow, this has been kicking around in my computer for quite some time. After a bit of a polish, I'm releasing it into the world. Hope you enjoy it!
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Unable to fall into a deep sleep, Nobuko tossed and turned in bed. She awoke several times, thinking about what tomorrow might bring. She didn't want to be the 'transfer student'. Transfer students always became the center of attention. She'd rather be ignored altogether – things would be much simpler that way.
Hoping to take her mind off tomorrow, she focused her thoughts to her willow tree. For a moment it worked, and then she sighed knowing she'd never see the tree again. It seemed so fitting that she had found that tree. Even now, she and the willow tree were one in the same. Both torn away from the places they belonged. If only her step-father hadn't run up his debts... Why had she just thought of that?
Despite her best efforts, she couldn't stop the memories that came flooding back. Thoughts filled her mind of the men who had entered her home, taking anything of value. A moving truck had parked out front and the bank had reclaimed nearly everything they owned – including the house.
Then she remembered the tiny apartment they moved into after that. She also remembered the third overdue rent notice that was taped to the door soon after. Most of all however, she remembered the night that her step-father came home and ordered her to pack her things. That night they left yet another home and their newly acquired debts behind.
Closing her eyes, she tried to forget her past. Why couldn't she just forget everything and start over? Tears were now rapidly forming in her eyes as she laid there sobbing. After she'd cried away every ounce of energy, she finally fell asleep.
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GASP! Nobuko woke in a cold sweat, her breathing rapid. Unconsciously, she bolted to an upright sitting position, her hands making fists in the blankets around her. Her heart was pounding and fear invaded her every emotion. She sat there shivering. Her eyes darted around in the darkness, but without the light, she could see nothing. Slowly she brought her knees up to her chest and tightly wrapped her arms around them, as tears silently rolled down her cheeks.
SLAM!
Nobuko jumped and again gasped for air. Silently, she listened. Her step-father had just returned home and she could hear his footsteps as he walked down the hall.
Step… step… step…
Time seemed to slow down. She closed her eyes, but quickly reopened them as images she'd rather forget played on the back of her eyelids. At least with her eyes open, she couldn't see anything and not seeing anything was much easier to deal with.
Step… step…
Then there was silence, followed by the sound of a wooden door quietly sliding open further down the hall. Nobuko released a long-held-in breath, that she hadn't realized she'd been withholding. When she slowly returned to reality, she feared that she wouldn't be getting anymore sleep that night.