Taking a deep breath Emily had reached into her backpack to look for her hundred dollar bill she had been holding on to for the last two years hoping to only save it for emergencies. In this case it was.
"One ticket to Wasaga Beach please," Emily smiled to the woman at the ticket information desk.
"That'll be twenty five dollars sweetheart." The woman smiled back.
As Emily reached into her pocket to pull out her fifty dollar bill all of her change fell to the ground.
"Sorry." Emily cringed while trying to gather everything as fast as she could.
"It's okay sweetheart. May I ask are you here alone?' The woman asked curiously noticing Emily's young features.
Emily could suddenly feel the tiny beads of sweat dripping from her face remembering you had to be fourteen and above to ride alone.
"Quick think of something stupid." Emily thought to herself while trying to avoid contact with the woman.
"Actually, my mother's in the bathroom and she wanted me to buy my ticket and get a good seat on the train early. She should be here very soon." Emily said confidently hoping the women would buy it.
"Oh alright, I completely understand. I have four kids and I tell them to do the same thing when we're at the grocery store." The woman laughed.
Emily smiled back politely, as she handed the woman her cash.
"Here's your change! Enjoy your ride." The woman finished.
Emily ran to the train as fast as she could before the woman could change her mind. There was only five minutes until the conductor finished his last call and Emily wouldn't miss it for the world.
"Last call for Wasaga Beach! All aboard?" The conductor shouted.
"I'm here, I'm here!" Emily whispered tiredly.
"Have a seat wherever you'd like." The conductor said proudly.
(((*****)))
Emily walked as slow as she could taking her time to find the warmest seat on the train. It'd also be the first time she'd sat in the last five hours and where she'd be sitting for three more so it had to be perfect.
"Hey did you see anyone sitting here?" Emily asked the red headed woman that was in the seat behind.
"Sorry what'd you say?" The woman asked nicely while pulling out her headphones to get a better hearing.
"I asked if you've seen anyone was sitting here." Emily asked once more this time with a lot more attitude.
Emily was slowly seeing herself getting crankier by the minute from her long walk and lack of sleep and knew she could fall asleep anywhere at this point. Even the ground didn't seem like a bad idea.
"No I haven't feel free to knock yourself out." The woman smiled back understanding she was looking a little girl who was for sure not in the mood. Although she had an attitude she couldn't help but notice it was the cutest thing.
Without hesitation, Emily tossed her bag on the shelf above her and plopped on the closest seat next to the window. Within the next second she fell sound asleep.
(((*****)))
"Oh no don't tell me it's gonna be like this for the next three hours." The woman's husband joked hearing Emily's loud snore all the way from the bathroom.
"I think it's cute. You should've seen her when she first asked if anyone was sitting there, she looked like she was gonna rip my head off! At least now I could tell why she was so cranky." The woman added as they both watched the young girl sleep.
"I wonder where her parents are. She's so young." Her husband asked worriedly.
"Maybe she's here alone. Going on adventure. Like we are?" The woman joked while smiling cheekily into her husband's shoulder.
"Yea only were adults. She's just a kid. I wouldn't want my daughter on a train with complete strangers." He cheekily smiled back while smelling and kissing his wife beautiful auburn hair.
"Wish we could work on making are baby right now" He added while picking up his wife's hand showering with kisses.
"She looks cold." The woman whispered.
She gently moved her husband's hand to peak out of her chair to get a good look at the young girl in front of them. There was something about this girl that she just couldn't put her finger on.
(((*****)))
You're not alone
Together we stand
Emily's eyes slowly fluttered open watching the passengers around her. The car was completely quiet and the train tracks and horn were the only sound to be heard. She looked out of her window to observe the land around her and saw that it was moving at a fast paced yet towards a destination that will change her life forever.
Emily then noticed a black soft furry throw blanket laid on top of her. She slowly looked around wondering who might've given it to her because she didn't remember packing a blanket at all.
I'll be by your side
You know I'll take your hand
"You looked a little cold." The woman behind her peered.
"Thank you." Emily said nervously.
"Do you know how much longer until this train gets to Wasaga?" Emily blurted.
"About twenty minutes." The woman smiled back.
There was an awkward silence. Emily was always taught to never speak to strangers but these people behind her seemed nice. At least the woman did. She couldn't help but notice the man beside her with dark curly hair was snoring up a storm.
"Is that your husband?" Emily giggled hearing his heavy snore.
"Yup he is. The love of my life." The woman laughed noticing her husband's snore was nearly catching each passenger's attention.
"Wake up Hound Dog. Were about to be here soon." The woman whispered softly nudging his shoulder.
"Hound Dog? Says the girl who farts in her sleep." Her husband yawned.
"Ugh, I do not you idiot." She laughed playfully punching his shoulder.
Emily smiled weakly watching the way the woman smile at her husband. Their eyes were such doe like as if they the best of friends and lovers that adored each other.
"So where's your parents? Don't tell me you snuck on here alone?" The gentlemen asked playfully pretending to be shocked.
Emily smiled trying to figure out the best way to answer this question. She could be honest, after all these people whom she'd barely knew seemed cool almost as if they'd done this at her age. She then noticed the black leather book that read "Poetry Out loud" in bold print.
"Wait a minute you write poetry?" Emily beamed.
"Do I? I've been into writing and journaling probably since about your age. It's almost like my peace of mind!" The woman sang.
"Well between me and you guys I sort of been going through depression for the last two years." Emily confessed in her most nonchalant way.
Emily never mentioned to anyone was that she's been battling depression since she was seven years old. Most people thought she had it all figured out because of how smart, confident, and edgy she was on the outside. Luckily Emily was never a transparent person and no one was ever able to see the pain she's been through behind closed doors.
Emily was forced to grow up and mature at very young age. While her classmates had families to attend their ballet recitals and basketball games, Emily was alone in her bedroom trying her best to figure out how she'd make it towards the next day. There was only so much a little girl could take. Luckily, behind all the tears Emily was still strong enough to let it go unnoticed.
All before the age of seven Emily was forced to watch her mother go through panic and anxiety attacks. Emily remembered being only three years old sitting on her mother's lap on the kitchen floor watching her mother cry her eyes out. As she got older there were also days where she'd have to stay home alone while her mother would work so much. There were also times where she wouldn't see her until the following day.
Jay and Manny were now living with them which made things a little less lonely and it also bought a little light to her and her mother's happiness. Unfortunately, Emily still felt broken and with her mother getting in that car accident she knew her mother was too. It felt as if something were missing from each of their hearts that they couldn't live without and Emily wouldn't sleep another day until she found it.
The woman looked at the young girl and was completely jaw dropped as to what she just heard and felt it in her soul.
When it gets cold
And it feels like the end
There's no place to go
"I see." The woman whispered back feeling her husband squeeze her hand tightly.
"Reading poetry or just writing or playing basketball or just doing anything to keep me busy helps to get my mind off my issues. Sometimes the things I write too just gives me hope. It's helped me get through a lot." Emily sighed.
You know I won't give in
No, I won't give in
"Me too." The woman smiled to herself. She then looked down to her wrist observing the healed wounds that were once there. The scars would last her a lifetime but what she learned along the way would last forever.
"So what's your name?" Emily asked.
(((*****)))
"Next Stop Wasaga Beach! We will be arriving in five minutes please gather your belongings!" The conductor shouted through the intercom.
"Hang on!" Emily sang while standing on her chair to reach her bag and jacket that was on the shelf above her. Emily tried her best to be as careful as she could but it obviously didn't work out in her favor. Just as she tried to grab her jacket her backpack came tumbling to the ground bursting open scattering her belongings everywhere.
"We gotcha kid." The guy said getting up to help Emily gather her items that had fell out of her backpack.
Emily was just about to thank him until she noticed he looked a little out of the ordinary. It was like he had seen a ghost.
"Hey, are you okay?" Emily asked until she realized what he was doing. He was observing the book that Emily had found yesterday.
"Babe come here, you gotta see this!" The guy beamed to his wife.
"You know this school?" Emily asked wondering why the lovely couple was so fascinated by her book.
"This was are old high school. That's me right there, with the crinkly hair and plaid skirt." The woman giggled pointing to a picture of her back in grade eight.
"And that's me with my old band." The guy smiled while skimming through the yearbook.
"You both went to Degrassi?" Emily asked.
"Are you kidding that school was practically our entire childhood." The woman laughed.
"You're Ellie Nash?" Emily questioned looking back at the picture.
"In the flesh! Well Ellie Manning now of course." The woman smiled gushing to her husband.
"And I'm Craig. You know just in case anyone cared." The guy joked sarcastically.
Emily examined the couple for as long as she could while looking back at the pages of her book.
"Do who know he is?" Emily whispered pointing to the picture of a guy with light blue eyes wearing a denim jacket and biker boots.
"Of course, that's Sean Cameron! We go way back. Literally, he practically saved my life one day. I still remember it like it was yesterday." Craig said proudly .
"He was definitely a good guy. Well at least while he wasn't dating my girl." He joked.
"Oh like you cared. " Ellie teased mushing her husbands face. "Why do you ask?"
Emily hesitated on answering her question. She knew she'd look crazy if she ran around telling strangers that she's looking for her long lost father.
"Last call for Wasaga Beach?" The conductor shouted.
"I have to go!" Emily insisted to the couple while trying to gather her backpack and jacket as fast as she could.
"Wait, what's your name?" Ellie shouted back trying to catch up with Emily as they all hurried from their seats.
"Emily Nelson!" Emily shouted back from behind.
"Emily Nelson? Where the hell?" Ellie Whispered to herself now now running faster.
(((******))))
Emily ran up in down the train car trying to find the nearest exit she still hadn't came across. She needed to get away from this couple. Emily didn't understand why they were asking so many questions. Emily could already feel a lump develop in her throat. She could feel the regret about her decision of opening up to these people already.
"What if they go to the conductor or even worse the police. They're going to screw up my entire plan!" Emily panicked to herself.
Within seconds, Emily felt her feet moving even faster and her heartbeat racing. She had to get away from them. Just as she felt the couple getting closer she saw an exit towards the end of the last train car. Without turning back Emily ran as fast as she could and finally made it to the last exit of the train. Emily didn't even bother to run down the steps. Instead, Emily leaped off the train landing face front on her backpack while the rest her body fell to the concrete.
(((*****)))
Emily finally saw the train leave it's destination and felt a wave of relief. Even though her knees and elbows were now drenched in blood because of her rough fall to the ground it didn't take away from the fact of knowing she made it Wasaga Beach almost all in one piece.
Just as Emily was about to dust herself off to continue her journey she felt two soft hands grip her arm.
Emily's smile immediately vanished and all of her thoughts of her plan foiling somehow we're now running through her mind. She tried to cover her face by brushing her hair in front of her face but there was no use. Instead she chose to just keep her eyes close and hoped that whoever was behind her would just let her go free. It had to be a police or some other authority figure because she was sure she was out of sight and out of mind of the couple she was just running from. Unfortunately, she spoke too soon.
"You're okay, we won't hurt you or anything." Craig promised sincerely while trying to look in Emily's eyes.
Although those words, sort of bought comfort to Emily she was still confused as to why these people were so concerned about her.
"Why can't you both just leave me alone?" Emily spat yanking her arm and while trying to walk way as fast as she could.
"Sean Cameron! He's your father isn't he?" Ellie shouted from behind leaving the young girl in front of her frozen in her tracks.
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through
We'll make it through
"Keep Holding On" Avril Lavigne
(((((*****))))
