Distorted Hourglass

The bright yellow school bus slows to a stop, it's lights flashing.  A young girl with shiny black hair adn steel-grey eyes, hops off and runs inside.  The bus slowly pulls away.  She runs into her house and up her crickty old stairs to her long awaited bedroom.  Her solitary confinement.  She comes here to hide from the world and everything in it.  She reaches into her nightstand and pulls out a pastel green diary in which she pours out her feelings day after day.1

"Dear Diary                    7/12/042

My life is a living hell as I know it3

I was in P.E. again and Sherri Wellworth4

"accidently" hit me with the volleyball!  5

Of course, Ms. Simmons didn't notice.  6

Why would she?  All she cares about is her7

image!  I truly believe that there is no8

Heaven or Hell, because I live in hell right9

now.  Well, diary, I got to go so I can write10

more to you later. 11

~Much Love~12

Charisse13

Charisse places her diary on her nightstand, right next to the embossed golden frame of her mother.   Ever since her mother was murdered 6 years ago, Charisse hasn't really felt like living much.  She was bound determined to find her mother's killer and seek revenge!  Her father was devastated after her mother's passing, and has relied on Charisse for support, which is something she really can't give!  Her father has been working later and later in the passing weeks at his firm.  You see, he is a Public Defender and he really doesn't want to be home.  So Charisse is there, night after night, by herself.14

Charisse pulls out her algebra homework and gets prepared to study for her test.  She opens her pencil case to retrieve her pencil and her calculator, when all of a sudden, 16 pills pop onto the floor!  She glances around her to make sure no one is watching, and rushes to stuff them back in.  "Just one more night" she tells herself "and then I can leave this hellhole for good and be with my mother again!" Charisse falls asleep thinking of a better life up in the fluffy clouds. 15

"Charisse? Honey, it's dinnertime!"  her father, Stephan, yells up at her16

" Im not really hungry Dad"  she yells back "I really don't feel good, so I am just going to lay down and relax"17

" Okay.  If you get hungry, let me know, okay honey?"18

" Okay Dad, I will.  I love you and goodnight!" she replies19

Charisse is awoken by the sound of her alarm clock.  She thrusts a hand over to it to shut it off.  "Damn thing" she mumbles.  20

She gets up to realize that today shall be her last day on earth!  She rushes through her morning chores and kisses her father goodbye.  If you look closely at her, you will notice a slight wetness in her eye. 21

She rides on the dreaded bus all the way to school.  She hops off and meets her friend, Jose.  22

"Hey Jose!  You got what I need?" She asks23

"Sure do, Babe!  You got the price?" he replies back24

"Yep. Here you go!"  She says and hands him a crisp, $50 bill.  In return he hands her a Valium.  25

" Are you sure you want to do this, I mean today?" he asks her with just a hint of care in his voice26

"Yes, i am sure.  There is nothing that I would love more than to leave this place and see my mother again!" she responds.  She gives him a quick kiss on the cheek and rushes off to the bathroom.27

Stephan is busy cleaning the kitchen when the phone rings.  He rushes to get it. 28

"Is this Mr. Lockhart?" the other end asks29

"Yes this is.  How may I help you?" he responds30

" Mr. Lockhart, this is Mrs. Jerome from Central Catholic High School and your daughter Charisse was taken by ambulance to the hospital" she quickly adds31

"what happened?" asks her father, with just a touch of urgency in his voice32

" Well Mr. Lockhart it is against our policy to tell you over the phone, but I can tell you this, the doctors don't think Charisse will survive the night!"33

TO BE CONTINUED.............34