Beneath the flagpole

Anxiety. Fear. Despair. 1

Sometimes the cause of phobia’s are not just because of a natural fear. To this day, no one may touch my neck. No one grasps me on the collar, wishing me well. Hysteria will take over mind and body, I cannot control the outcome.2

3

Nine year old Lucy skipped out of the small elementary building, the distant brrr-ing of the school bell, buzzing in the back of her mind. Smiling side long to her friend Kimberly, she stopped in front of the rusting flagpole. 4

“My mom says you can come over after school Friday,” Kimberly beamed, fumbling with the hem of her skirt. Standing a few minor inches below the tall and slender Lucy, they were a unique pair, counting on each other for everything. 5

Lucy knew she lived in a rough town, her mother had said it often enough, warning her before she went to school. Although, she hadn’t known just how rough some of the people could be, until that fretful day. Absent mindedly, Lucy scratched the back of her head, thinking of something to say. 6

Before she could manage, Kimberly sighed, rolling her eyes. “Don’t look now, but here comes Brad, and his creepy little brother.”7

Grumbling, Lucy turned to face the agitating boy. Before any breath of words could escape her lips, she was abruptly cut off. Brad’s chubby hands closed around her neck, constricting the air out of Lucy’s lungs. The poor girl feebly fumbled against the bigger child, her small, tiny hands clawing at his. 8

She looked to Kimberly for help, unwontedly seeing her pinned to the ground, Wayne’s sharp little knee grinding into her chest. Tears began to well up in Lucy’s eyes, her choked calls for help returning unanswered. 9

A thick array of darkness began to edge her vision, the world around her spiraling uncontrollably into disaster. As Brad’s grip lightened for a brief moment, his sadistic mind portraying for a scream, Lucy choked out one unmistaken word. “P-please…”10

Loud shouts were the among the last things Lucy heard before her mind tuned out. The vice around her neck softened, her body falling limp to the ground. 11

Hours later, little Lucy awoke on the grass beneath the flag pole, teachers, who hadn’t yet gone home, running out of the school frantically waving their arms in despair. Kimberly kneeled beside her friend, a red swelling on her chest. “You okay?” She whispered.12

Lucy nodded a hand lifting to her neck, swollen and bruised she began to cry. Wiping the tears away, Mrs. Grose reached to prod at her neck checking for any severe injury. Swatting the hand away, Lucy pulled herself up, and shuffled back against the flag pole. She clasped her own small hands around her neck, guarding the bruises and the pain. 13

Never again would anyone touch her neck without the spur of a fight. Never again would anyone tenderly kiss her neck without the distraction of affection. Never again...14

Anxiety. Fear. Despair.15

Ruining lives, changing thoughts, needing help.