“You did?”
She nodded.
“What about your science class?”
“We just learned more about photosynthesis,” Sarah replied.
“Hm. And did you have any lessons with coal today? I found smudges of it all over the house, including my and your father’s bedroom.”
A cold fear spread from the bottom of Sarah’s empty stomach. Her smile immediately left and her feet rooted to the kitchen floor.
Lucille used her fork to poke a potato on theplate. “Your father’s breathing well today. Air’s coming out easy.”
Sarah wanted to nod. That was the normal thing to do. However, her entire being was rigid. Her muscles had become taut while she struggled between fight or flight.
Lucille stared at her daughter, except there was no conviction, accusation, or anger in her eyes.
She knows.
“Did you go to school today, Sarah?”
The words seemed distant in comparison to the thudding of her heart.
She knows.
Breathing was suddenly so much more difficult. Was this what it had felt like for her father?
When Sarah did not respond, Lucille stood. “Wash up. I’ll leave your plate on the table.”
Like a shock had been sent through her system, Sarah jolted to her bedroom, slamming the door shut. Memories of “Devil Child” uttered by her mother rushed forward along with the whispers of her peers. But no one really knew about her powers. Everything had been a rumor.
The scent of sun, sweat, and work clung to her clothes, yet Sarah dared not leave her room. After some time, she heard her mother’s heavy footsteps climb the stairs and move down the hall. The bedroom door creaked closed.
But what Sarah knew she’d never forget was the sound of her parents’ door locking.
When she couldn’t take the smell any longer and her stomach had grumbled enough, Sarah made her way to the kitchen. Her dinner plate remained on the table. Prefering to eat outside over chancing her mother coming down, Sarah started to make her way to the porch.
There was someone outside. She had felt them as soon as she grasped the door handle.
Why didn’t I feel them before now?
She shook her head. Her lack of focus would get to her one day.
The outside screen door rattled as the surprise guest knocked on its old frame.
Sarah peered out the window. Thomas waved at her as he stood on her porch with a box in his hand. She pulled the curtain shut.
Suddenly, her entire house looked a wreck. Her new-to-her dress lacked the luster it’d had several weeks ago. She was certain her freckles had multiplied and spread over her entire body, as well.
And Thomas was right outside.
“Sarah?”
Covering her face, she shook her head. “So much for a walk.”
“Is this a bad time?”
Sarah wiped her eyes for good measure. She pulled her mess of curls over one shoulder. Then, finally, she opened her house door.
“H-hi, Thomas. How are you? What…what brings you all the way out here?” She smiled and placed her shaking hands behind her back.
Thomas tried returning the favor. A small curve of his lips was all he gave.
“I wanted to check on you,” he replied. “How ya holding up?” Thomas tried to broaden his smile, though his eyes would not meet Sarah’s.
She stood on the threshold of her home, watching him, taking note of his body language. Thomas was always carefree, confident, and he was kind. But what if…
Reaching out with her magic, she asked, “Are you alone?”
His eyes finally met hers. He nodded. “It’s just me. Is that alright? Your parents are home, aren’t they? I can come back another time, maybe after school. Sarah?”
Only the animals and us.
She exhaled and placed a hand on her chest. Her traitorous tears finally fell.
“Oh, no, no. What’s wrong, Sarah? I’m sorry if I upset you.”
There was a wide grin on her lips. “No, not at all. These are what my mama calls happy tears.”
He quirked a dark brow. “ Alright, then. But, just in case…”
He held the box out to Sarah, which she accepted while she sniffed and sniveled. Splashes of her tears gave the box’s top a speckled look. The bottom greeted her palms with a comforting warmth and the smell of sugary pecans permeated the space between the two friends.
Sarah looked at Thomas. The dimples were showing in his cheeks.
“My mom remembered it was your favorite. Honestly, I think she misses having a girl around the house.” He chuckled and slipped his hands into his pockets.
Sarah wrapped her arms around the pie, pulling it close to her. The heat spread over her chest. She had the sudden urge to let that heat move through her, to cause spiral of flames to dance from her fingertips.
Instead, she excused herself to put the pie away, then took a seat on the porch beside Thomas.
“I’m sorry my parents can’t come down. Mama’s…busy and Daddy is…well, resting.”
He nodded. “Is there any news from the doctor?”
“Not really. He thinks Daddy will get better. There’s a lot of coal in his chest, he says.”
“Hm. I’m sure you’ve already heard this but I’m sorry, Sarah.” He ruffled his hair some, then turned to fully face her. “I truly am. I wish none of it had ever happened. Your family doesn’t deserve any of this.”
She sighed, looking over Thomas’ handsome face. He was already a great friend. He would certainly make a wonderful husband. Elaine was lucky.
Sarah placed her chin in her hand. She stared out toward the forest, the last bit of sun casting a blue hue over it.
“I thought you had brought the others her to taunt me.”
“What?”
“I thought that’s why you were acting so strange. Silly of me, huh?”
“I wouldn’t do that. We’re friends. And, I know everyone isn’t a fan of you or your family.” He shrugged. “You’ve only ever been kind to me. How can I see you any different?”
“Thanks,” she replied, tucking her hair behind her ears. “How are you feeling, by the way? The new medicine seems to be helping?”
“Sure is. The doctor doesn’t think this winter will be as hard as the last for me.”
“Hm.” Sarah looked away from him.
I suppose that means he won’t need any extra tutoring. Of course.
She cleared her throat and straightened. “How’s school been? I haven’t had a chance to ask you about your grades since you’ve come back.”
“Much better thanks to your lessons. I’m guessing you won’t be staying in town once you’re done with schooling.”
Sarah’s brows slanted. “Why would you say that?”
He stared at her, then shook his head.
“What is it, J-Thomas?”
He sent her a pointed look. “You’re too smart to stay here, Sarah.”
“I don’t think I’m—”
“No, you are.” He leaned a little closer. “You’ve got the highest marks in town. Everybody knows it.”
She scoffed. “Sure. But no one wants to admit it.”
“You wouldn’t be doing it for them though,” he replied. “You’d be doing it for you while they’d still be stuck here twiddling their thumbs. You could be the first one, Sarah.”
There were light splashes of red in Thomas’ cheeks. His green eyes were wide and earnest as the porch light reflected in them. He had gotten himself so worked up.
Sarah was sure her own face was red as a tomato. She glanced at his lips, her heart hammering in her chest. It was only them, the moon, and the stars. They both only had to lean a little closer.
Her curls betrayed her. A few ringlets fell in her face.
Before she could move them away, Thomas had tangled-twisted them in with the others. Sarah stared at him while he worked, but he did not meet her eyes.
When the last curl was tamed, he sighed. “Al
right. I should be getting home now.”
She blinked.
“Enjoy the pie. Tell your parents I said ‘hello,’ too.” He got to his feet.
“Oh, oh, yes, of course.” She stood up and clasped her hands in front of her while he prepared to depart. “Thank you, Thomas. For everything.”
He moved down the porch stairs, but stopped for a moment to turn around and look up at her.
“Sarah?”
“Hm?”
“I really preferred when you called me Tom.”
Another layer of red coated her face. She fiddled with her fingers, clenching and tugging them as words struggled to form.
Finally, she lay them by her sides and gave him a nod. “Of course. Tom.”
“Night, Sarah.”
She waved him goodbye, then stayed on the porch until his figure had faded into the night.
When she returned to her bedroom, Sarah could hear her mother crying quietly down the hall. She knew her father was ill and she would have to heal him. She knew people in the town were saying horrible things about her and her family.
None of it seemed that heavy a burden to bear any longer. She crawled into her bed with a light heart.
Because no one, at least on Earth, believed in her the way Thomas had.
Chapter 8
“You are happy and sad.” Franklin gave her a once over, then a good sniff. “Doesn’t smell like anger. Odd scent.”
Sarah leaned against Mother Tree and stretched her legs out. He gave her a pointed stare. It was nowhere near as hurtful as the looks her mother had been giving her all last week and during the weekend.
“I don’t want to talk about it, Franklin.”
He humphed and his jelly stomach shook with the movement. “No morning practice, no conversation?”
The gnome stepped closer and Sarah found herself leaning away from him. But he was determined.
Franklin stood on the tips of his toes, searching her face.
“You’re sick,” he replied.
“I am?”
He nodded. “I’m certain of it. But not your body, not your mind. Your soul is ill…ill with worry. What happ—”
“Nothing.” She turned away from him. Her hands had turned to fists by her side.
There was a light pat on her right fist.
“There, there. All will be well, Sarafina.”
Sarah’s lips trembled but she forced them into a straight line. She took Franklin’s hands in her own.
“I’m sorry, Franklin. And thank you.”
He gave her a nod. “It’s what friends are for. You were there for me when Margery took off with that berried Bardolf.”
The very mention of his adversary’s name brought another shade of red to Franklin’s already rosey cheeks.
“Now, we’ve yammered about this already, right Franklin?” Sarah said, patting his cone shaped hat.
He sighed. “We have.”
“And what did we decide?”
“If a gnomey does not see my value, then she is not worth my hand in marriage,” he replied. “Thank you, Sarafina. Sometimes the old feelings get the best of me.”
She smiled. “Like you said, it’s what friends are for. I do have a reason for calling you out here though.”
At those words, he puffed out his chest and turned up his chin. “How can I be of service to you, Chosen One?”
She hated when he called her that.
“Well, first I was wondering if you, or any of the others, had heard word from Lyrica?”
He quirked a brow. “No, not in years, which isn’t odd. You know hardly anyone passes through now.”
She nodded. “Fine. Next question. If I wanted to return to Lyrica, without a portal or a large body of water, how could I? Would the body of water have to be bigger than a lake?”
“Hm.” Staring at the ground, he tapped his chin, before finally saying, “You can’t.”
Franklin grinned.
The joy on the gnome’s face matched Sarah’s deflation. In her time with the gnomes, Sarah had learned their perspective on conversations differed from humans. They were straightforward and honest. Though the gnome hadn’t given her the answer she wanted, he had answered her question. That was a victory for him.
“Why do you wish to return?” he asked.
“I…I think Lyrica may be in trouble again. I think there’s a war.” Sarah slumped her head, before pulling her knees up and resting it along them. “And there’s nothing I can do to help them. If I can’t get back, what will happen to all the Lyricans?”
The school bell rang in the distance. Sarah wiped her eyes and jumped to her feet.
“I’m sorry. I have to go, Franklin.”
“Would you like me to walk you?”
She shook her head. “No, I’ll be alright. I can’t risk anyone seeing me talking with you either.”
He frowned. “Why not? It doesn’t bother you usually.”
“Things…things have changed. I’ll tell you more soon. I promise. How does that sound?”
“Not good. Is it the best I’m going to get?”
“Afraid so. I’ll speak with you tomorrow.” With those words, Sarah was off.
She knew she’d be late no matter how fast she ran. Still, the mile jog to the white schoolhouse felt nice.In the woods Sarah had almost always felt safe, but the last few nights the trees had been especially comforting. Her mother had ceased communicating with her, aside from cold plates of food left on the table. And she had started to lock their door. Each night.
Sarah pinched her palms to stop the tears.
Today she refused to cry. Today was a new week. She would arrive home and the doctor would tell them her father was on the road to recovery. Once that was done, she’d focus on saving Lyrica. Then, on how to fix things with her mother, though she wondered if what remained of their relationship was even repairable.
And did she want to even try to piece together the shambles?
A tiny bit of guilt gnawed at Sarah. She ignored it.
She opened the back door of the schoolhouse and burst into her classroom. Sarah had an apology on the tip of her tongue, but something was wrong.
“I hope this doesn’t become a habit of yours, Sarafina,” said Mr. Greensburg. “Take your seat.”
She didn’t move. A shiver ran over Sarah.
“Must I repeat myself? Take your seat, Sarafina, and stop disrupting the lesson.”
Mr. Greensburg slammed his manual on his desk, and Sarah found her way to a chair. She began fumbling with her school items. Her hands were shaking so badly it took all she had to not snap her pencil in half.
Without having to look, Sarah knew her classmates were staring at her. The atmosphere in the room coiled around her like a snake. She had become so used to their negative energies she hardly noticed it anymore. Sensing other’s emotions was also not her strong suit. Except this time, her peers were more than angry and disgusted. Even a little hate wasn’t unusual for them.
But this time, there was fear.
It permeated the room like winter’s wind, touching every crevice and corner.
Sarah kept her head low, looking underneath her lashes. Several of her peers were wearing crosses around their necks.
Most people reserved them for Sundays at church but now…
Her mother had told them. Lucille had told her entire gaggle of hens about her Devil Child and they had spread the lies to everyone.
The feeling of fear pressed down on Sarah. It competed for dominance with the betrayal that dug into her chest.
Her own mother had offered her up.
Sarah’s jaw quivered. Her notes became blurry scribbles across her paper. Even her hands could no longer keep up with Mr. Greenberg as he instructed the lesson.
She placed her items on her desk and tucked her hands under arms. They were still shaking right along with her jaw.
Sarah gnashed her teeth together but couldn’t keep them steady.
Her classmates’ fear
still filled the room.
Her mother’s betrayal clung to her.
But her own anger raged inside her. And Sarah wasn’t sure if she wanted to put it out.
Her mother hadn’t packed her any food. It would have been a waste considering Sarah’s current state. Her stomach was a tangle of frustration with room for nothing else.
The spring day had become dreary outside. Gray light streamed through the windows. Still, the room remained cast in shadow.
When the instructor announced recess, her peers quickly left the classroom, casting hesitant glances her way. She never joined them or any of the other grades outside and she didn’t plan on starting any time soon.
Especially not today.
Alone in the classroom, Sarah sat hunched over, staring at her desk. Red, crescent-shaped lines decorated her palms.
Part of her wanted to cry. The situation definitely called for it. Yet Sarah could not add fuel to the fire. If anyone saw a single tear, it would be more gossip for them to feed on.
Daring a glance outside, Sarah saw nearly all eyes on her. They whispered and pointed.
It hadn’t been like this before. She had even learned how to navigate the town and school unseen.
Sarah had always been the local crazy. Yet she had never been truly feared until now. She had never truly been seen as a monster until now.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Sarah got to her feet and left the classroom. Recess had another fifteen minutes based on the clock. That would be fifteen minutes of peace.
The halls were silent as she moved through them, making her way to the school’s front. The farther she walked from the classroom, the easier it became to breathe.
She stood by the front entrance, staring at the trees across the road. Her fingers tingled and her feet seemed to head outside of their own choosing. She pressed on the handle, gradually pushing the door open.
She could do it. Sarah could dart into the woods and keep running until her home was completely behind her. She’d go somewhere else, somewhere new where no one knew her name and no one cared where she came from.
She’d start a home there. And if no such place existed, she’d live in the woods with the trees. Because, unlike humans, they never judged her.
The Pariah Child- Sarafina's Return Page 6