The Writers' Circle

For there to be a beginning there has to be an end, or so I have told myself over and over in my seventeen years of life. There are things that can be said about life and family, one in which I have never had the pleasure to experience. Amazingly enough for me my life is about to be changed irrevocably, the reason is such a simple but profound one at the same time. I am being emancipated. 
My life up until now has not been one of sadness and sorrow; it has been more of loneliness and fatigue. The details of my early life have been sketchy found abandoned in the rocky mountain national forest, no discernible identifying features. I have seen clippings about the Jane Doe that was found a massive search was put forth by the law enforcement of El Paso County in Colorado to find my parents but nothing was ever found so I entered the life of an orphan ward of the state. With name and birth date unknown they gave me the name of Kimberly and decided that my birthday was on April fools day in the year 1993.  Oh the irony of the situation, I cannot help but chuckle. 
I spent most of my life bouncing from foster home to shelter home trying to find somewhere that I could fit in. By the time I was 15 I had decided that it was a lost cause and I would forever be known as the orphan Annie. 
If there was ever a time to be level headed and steady it was now, unfortunately that is not me well not right now. I feel like I am a cat on a hot tin roof the sun beating down and reflecting on the silver panels. My hands and feet burning and the sweat pouring off my brow and no matter how many times I wipe it away it still trails down dripping into my eye salt stinging it. No matter how I try I cannot calm down.  I look over at Mary, my foster mom for the last two years, and wonder how she is able to keep it together. Her golden short cropped hair does not have a strand out of place and it looks as if she is cool as water sitting there on that hard mahogany bench.  
While here I sit tearing apart the tissue in my hand.  I slowly raise it again and wipe more moisture off of my brow. When will this be over.? Again I glance at Mary and notice that she is now looking right back at me. 
"Don't be so nervous Kimberly, the attorney will be here shortly and everything is in order, everything will work out well." She shot me a small comforting smile easing the tension I am feeling a little bit. 
 I reply sheepishly, "I know Mary I just want this to be over and done with."  
"It will be I assure you, we have been working on this since you came to live with me. I am sure it will be fine."  She reached over and pats my leg with her slender hand in a comforting gesture.  
I don't know where I would be right now without Mary I shudder at the thought. I came to live with her two years ago she was one of what my social worker Mrs. stout calls a situation. But to be honest it is about the best place that I have lived. And Mary the kind soul that she is has been helping me get emancipated so I am no longer a ward of the state. She has hired my attorney and we are currently sitting at the courthouse waiting for my case to be called. Mary has been nothing but supportive  and at first set out to adopt me herself but her being a single woman not to mention young, is ineligible under Colorado rules and regulations.
 I sit awaiting the timely arrival of my attorney, Mr. Green, Apparently he has been Mary's family attorney since she was quite small, and I have met him on multiple occasions throughout this ordeal. He is a very pleasant man kind of short and portly with wild red hair and an overgrown beard. He reminds me of a jovial leprechaun straight out of a children's book, just a tad taller. All that is missing is the green clothes and the silly green hat and he would be perfect. I giggled imagining him in such an outfit. And to make it sillier in he walked briefcase in his hand I quickly stood up and noticed that Mary had done the same.   "Hello Mr. Green" I extended my right hand toward him which he shook enthusiastically then in turn shook Mary's.  
"Hello Kimberly, today's the big day huh" He then winked his green eyes filled with mirth. 
"It would be if I wasn't so nervous, what if I forget what I am supposed to say, Are you sure that I will be able to make it on my own? I understand that in 9 months I will be 18 anyway, I then looked over at Mary who was staring at me her eyes filled with emotion.  I don't want to live away from you Mary. I am not ready." With each word I could hear my voice kick up an octave. I grasped at my wrist and fiddled with my bracelet. I am not sure if I can do this.. 
"Kim, we talked about this, you will not be completely on your own. You always have me, and we have the housing situation figured out, and you can look for a part time job after school. It is just better than being at the mercy of the state, at any time they can decide to yank you out of my care, and then where would you be? I know you have been in worse and I would hate to have to see that happen to you again."
I completely forgot that Mr. Green was standing there. His mouth drawn in a straight line apparently deep in thought shuffling through some papers he held. He said in a deep baritone "I don't mean to break this up but we do have to get into the courtroom and plead our case, now Kim I know it is a big step but I am confident that you will do well, When we get into the courtroom, we will all be sitting at a table, it is pretty informal but only speak when spoken to and answer the questions that the judge asks. Mrs. Stout has already prepared the legal work from the state and will also arrive for the hearing. If you have any questions don't hesitate to motion to me and I will try to explain." He then blew out a breath that ruffled his mustache. And his hand reached out and patted my head, "You will do fine."  At that moment I felt like a little child being patted on the head for a job well done, not the almost adult that I am to be. It was a little concerning.  
Mary and I followed him into the courtroom and sat down in the middle of the long table.  There were pitchers of water and cups ever 4 places or so, and there were microphones hanging down from the ceiling, It was a little daunting I must admit. We had just settled into our seats, Mr. Green on the right of me closest to where the Judge will sit and Mary to the left. I was situated in the middle, when the Door banged open and in walked Mrs. Stout- Caseworker extraordinaire and bane of me existence for as long as I could remember and I could not be happier that this was hopefully the last time in my life that I would have the unfortunate displeasure of keeping her company. She is very sour in disposition, so much that she and I usually end up having a verbal argument and either one of us stomping away. Usually it is her that walks away though because it would mean that I would get a less than stellar situation if I did. 
"Kimberly?" I looked at her directly as she spoke in that shrill nasally tone.
She is quite portly and wears out of date wrinkled dresses constantly, her graying hair is always drawn up in a tight severe bun pulling her constantly condescending eyes into a more severe slant. She reminds me of one of the proverbial school marms that you hear about in classic fiction novels. The thing that I don't like the most about her though is that she has been the person holding all of the cards my entire life but now, today, I am able to break the strings that bind and begin my life again, for the first time and although hi am giddy with the perspective I am terrified that I will fail. . 
I saw Mary inadvertently jump at the sound of Mrs. Stouts voice from the corner of my eye. I empathized with Mary; she didn't like Mrs. Stout just about as much as I and they have also had their disagreements over the years.
"Yes Mrs. Stout?" we both replied
 "I have the final paperwork from the state to finalize the emancipation proceedings. As soon as the Judge talks to you and Mary I have some paperwork for the both of you to sign that release the state from any and all obligations on said child." As Mrs. Stout stated matter of fact then her large lips puckered into a frown of some sorts and her eyes narrowed even more, if at all possible. Her beady eyes bored into mine as if she was trying to send me some negative subliminal message. I could not help myself and just smiled and in a cheerful voice responded 
"I understand Mrs. Stout." Mary too was having difficulty suppressing her own giggle behind the tissue she held in front of her mouth, her short ash blonde hair falling into her hazel eyes.   
	Mrs. Stout took the seat directly opposite and as she sat I could have sworn I heard the wood to the chair creak. She just shifted and readjusted herself on the chair while getting out the papers.  No sooner than she finished organizing her pile a door in the back of the room opened and in stepped a man in his early 40s donned in a black robe. I can only assume that this is the judge. I followed Mrs. Stout and Mr. Greens lead and stood fidgeting with the bracelet on my wrist. I always do that when I am nervous and uncomfortable, it somehow always calms me down.  
	The judge glided across the room his salt and pepper hair giving the impression that he was much older than the few lines on his face displayed. He sat down and looked directly at me. I felt as if I were under a microscope and that my mousy brown hair was not all a tangle from the breeze outside. I had to resist the urge to raise my hand and pat it down under his penetrating gaze. 
"All rise for the honorable Judge Lowell" I jumped slightly at the voice, realizing that a uniformed bailiff stood to the right of where the judge stood
"Be seated, the court calls the case of the state versus Kimberly Baker, Are both parties present?"  
"Yes your honor" Mr. Green stated and Mrs. Stout responded simultaneously while we all were motioned by the bailiff to sit down.  The judge in his opposing ebony robe looked through the file that the bailiff had handed him every once in a while his eyes would crinkle or his mouth would turn down analyzing whatever lye on the papers. Time seemed to stand still as he thumbed through them occasionally starching on them with a pen.  Finally He turned to Mr. Green. " Proceed"  Mr. Green stood up and started spouting of a bunch of legal jargon that I didn't understand pursuant to this rule and law ect ect. I could feel the anxiety building I knew that eventually it would be my turn to talk and I was hoping that I would not fumble on my words or make a fool out of my self.  Having previously shred my tissue I wiped my damp hands on my simple black skirt hoping to alleviate some of tension.  

	It would be an underestimate to say that that was the longest 45 minutes of my life now nestled into Mary's beige 4door sedan, it feels more like a dream and the barrage of questions has soon been forgotten. The basis of my emancipation was that I was going to rent a house from Mary that her family had left to her in a will and get a part time job to support myself as well as complete my senior year of high school.  Now that the court proceedings are over I can feel the excitement rolling off of myself in waves and it is hard to contain it... It feels like my body wants to go everywhere at once but is only contained by my skin. Mary for the most part has been silent and seems deep in thought, as I look over at her I can see fine wrinkles around her mouth that is in a thin line and creases by her eyes. She is absently watching the road as she drives along. 
"Mary, Are you okay?" I asked her to hopefully get some insight of her thoughts
"Yeah Kim, I am alright, just thinking. School starts next week and I am sure that you want to get settled into the house. And get familiar with the town.  I don't expect you to get a job right away, and as for rent, that was just for show. It has been sitting abandoned close to 16 years and untouched since well since the last tenants. It is probably in great disrepair." She said solemnly as if she was seeing something else while she was talking to me. I wondered what could be bothering her so much. 
"Well then other than school I will have a lot of time on my hands now to fix it up wont I?" I smiled at her hoping to ebb away some of the tension that she was feeling.
"I suppose your right, how about we head over there this weekend after we get your stuff packed up." Her hands tensed on the steering wheel letting me know that conversation for the moment was done. We pulled into the driveway of Mary's simple two story manufactured home; it is located in a subdivision just off of Academy Boulevard. The grass was green and the hedges had been trimmed. Last month Mary and I spend the entirety repainting the porch and some of the shutters It looked like one of those stereotypical sixties houses where June and ward cleaver would come out any moment to scold the beav... Sad I know I shouldn't know what those shows are but for some reason I do.
I watched Mary open the door to her sedan and slowly make her way up the concrete path to the ornate screen door there was something off about her, it was as if a switch was flipped she had gone from super ecstatic to completely morose. Was she not happy I was leaving? I trudged up the walk behind her thinking if there was anything that I had said or done that was rude, but for the life of me I cannot figure it out.  I closed the door behind me just in time to see her figure retreat into her bedroom, it is perhaps better not to disturb her.  I sullenly walked up the stairs into my bedroom it was white open and cheery I circled around taking a mental note of where everything was and how it looked.  By this time tomorrow everything would be in boxes and I would be staying in my new home. Sighing I plopped on the bed and held my teddy bear close, It was dirty and ragged one of the eyes was hanging off of its once chocolate fur by a string and the pink fuzzy nose has long since worn away.. Other than my bracelet this is the only thing that I have from my old life, the one in which I know I somewhere had a loving family. I think about them from time to time, wondering what happened to them, if I have any brothers or sisters. But I cannot recall anything it is as if my existence has been an illusion. Hugging my bear aged with time and tears I think of my life and how it is going to be in a new place.  
	Before I knew it mary was pounding on the door
"Kimberly, Time for dinner, we have a lot to discuss." Though slightly muffled through the wood I could hear that mary's mood had improved greatly from this afternoon. I heard her retreat down the staircase.  Hearing my stomach growl at the mention of food I quickly threw down Gordon  my stuffed bear and hurried down the stairs.
	I found Mary standing over the double sink in the outdated kitchen. I paused and looked at her before I made my presence known. Her face was twisted in concentration and I could here her muttering under her breath but I couldn't make out the words. She turned back to the stove and stirred something that smelled eerily like green peppers and onion in a blackened skillet. I leaned against the door jamb and continued to watch her prepare dinner. Her movements are very subtle but graceful as she flitted around the kitchen. 
"Hey, something smells really delicious, What is for dinner?"  Mary turned from the stove and grinned " Dinner is nothing extravagant just some basic stir fry, I was pretty sure that you would be hungry and I have to be to work at 7 but if you want we can talk until then." She then faced the stove again and turned off the burner
"Eat" she said offhandedly as she filled two plates with rice.  I looked around the homey kitchen and slid into one of the kitchen chairs. Mary set a heaping plate of stir fry in front of me it really did look good. 
"So Mary, tell me about this house?", I asked between mouthfuls of stir-fry	
She demurely sat down her fork on the edge of her plate and placed her fingertips together, "Lets see,  I inherited it about 16 years ago from a lovely family It is actually in Manitou springs which is about 10 miles from here. So you will not be that far away. There is a high school in Manitou which you will be attending they start I believe next week. It is not as big as the school you attended here but it is not really that small either.. Um It is a 2 story house. Just the main floor and attic. You will have to actually see it to understand what I am saying. We will get you packed  and moved in by Sunday so you can register on Monday." 
"It sounds wonderful Mary" I said to her after finishing off my plate 
"Of course there are some rules that you need to obey like no drugs or drinking and no loud parties." I dropped my cup out of my hands and looked at her.  A look of complete seriousness was etched on her face, her lips pursed together and her eyebrows slanted slightly downward.  I couldn't help but chuckle.  "Mary, I don't even have any friends, why I would have a party. Everyone at Colorado high treated me like a leper or something, and as for the drinking and drugs. I don't like them; I like being in control of my own self." I stated smugly while crossing my arms over my chest in mock defiance.  
Mary just chuckled.. "Alright Kim, fair enough." 
We cleaned the kitchen together as soon as it was done she had to rush and get ready for work. "Bye Kimberly I will see you tomorrow. Sleep well, and there are extra blankets in the hallway closet downstairs just incase your room is too messy to sleep in. ... If you need me call Memorial the number is on the fridge. I think that is it", she quickly reached out and gave me a tight hug and placed a kiss on my forehead then just as suddenly, hastened out the door locking it behind her with a click.
	I suppose I forgot to mention that Mary is a nurse at Memorial hospital here in the springs.  So she works long odd hours. It has been as if I have been living on my own anyway. She usually works nights so is sleeping when I am up and around.
 I sank into the tan leathery sofa in the living room leaning my head against the back I looked up at the ceiling fan and wondered, how my new school is going to be, and what kind of a town is Manitou springs not just the rumor mill that overshadows every basic fact. And perhaps now that I was going to be on my own first thing on my list was where I could find a job, where there any shops hiring. Thinking of so many changes was making my head spin and I figured that I was not going to figure out anything tonight I trudged up the stairs to my room. I went to my dresser and pulled out a pair of black ratty sweats and a dingy white tank top, changed into them and began packing. 
 	I didn't have a lot to pack, I haven't aquired much in the way of material possessions over the years the majority of what I had were clothes most of which mary had purchased for me when I moved in with her. Aside from that there were a couple knick nacks and some cds and cd player. Everything that I owned fit in 6 square boxes. It sometimes makes me sad not knowing where I came from but I suppose that it makes the present that much brighter because I know where I am and hopefully the future because it is not yet set in stone.  The only things that I hadn't packed were my blankets and sheets on my bed and some clothes for tomorrow. 
It's amusing to me how you remember some things in your life and then there are others you don't because the next thing I realized is that I was caught up in a dream, or a nightmare for that matter. Opening my eyes I realized that I was standing outside, the frigid air seeped through my plaid pajamas brushing up my heated skin. I shivered involuntarily
Peering into the darkness around me I started to see outlines of objects that surrounded me as my eyes started adjusting to the lack of light. I recognized that I am standing somewhere in a small forest clearing. I could hear nothing beyond the thrum of my heart. There was neither a whisper of wind nor the call of an owl just mind numbing silence. I was almost tempted to make some noise so I could keep my sanity but the silence was abruptly broken for me. Faintly I heard rustling sounds behind the curtains of blue black pine trees. 
Subtly, the full moon slunk out from behind wisps of silvery clouds that sporadically filled the night sky and bathed the clearing in a pale silver haze. The crunching of leaves and snapping of branches steadily came closer and I could make out voices. At first they were too far away to make out any intelligible conversation or how many but as they finally ran
 into the clearing through the dense thicket that settled on the forest floor I was finally able to hear and see them clearly. It was if the moon had transformed into an enormous florescent light bulb and inundated the clearing with light. Just there just beyond the canopy of trees were three of them, a young woman and a man who carried toddler who's years could have totaled no more than four. 
My eyes zeroed in on the woman was about ten paces in front of her companion while she stumbled forward falling most ungracefully to the ground and landing on her knees. She was very petite woman she had auburn hair that haphazardly hung in front of her face while she faced the ground but I could see patches of flawless pastel skin that graced her arms and legs. Pushing herself up from the ground her face came into view. Contorted in terror that is the only way to describe it. Her eyes were as cesspool of pain and fear. Before I could even move toward her to assist her up her male companion was at her side and grabbed her slightly bleeding elbow helping her to stand. 
	The man was very tall he had very broad shoulders the material of his t-shirt stretched over his russet skin. From this vantage point I could not see his face as it was obscured by the small child. She was beautiful, chocolate colored hair and her eyes are like brown endless pools, reflecting her emotions to the outside world. Tear streaked cheeks and ruddy skin were proof that she was crying. She was afraid. But of what I am not sure. 
The woman brushing off her now mud caked ivory sun dress started to speak.

"Do you think that it is still behind us?"
"I don't hear anything but that doesn't mean its not there, you know it wants her."  He said breathlessly. 
He turned slightly and I could finally see his face. He had very prominent cheekbones that set off his deeply set amber eyes His mouth was drawn into a straight line as he looked deep in thought. It was then in the distance that I heard a low guttural howling. The slight woman stiffened and looked at her companion fearfully

"What are we going to do?" 

"It hasn't stopped we cannot keep running this is what we're going to do" he whispered while running a tan hand down her cheek. "You are going to take the baby and run, run as far and as fast as you can. I will buy you some time but I probably won't last long." He trailed voice echoing with despair. 

"No!" I will not leave you" the woman adamantly stated. 

"Kenzy, you know he will stop at nothing to prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled. He will kill all of us if you stay." he admonished

	Kenzy looked at him her eyes brimming with tears." I love you, Sean" Then she rose on her tip toes and gave him a kiss and retrieved the baby from her companions arms and then she was gone.  At this I felt a flicker of recognition shoot through me. It was almost a deja-vu moment.
His eyes followed their exit and stayed transfixed on the spot where they disappeared until a very thunderous crashing noise reverberated in the woods. In an instant Sean broke out of his trance and turned around. He pulled a knife out of a scabbard and took a defensive stance all the while the noise was approaching, and sounding more malicious. 
The ground shook. Trees groaned and snapped and then toppled like they were mere matchsticks.  I tried to back away from the sound but I could not move. It was if someone had glued my feet to the ground. The noise was almost deafening. Then without warning a creature leapt from the forest right toward the man in the clearing. 
The beast was hideous, from where I stood I could only see the brown/black wiry hair that covered its body as it stood on two legs easily dwarfing the man that stood a good ten feet away. Its face was similar to a human but more sinister its black face was covered in the same hair that covered its body and its eyes were narrowed and iridescent red. Gnashing its teeth as it growled it then crouched I could see the muscles bunching then releasing as he lunged at the man. The male deftly ducked low to the ground and the creature sailed over him. 
While the beast was landing with a loud thud the man whipped around and ran towards the saskwatchish figure with his arm raised, the dagger glinting slightly in the moon light. Fighting with every ounce of strength that he possessed the man attempted to plunge the knife it into the back for the foul beast. But the evil being was   quicker, it rapidly spun around and swung his gigantic hand connecting with the comparatively elfish man and sent him sailing completely across the diminutive clearing Slamming into a nearby aspen tree with a hollow thud.  Without wasting time the animal sprinted over to the now crumpled human.  
No sound erupted from my lips as I inhaled deeply and forced the air out.  And I couldn't move either I felt as if I was coated in cement and it was hardening freezing me in position.  There was nothing that I could do, I just stood there watching this ghastly scene unfold before my eyes, I have never felt so helpless in my life. The man was slowly raised his head struggling with all his might to right himself, cherry colored blood seeped out of a deep wound on his forehead. His left arm contorted into an unnatural angle. Before the man could react the creature pinned him back against the side of the pale tree trunk. My vision was obstructed with the back of the beast hovering over the now captive man. I could hear the creature growling deeply I could actually picture the large razor sharp  teeth, and the saliva dripping out of the gums mixing with the putrid smelling coarse hair that lined his mouth and chin.
 I felt my heart pounding in my chest expecting it to beat through my rib cage and falling onto the ground in front of me. I could hear the muffled cries of the man growing stronger as the beast continued his assault until the minute screams erupted into a high blood curdling screech. It was at that point I believe my heart stopped beating, all that I could see beyond the backside of the monster was an occasional movement of the mans bloody limbs as he tried to free himself from the slow torture. The scream quickly turned into a deep gurgle and soon fell silent, I also saw the legs that were fighting to get free from the hideous animal has also become still  
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of white, it was the woman who had run off but somewhere she had left the baby behind. An anguished war cry sounded reverberating in the cool night air simultaneously with the plunge of the woman's ornate dagger sinking into the flesh of the oblivious animal. The beast howled in pain and turned unexpectedly knocks the woman to the ground while concurrently thrusting its razor sharp claws into her stomach then retreated hastily into the forest all the while the whimpers of pain decreased until there was only the deafening silence of the now still forest. 
The woman lye on the ground for a few moments while I was futilely trying to move my body so I could go attend to her wounds all the while watching her once ivory dress become marred by four crimson spots that were spreading at an alarming rate. I could feel the tears rolling down my cheeks. Only able to watch but not able to help, it was wearing on my body and my spirit I want this nightmare before me to end.   I saw the woman take in a deep ragged breath, I was sure that it would be her last, but to my surprise she forced the air out into a scream.
 "Eibhlihin." The woman sobbed.
Nothing but silence, I looked around the clearing and it reminded me of some of the horror movies that I had seen at the movies or on TV but never thought that I would witness in my lifetime. The lifeless man slumped near the base of the white tinged aspen trunk his body covered in congealed blood, blank eyes fixed but not seeing. Then the woman struggling to get up calling something and quickly depleting her energy I could tell that she does not have much time left the blood has left her face and each intake of breath was followed by a gasp. She screamed again "Eibhlihin" her voice broke gurgling the last syllable.
 Across the clearing I could see some of the low lying leaves stirring the little girl that had been with the brown hair woman crawled slowly out from beneath the lowest of the branches of the shrubbery I could not see her face he head was bent down so she was staring at the grass as she avoided the tangle of sticks and twigs that littered her path out of the foliage. Once in the clearing the little girl braced her hands on the ground and pushed herself up in to a standing position then ran over to the woman who was fading fast. I could see the sickly white sheen of her face and the ever growing pool of red that spread over her once pristine dress. 
The chubby dark haired girl stopped abruptly as her vision narrowed in on the body that was resting at the base of the tree. I could actually feel her sobs of agony tightening the now present noose around my heart with every step as she ambled towards the almost dead woman. 
"I know baby, Daddy's gone now." It took great effort for the woman to grab the girl and encircle her with her arms pulling her closer to her chest and burrowing her lips in the soft chocolate curls.
"Mommy does not have much time left either, but there is something that I need to give you"  From my vantage point I couldn't  see exactly what she was doing but I could hear the anguish in her voice and the sorrow at leaving what I now know is her daughter. I wanted to help, help her, take the girl but I am stuck I cannot move from this spot held by some unnatural force. 
"This is for you Eibhlihin it will keep you safe and protect you from the evil that will undoubtedly surround you. This is the last thing I can give you, oh my precious baby, I love you." Tears streamed down her face as she attached as bracelet on the little girls wrist. Her sporadic shallow breathing prevented her from speaking anymore her eyes rolled into the back of her head and her body fell flaccidly to the ground, arms that were holding the little girl to her released and she too died. I looked at the little girl who had thrown herself over the top of the woman sobbing uncontrollably and noticed a faint glimmer in the quickly receding light. 
I came into consciousness simultaneously with the incessant buzzing of the alarm clock. Still paralyzed with fear I stared up to the ceiling and gazed through the skylight, concentrating on the pale pinks and purples that swam in my vision, trying to block out the horrifying scene that I had just witnessed.  I could feel the pounding of my heart trying to make a conscious effort to slow it down to a normal pace because echo of such beating was pounding in my ears furthering my anxiety. I remained still for what seemed like hours but I am sure it was just minutes the shrilling pitch of my alarm clock reverberated through out the room. I rolled over and turned off the alarm clock with great effort as my legs were tangled in my stiff comforter. Running a hand through my damp hair I mustered enough energy to untangle myself and swing my legs over the side of  bed into an upright position. By this time my heart was well on its way to becoming a gentle gallop instead of the raging stampede that it was previously. The shadows which were spattered across my room started to disappear as I got my breathing under control. I glanced to over at my alarm the neon green display read ten after six
	I have had this vision before twice that I can remember, The first time was when I was around 8 years old, it was the night before I was removed from my at the time foster mothers house her husband had come home in a drunken rage and took it out on me and I ended up in the hospital with 2 broken ribs and a collapsed lung.  The tone in that dream was different though, it was not so ominous it was just of the three people running through the forest, I had woken before anything had happened. 
The second time the dream replayed was when I was 10 years old living in the shelter home, no one paid attention to the children. The staff would instead pass the time reading or watching the TV, as long as you didn't bother them there was no problem. I vaguely remember that I had been ill for days but I didn't want to bug my caretakers because upsetting them would result in losing the few privileges that I had earned at the time like going out into the backyard and playing on the decrepit swing set that they had built there.  My room was in the basement, I shared it with six other girls about my age, everyone had gone to school and I was the only one home at the time.
 I remember staying huddled in my scratchy thin cotton blanket my temperature was raging but I extremely cold. So I slept most of that afternoon, the dream took a more sinister turn it was again like the scene from a horror movie but I did not get past the point where the lady attacks the hideous beast, I do remember the acrid smell though of his fur.. It is a stench that you do not soon forget. I don't actually remember waking up from the dream, but the next thing that I remembered was lots of people in white hovering above me, examining me.  That night I had emergency surgery to remove my appendix, had the staff not checked on me and rushed me to the hospital I was told that I would have been dead by morning because my appendix had already ruptured and the toxins were invading my body.
	I sat for a while wondering why the dream occurred this time  I can tell  for certain  that I am not sick or hurt, nor am I endanger of dying so I was left feeling unsettled again.  I clearly remember the lady, and how the little girl looked up at me, her haunting brown eyes staring into mine as if she was trying to tell me something.  Then I remember the bracelet.  I have one just like it on my wrist. I looked down and rubbed it.  Hmm that is odd.. It to me seems like an ordinary bracelet but I have never figured out how to take it off, there are no clasps to release the intricately woven silver band  that encircles my wrist, the seriously weird thing about it though is that it always seems to fit. As I grow the bracelet seems to grow with me. I am not superstitious and I don't believe in fairies and creepy crawlers that go bump in the night. If anything I am practical and level headed since the only one I have been able to count on is myself 
Breaking me from my reverie the snooze had run out and the piercing noise resumed with vengeance. Wobbly, I stood then reached toward the alarm clock and turned it off.  While stretching I realized what today was; the dream now forgotten.  I reached my arms upward trying to shake off the stiff feeling, and walked to my closet and grabbed the first pair of jeans and shirt that was in the cramped space.
I stifled a yawn and walked sleepily into the bathroom and turned on the faucet, cupping my hands under the stream I splashed cold water in my face.. As my hands trailed down my face I looked in the mirror at my reflection, Dull brown eyes and boring brown hair, nothing distinctive about me, I am just that girl next door that you cannot remember you know the one that people try to say their name but come up with two or three wrong ones before you get so frustrated you finally correct them.  Well that is me. I rubbed the bridge of my nose realizing that it has freckles on it. Ugh, freckles are so unattractive. I quickly brushed my teeth and ran a comb through my hair fastening it into a low ponytail. After a quick change of clothes I was ready to start the day.
	
	About half way down  the stairs I smelled bacon and eggs.  Taken aback I realized it was Mary and she was cooking breakfast so I quickly jumped down the last two steps and landed on the ground then skipped into the kitchen. Mary was in front of the stove completely dressed in her scrubs, pushing scrambled eggs onto a plastic dinner plate. Gracefully lowering myself into the chair parallel to the kitchen I chirped to Mary,  
"Morning Mary, did you have a good day at work yesterday?"
I think that I startled her because she almost dropped the pan of eggs onto the plate recovering only at the last minute.
"Oh my goodness Kimberly Don't sneak up on me like that again; I thought I was having a heart attack." Mary admonished while setting the empty pan back on the stove. She then walked over to the table and sat the heaping plate of food in front of me.  
Awkwardly she hugged me from behind, 
."Did you sleep alright?"
"It was alright," I replied then cringed as the nightmare I had last night tickled my consciousness but then recovered hoping she wouldn't read to much into it I covered "I am a little anxious though about new house and school." I said dejectedly trying to cover up my lie but inside I was truly excited to to have the chance to start a new life. 
"It's not going to be that bad, you will do fine, I am sure you're a good hearted person, and everyone will love you. Come on now and eat your breakfast."
I looked at the plate of food in front of me, grabbed my fork and began eating. Mary sat down on the opposite side of the kitchen table sipping a cup of coffee full of cream and sugar. 
"Mary do you want some coffee with your cream?" I asked. 
"Ha-ha very cute Kim." She said while scrunching her nose at me 
"Well I have no idea how in the world that you can drink that even with the extras. it is so bitter-ewww.."
"I must admit it is an acquired taste. I didn't care for it much in high school myself It was more a college thing, you know late night cram sessions with lots of caffeine mmm Yum." She admonished. 
I wasn't sure where the time had gone but by early afternoon we had everything packed in the moving van and were on our way. But the closer we came to Manitou springs, the further my apprehension grew.