Petra was happy to be home. She loved the smell of her own sheets. They were soft and warm, unlike the hospital's hard and stale offerings. This was the happiest Petra had been in over a week. After the mugging, Petra was depressed and heavy. She didn't want to move. This was the first time she felt independent and free.
After last night's thoughts about going to New York, Petra began to seriously consider it. She talked to Lucy Collins on her way out of the clinic, who was apparently being checked in by her mother. Lucy encouraged Petra to move forward with her plan.
Petra was unsure and afraid of the unknown. As much as she hated her life, she didn't know how to make a sudden change. Lucy told her that she should go with her instinct. If that meant going to New York, Petra should do it.
Petra began to rummage through her desk, throwing bills and magazines onto the floor. At the bottom of the pile she found it. A thick manilla envelope that she hadn't touched in years. The edges of the envelope were torn from wear and abandonment.
Petra slowly tore off the sticky seal that kept its contents enclosed. She reached her hand inside to find a thick wad. As she pulled it out dollar signs began to appear.
10's, 20's, and even 100's spewed out. This was an apology gift from Petra's mother years ago that Petra put off, in disgust of her mother's behavior when she was a child. But now, Petra needed the money. She frantically organized the bills by numerical value. It didn't take her long to determine the amount that now covered her floor.
$1,021. It was enough for Petra to take a train to New York and find temporary housing. The money gave her a bit of relief, knowing that she had financial security as a back-bone.
Petra began to pace around the room thinking of her next move. She wanted to leave tomorrow, but knew that wasn't possible with her current state of mind. She needed time to think. But, she could only wait so long.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
New Beginnings
Someone left Petra's window open last night. She squinted as she saw the faint sight of sunlight peer through the curtains of her hospital room. She glanced over at the clock seeing the red, digitized 6:30 A.M. stare right back at her.
There wasn't a breeze moving through the cloudy air. It was silent. She didn't hear the sounds of sirens or footsteps as she had for the past four days that she has been cooped up in the hospital. The doctor told Petra yesterday that today was going to be her final day in the ER. She was relieved, but nervous about transitioning back into the world that once knocked her to her knees.
She didn't want to face the woman who mugged her or any threatening individual for that matter. She wanted a peaceful state of mind, free of bag-snatchers and homeless men.
She heard yet another interrupting knock on the door.
"Come in," Petra mumbled under the sheets.
"Hi Petra!" The voice of Clara Kate Holloway replied.
Petra and Clara vaguely knew each other from town, but they were by no means close. Petra glanced up and faked a smile through her grogginess and accepted Clara's gift of daisies.
"I thought you would enjoy these," Clara said.
"Thank you Clara. I am not trying to be rude, but do you mind if you leave. I am really tired and I haven't had much sleep over the past couple of days." Petra responded sharply.
"Oh, okay...Sure...Well if you are ever in the mood to talk, please give me a call. Goodbye Petra," Clara replied as she slowly backed out of the room.
Petra was confused as to why Clara came. Especially at 6:30 in the morning. All Petra wanted to do at this point was escape reality. Her life was in shambles and she didn't have any true support. Petra thought about taking a plane to New York City, her childhood dream. But, that idea was shot down, due to the fact that she now had medical bills to pay.
Petra grumbled to herself and began to doze off about one day moving to the city of lights, to escape her past once and for all.
There wasn't a breeze moving through the cloudy air. It was silent. She didn't hear the sounds of sirens or footsteps as she had for the past four days that she has been cooped up in the hospital. The doctor told Petra yesterday that today was going to be her final day in the ER. She was relieved, but nervous about transitioning back into the world that once knocked her to her knees.
She didn't want to face the woman who mugged her or any threatening individual for that matter. She wanted a peaceful state of mind, free of bag-snatchers and homeless men.
She heard yet another interrupting knock on the door.
"Come in," Petra mumbled under the sheets.
"Hi Petra!" The voice of Clara Kate Holloway replied.
Petra and Clara vaguely knew each other from town, but they were by no means close. Petra glanced up and faked a smile through her grogginess and accepted Clara's gift of daisies.
"I thought you would enjoy these," Clara said.
"Thank you Clara. I am not trying to be rude, but do you mind if you leave. I am really tired and I haven't had much sleep over the past couple of days." Petra responded sharply.
"Oh, okay...Sure...Well if you are ever in the mood to talk, please give me a call. Goodbye Petra," Clara replied as she slowly backed out of the room.
Petra was confused as to why Clara came. Especially at 6:30 in the morning. All Petra wanted to do at this point was escape reality. Her life was in shambles and she didn't have any true support. Petra thought about taking a plane to New York City, her childhood dream. But, that idea was shot down, due to the fact that she now had medical bills to pay.
Petra grumbled to herself and began to doze off about one day moving to the city of lights, to escape her past once and for all.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Heart Beat
The sheets were too stiff for Petra’s liking. As a matter of fact, she didn’t care for anything at the moment. The heart monitor beeping in her ear, every time she felt a thump in her chest, caused the machine to make even more noise. She glanced down at the IV in her arm, watching the clear fluids pump into her veins. The room was dull and lifeless.
There was a knock at the door. She could tell it was a woman, based on the bright pink heels that reflected under the door. A woman entered.
“Hi sweetie,” the woman said, chewing watermelon gum in Petra’s ear.
The heart-monitor began to beep faster and faster. Beep, beep, beep, beeepppp. Petra closed her eyes.
“Not today Momma,” Petra mumbled before her mind began to move away from reality...
Petra was six. She clenched her mothers hand, touching the fake nails her mother wore every day. In her other hand, she carried a shopping bag full of her possessions.
Her favorite floral print dress, mary-janes from Goodwill, and her teddy named Bear. A car pulled up next to her mother.
“Get in baby,” The man said as he opened the door for Momma.
Petra shuffled into the dark, smokey car behind her, holding her shopping bag to her chest, in case it broke.
“Did they kick you out again Vlada?” The man asked in a deep Russian accent.
“Yes. I can’t believe it! I was only a week late on rent!” Momma responded. “And Petra didn’t help either, because she would scream every night, making me fight for her to go to bed.”
“Sorry Momma,” Petra whispered with her head down.
“You should be,” Momma replied staring at Petra through the rear-view mirror...
There was a knock at the door. She could tell it was a woman, based on the bright pink heels that reflected under the door. A woman entered.
“Hi sweetie,” the woman said, chewing watermelon gum in Petra’s ear.
The heart-monitor began to beep faster and faster. Beep, beep, beep, beeepppp. Petra closed her eyes.
“Not today Momma,” Petra mumbled before her mind began to move away from reality...
Petra was six. She clenched her mothers hand, touching the fake nails her mother wore every day. In her other hand, she carried a shopping bag full of her possessions.
Her favorite floral print dress, mary-janes from Goodwill, and her teddy named Bear. A car pulled up next to her mother.
“Get in baby,” The man said as he opened the door for Momma.
Petra shuffled into the dark, smokey car behind her, holding her shopping bag to her chest, in case it broke.
“Did they kick you out again Vlada?” The man asked in a deep Russian accent.
“Yes. I can’t believe it! I was only a week late on rent!” Momma responded. “And Petra didn’t help either, because she would scream every night, making me fight for her to go to bed.”
“Sorry Momma,” Petra whispered with her head down.
“You should be,” Momma replied staring at Petra through the rear-view mirror...
Petra awoke to the sound of chomping and the scent of artificial watermelons. She knew her mother was still there, but pretended she was still asleep.
“I know you’re awake, Petra,” Momma said.
Petra did not respond. All she cared about were the clothes that were taken away from her just a few days ago. She didn’t want anything to do with her mom. It wasn’t right that the only reason her mother came to see her was because she was lying selflessly in a hospital bed.
“Well, since you aren’t talking. I, I know you can, the doctors said so. I, um, brought you some flowers. Call me when you’re ready to talk,” Momma said hesitantly as her heels clicked away from Petra.
“Good-bye Petra.” The door closed with a long click.
She didn’t have the energy to fight. Petra moved her thoughts away from Momma to her heart. Counting the beats the monitor made with each of her deep and full breaths. Her eye lids felt heavy as weights dragged them closed. With one final blink, the weights won, as the beeps began to get fainter and fainter with every breath she took.
“I know you’re awake, Petra,” Momma said.
Petra did not respond. All she cared about were the clothes that were taken away from her just a few days ago. She didn’t want anything to do with her mom. It wasn’t right that the only reason her mother came to see her was because she was lying selflessly in a hospital bed.
“Well, since you aren’t talking. I, I know you can, the doctors said so. I, um, brought you some flowers. Call me when you’re ready to talk,” Momma said hesitantly as her heels clicked away from Petra.
“Good-bye Petra.” The door closed with a long click.
She didn’t have the energy to fight. Petra moved her thoughts away from Momma to her heart. Counting the beats the monitor made with each of her deep and full breaths. Her eye lids felt heavy as weights dragged them closed. With one final blink, the weights won, as the beeps began to get fainter and fainter with every breath she took.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Retail Therapy
The rays of sun beamed on to Petra’s face. They were fading with every step that she took. Petra clutched her sweater around her thin arms, awaiting the return of Spring. She lost all of her clothing in the fire, so today was a much needed shopping spree, especially for a new jacket.
Her heels clicked on the pavement as she spotted the local strip club in the distance. It’s heavy black doors and neon lights never attracted Petra. Up close, it looked even less appealing and dark. She held her shopping bags close to her, thinking about the items she bought, distracting her from the ugliness of the booming music and neon lights from the strip club. Her new black ballet flats, pea coat, jeans, dresses, and shorts brought her to a safe place in her mind.
Ever since the fire, Petra’s demeanor changed. She kept her head down and hunched over more than she ever had before. Before, she could escape in her clothes, now she can’t escape the devastating memories of them. But, treating herself to new clothes today was just what Petra needed. Petra’s pace began to slow down as she watched the sun set behind Castle Apartments.
Petra never noticed the magnitude of the Apartment building, but standing near it, amazed her. As she stared up at the cement structure, she felt someone tap her shoulder. She turned around to face a large, brunette female, almost 6 feet 4 inches tall. She looked angry. Petra had no idea who this woman was.
But, before Petra could get a word in, the mysterious woman grabbed her shopping bags and purse, throwing Petra to the pavement. Petra heard an ear-splitting thump as she hit the ground. Then she heard nothing.
Her heels clicked on the pavement as she spotted the local strip club in the distance. It’s heavy black doors and neon lights never attracted Petra. Up close, it looked even less appealing and dark. She held her shopping bags close to her, thinking about the items she bought, distracting her from the ugliness of the booming music and neon lights from the strip club. Her new black ballet flats, pea coat, jeans, dresses, and shorts brought her to a safe place in her mind.
Ever since the fire, Petra’s demeanor changed. She kept her head down and hunched over more than she ever had before. Before, she could escape in her clothes, now she can’t escape the devastating memories of them. But, treating herself to new clothes today was just what Petra needed. Petra’s pace began to slow down as she watched the sun set behind Castle Apartments.
Petra never noticed the magnitude of the Apartment building, but standing near it, amazed her. As she stared up at the cement structure, she felt someone tap her shoulder. She turned around to face a large, brunette female, almost 6 feet 4 inches tall. She looked angry. Petra had no idea who this woman was.
But, before Petra could get a word in, the mysterious woman grabbed her shopping bags and purse, throwing Petra to the pavement. Petra heard an ear-splitting thump as she hit the ground. Then she heard nothing.
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