<< nowhere >>

day 8: neighborhood

sam knew her house was nearby, but she couldn't remember where exactly. her feet caried her forward into the neighborhood.

everything was growing darker. she looked up into the sky and could swear she saw the sun, but no, it couldn't be. the sky was purple and the neighborhood was all shadows.

she heard a gurgling noise and realized it was coming from her. the back of her throat felt thick with something. she opened her mouth and something warm spilled out.

"home..." sam managed to say through the mire in her throat. "mommy... daddy... must be worried..."

noises continued to gurgle up through her throat. she walked forward, not sure where she was going in this darkness, but in her head it felt like she was walking home.

her right knee suddenly felt week and she collapsed from her own weight. she tried to get up, but only her right arm and left leg were working. she pulled herself along the road, reaching out her arm and then pulling her body forward, using her working leg to help push her along. she managed to get a few feet further before her left leg went limp, too.

all she had left was her right arm. she struggled to pull herself along the concrete. she had to get home. she knew she had to get home to her parents. they'd be mad if she was out too late on a school night. she had to get home.

lying on the ground with her arm stretched out motionless in front of her, sam didn't even realize all of her limbs had now stopped working.

blood flowed from her orifices and pooled on the cement beneath her. her mouth was filled with the taste of pennies.

half an hour later, she took the last of her breaths, and finally her body gave out.

-- >>