I pulled out a red blouse and a pair of straight leg jeans with some red polka dot flats. It fit well enough so I laid it across my rocking chair. I got into my pajamas and climbed into bed laying the pillow across my face in anticipation for the coming nightmare and screaming.

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I woke up the next day, my throat feeling scratchy, my cheeks tear-stained, and my eyes barely wanting to open. I forced myself out of bed and went to go take a shower and get ready for school. I went back to my room and went to put on my outfit that I had laid out, but decided I wanted to go with a darker shirt and shoes. I threw my red blouse on the bed and dug out a black The Clash t-shirt and my black converse. I made my way downstairs and had some cereal, seeing that Charlie had already left. I rinsed my bowl and left for school.

The classes passed slower now that I had no one to hurry home to. I felt the familiar broken feeling from before Jake start to creep back in. When I finally made it to lunch I didn't even realize Jessica was telling me about her weekend until she started angrily calling to me, “Bella. Bella! Are you even listening? Gosh, why do I even bother trying?” She muttered the last part to herself, as she turned to her more eager audience of Lauren.

Suddenly, I heard a sweet, familiar voice whispering to me. “Bella. Are you okay? You seem like something is bothering you. Did something happen with Jake? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.” Angela said slowly, trying to see if I was up to getting things off my chest. I just shook my head and continued to stare down at my half-eaten tray of food. My zombie days were back, Charlie would be devastated, but what could I do? Both of my escapes were gone. I had no other lifeline. I was broken, damaged goods. What could I do now?

When I got home, I went straight upstairs to work on my homework until I had to go make dinner for Charlie. I couldn't find my red blouse, but figured I'd just not realized I'd put it in the dirty clothes and set out on my Calculus homework, zoning out from the rest of the world, numbing the pain, but I knew it would come back, all too soon.