Happenstance Narrator: Amalia

Amalia's point of view

   Chapter one: The Drop Off
   You stand, perched on one of the many passenger seats, peering out the round window, now perfectly level with your wide eyes. You let out a breath of utter infatuation with the scene, your small, dark lips forming a plump, pink 'o' as you watch the rays of light sparkle on the surface of the swaying ocean from the dying, orange sun. The beams reach down from the sky and tickle the water, a back and forth teasing of the bodies of endless energy. And to you, that's all that there is: The resigning sun, sinking under the horizon and the vast expanse of shimmering water, surrounding your little boat for as far as you pale blue eyes can see.
   Suddenly, the boat careens to the left, throwing you from the chair and onto the ground. You manage to stifle a cry of shock and slowly crawl into a sitting position, swiping at the strands of your white hair that form a curtain over your eyes. You hear the distant sound of glass shattering on the main deck and you listen to raised voices filled with venom, emptily as you massage your shoulder. You crawl to the back of the dark room, moving in the shadows and you lean your back against one of the cold, grey walls. You drag your knees up to your chest and bury your face into your folded arms. The shouts wipe your mind clear of all thoughts and rendering your body incapable of movement.
   You close your eyes and hold your breath with your cheeks puffed out with air.
   When you open them, you find yourself sitting in a field of wildflowers, and wrinkle your nose as some of the petals reach up and tickle your face. You manage a giggle, wiping tears from your cheeks with the back of your hand. Now, you stand up to get a better view of your new surroundings. The meadow stretches in all directions and you spin through the daisies, taking it all in. A warm smile slowly takes over your features.
   You run as fast as you can in your bare feet through the flowers, spreading your out like a bird and letting a shrill squeal escape through your lips. When your legs are too tired to carry you any farther, you collapse into the cushions of blossoms, sprawling out on your back and looking up at the blue, cloudless sky.
   Then a very, very real scream snaps you back to the dimly lit room, rocking on the waves. You lift your head, registering the cry as one coming from your mother. You sit in the thick silence, stirring each time you hear a burst of sobs or the loud thudding of your father"s feet, advancing. Something roughly smacks up against a wall and your mother cries out again.
   Your frightened, filled with the desire to flee, to finally escape this hell on water. You've been prepared for a while now.

   Your heart protests in your chest, pounding, desperately trying to dissuade you from your task. You ignore it. You fly to the closet and snatch up your ratty backpack thats been eagerly awaiting this moment for as long as it can remember.