Loneliness

• Erin Farrell, Grade 11
• Short Story
• 2019

I experienced various emotions that I thought I would never feel, especially at such a young age. The paint on the inside was faded, the scent like an old nursing home. I had only been there for half a day and I already missed my family, like I was drowning in a sea of grief. The dinner bell rang and as I left my room, a girl, Julia, shoved me into the wall. I picked myself up and brushed myself off as Julia ran away. Mr Brown came storming in and screamed at me. I tried to tell him it wasn’t my fault, but he didn’t want to hear anything I had to say. I was sent to my room without dinner. I just wanted to leave.

The feeling of loneliness stuck with me. I planned my elaborate escape for days. I was confident that today was the day. I planned to escape at 6:47pm when the doors open as they open at the exact same time everyday. They stay open for exactly two minutes, so I only had two minutes to flee.

It was getting closer to my escape from this nightmare. I needed money so I knew I had to steal some from Mr. Brown’s desk. As the dinner bell rang and all the children ran to dinner, I walked into Mr. Brown’s office and grabbed some money. I ran backup to my room and hid it in my getaway bag. I sprint down to the dining room and excuse myself for being late. We were dismissed from dinner so I grabbed my getaway bag and crept to the front door. It is time. The doors start to open. To distract the tall, angry guard, I tell him there is a fight in the other room. As he was rushing in the opposite direction, I ran and ran.

I am exhausted and lost. The further I walk, the less people I see. I sit down at a bus stop and take out one of the few snacks I smuggled from the orphanage. I see on the old, teared up timetable that there is a bus in two minutes. I get on the bus, give the driver money and take a seat. I get off the bus at the last stop so I was far away from the orphanage. I see the worst sights that were reminiscent of my childhood memories.

It was such beauty on the outside which almost flooded away the feelings of pain I endured. The colours of the walls were bright and exotic which almost distracted me from the hurt I suffered. It made everyone happy to be there except me. Behind the walls of the orphanage my happiness slowly disappeared and I suffered great grief that was caused from the separation of my loved ones. From such a young age, I was separated because of something my family was accused of. I never understood why and don’t think I ever will.