Chapter 1: The Christmas That Broke Her
As Christmas Eve came to the city snow started to fall. It fell quietly like it did not want to bother anyone. Lights turned on one by one making the streets feel warm and cozy. A group of people were singing Christmas carols nearby. They were not very good at singing. They were happy and laughing. You could hear their laughter more than the music. In the town square, there was a Christmas tree. It was decorated with ornaments and lights. Kids were running around the tree playing in the snow. They were very excited and loud. Sometimes fireworks would go off in the sky making it look colorful. People would. Watch the fireworks. Inside peoples homes it was a story. It was quieter and warmer. Families were together opening gifts and eating food. They were calling out to each other from rooms feeling happy and comfortable.
Then there was Sara. She was sitting alone in her room on the edge of her bed. Her room was not very bright except for a light coming from the window. She had tried to make her room feel like her own. She had some books and a photo on the wall.. Tonight her room felt small. It felt like the walls were closing in on her. Sara pulled her blanket tighter even though she was not cold. Outside everything felt alive and happy.. Inside it felt empty and sad. She started to cry. Then she could not stop. Her chest felt tight like it always did when she thought about Christmas.
Christmas always made her feel this way. It did not matter how much time had passed. She would always remember that one day. It was not winter when it happened. It was actually very hot. The sun was. The house felt quiet and still. Sara remembered standing feeling small and confused. She was watching her family fall apart. She did not understand why.
Her mother was crying. Her father was not. He looked calm like nothing was wrong. He was dressed nicely like he was going somewhere important.. It was not a normal day. There was a woman standing next to him. Sara did not know who she was. She did not like her. The woman was chewing gum like she did not care about what was happening. Sara hated the woman even though she did not know her name. "Why are you leaving?" Sara asked her father. She sounded smaller than she wanted to.
Her father did not answer. When he did it was simple. "It's time, " he said. “Time for what?” Sara did not understand. "Please don't go, " she said again. She was holding her hands tight like that would stop him.
He sighed, like it was hard for him. "I have to, " he said. That was it. He did not explain why he was leaving. He just said he had to go. Sara felt something break inside her. "What about me?" she asked. Her voice was shaking.
Her father looked at her and for a second Sara saw something in his eyes. It might have been regret or guilt.. It did not last. "I'll always be your dad, " he said.
Sara knew that was not the same thing. "I love you " she said quickly like that would fix everything.
"I love you too " he said.. Then he left. Sara remembered the hug they shared. It was tight. It was over quickly. Then he was gone.
Now Sara was back in her room crying into her pillow. The memory of that day had not gotten any easier, over time. It had actually gotten harder. That day did not just take her father away. It took something too. It took away her. The Touch
Thank you for reading the first chapter of The Touch. If you enjoyed Sara's story, please bookmark this page! Stay tuned—Chapter 2 is coming very soon, and you won't want to miss what happens next.
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