Serah hated this town…. It was a nice place, friendly people, nice leisure facilities, decent public safety, the only real drawback most people would be able to think of would be how it was so isolated from the other big cities of the nation. But then again, it wasn’t like life was anymore difficult with or without them, a few extra cents on the grocery bills were about all that it affected.
But Serah still hated this town…. Well perhaps hate was too strong a word, but the fact remained that she despised her lack of privacy. Her secret had been exposed to the public only a few months ago, and lately not even the bullies of the school had bothered to bat an eyelash her way. One more month… possibly two, and Serah would be no more. The festering disease that plagued her heart would consume her body and destroy her completely. She should have been scared, she should have been worried, but she’d already decided to make the best of her time left in this world anyway. Though the fun she could have was also restricted by the blasted infection.
Why did she hate this town? Well the answer was simple, everyone knew her. Not by name, but by disease. It might have even been better if the disease was infectious, or at least perceived as such, and then…. Maybe then they wouldn’t treat her like she didn’t exist? Even now, despite it being the middle of a school day the police officer standing across from the road glanced her way, and then dismissed her truancy as not worth reprimanding. Even her teachers had suggested that she stop coming to school, not out of malice, but out of kindness and concern…. The worst kind, the unwanted kind.
Letting out a weary sigh, she turned her attention to the nearest store, the broken neon lights flickering despite it being the middle of the day. ‘Slutz’R’Us’ an adult toy store if she ever saw one.
Usually she’d have dismissed it, perhaps even blushed at the thought of being anywhere near such a place. Her classmates had lost their virginity over the last few years, but Serah had always been too sick to socialize in the true sense. And had yet to hold hands with anyone that wasn’t her parent, nevermind kissing. She sighed again. She couldn’t help it. Life seemed so bleak and boring, and she craved to be noticed. She didn’t care how or who, hell she’d smile appreciatively at Mr.Cop over there if he yelled at her and dragged her back to school. But the man simply lit up a cigarette, his eyes roaming down the street with a bored expression. It was then that Serah decided to do something she never would have done. Shoplifting. Surely if she commited a crime, the people around her would take notice? It worked for delinquents, and seeing as how she was skipping school, she was one… right?
Calming her nerves, she took in a deep breath and turned towards the sexshop. Her eyes filled with determination as she took a step forward, the door weighing awfully heavily on her hands as she tried to prise it open, her hands were already covered with sweat.
Serah recongized the woman at the counter, she’d seen her at parent-student days a few times at school, and the look on her face indicated that the woman recognized her too. Standing at the entrance she glanced over hopefully at the woman, but she simply shifted her gaze away from Serah, a clear indication that the woman had no intentions of telling her off about her age. Frustrated and hurt, she quickly stormed over right infront of the counter before violently ripping one of the products from its shelf, shoving it in her pocket, right infront of the woman before turning around and heading out for the exit.
She nearly won, the woman’s mouth opening in protest, Serah spun around expectantly, one foot already out the door as she waited for the woman’s words. Her eyes filled with hope…. Hope which was swiftly crushed by four simple words “Have a nice day.”
Unable to bear the humiliation, she spun on her heel and sprinted out of the store and down the street. She thought she saw the police officer glance her way, frown in disapproval, but even then he didn’t budge from his spot against the wall. Flicking the ashes off his cigarette before turning a blind eye.
She didn’t hate this town…. She just hated everyone within it.