The Morning

I had no idea what exactly woke me from the first deep sleep I had since leaving my cousin’s home. It sounded close by and made me jump up from the material that I slept under. There wasn’t much light, there weren't any windows along the walls, only a door that stood partially open but little light came in from it.

I backed up when I heard what awoke me once more, the sounds of an engine in the distance, that was when I backed into a bicycle. Turning around I felt along the tires, finding them still pumped up. Bending down I felt along the chain and came away with grease on my fingers. Returning to the bed, I wiped the grease off my fingers onto the top blanket then went back to the bicycle and rolled it towards the open door.

Looking out in all directions I saw the sun just coming up to the rear of the barn. Rolling the bicycle out into the grassy field, I hold the bicycle upright with my left hand, Using my right hand I gather up the hem of my dress and the hospital gown getting then secured just above my waist, then tried to get the bicycle moving so I could mount it.

It took a couple of tries to get up on the seat, but when I did I cycled a couple of feet before turning back around and returning by the door. I got off and went inside to gather what few belongings I still had, then got back on the bicycle and slowly started pedalling my way away from the barn and the old house. I cycled away from the rising sun, hoping to come to some sort of town.

About, judging from the height of the sun, was an hour gone by , I came to the outskirts of a fair sized town with one of those shopping centers. Making my way to the center, I got there in time to hide from a large truck that was leaving the shopping center. I pulled around back and found a row of large garbage bins and a row of small green plastic recycle bins.

I had heard that some stores threw out thinking in such bins that were still able to be eaten, so as my stomach growled I went to such a bin and lifted the lid. Inside was a bunch of lettuce leaves in a clear plastic bag . a few apples and a few slightly browning bananas. It wasn’t the greatest but beggars couldn’t be choosy. Taking a couple of apples, a bag of lettuce and a pair of bananas, I went back to the bicycle and made my way along what could have been the main drive to a park with a wooden structure on top of the slide.

I rested the bicycle against the pole holding the wooden structure up over the slide and climbed up to what turned out to be a fort like structure with an open roof. Feeling a little more safe than ever, I munched down on some of what I found. With a slightly full belly I slid down the slide, collected the bicycle and made my way towards what looked like a water fountain by the swings. Trying it, getting a dribble of water, I bent down and sucked in some, swallowing it before sucking more.

When it felt that my throat was once more clear, I started to roll the bicycle into the deeper woods surrounding the park and found a place where I could relax and see the park and the road.