Raina Fae

Sometimes she sees her life in slow motion. She'll be doing something routine, like washing her face, putting away the dishes, or turning off the lights, and just for a moment it all slows down. In those brief seconds, she'll catch her eye in a mirror, and it's as if she's outside herself looking in.

That's when she's really living. Those moments, in between her real life experiences, are when she gets to be someone else. She doesn't have to worry about her little brother getting to school on time, or preparing dinner before her step-father gets home. She's watching a movie about a girl who had to grow up before she was ready.

Sometimes, when it happens, she'll pretend she's on a date, or with a group of friends, like a normal teenage girl. She'll make believe that she's curled up in a stadium-style seat. Then, when the mean man bursts through the door, for a fleeting second she can feel her fictional boyfriend pull her close.

But, with the slam of the apartment door, it's all gone. Her life resumes its regular programming. Hurtling forward, at a break-necking pace that seems wildly out of control. She'll quietly usher her little brother into their room, and hope that he has seen the freshly open beer on the counter before her return.

To be continued...