Stephie

♢One♢

Some years ago someone told me a story... a story of a small girl who through consequence would leave a path of destruction in her wake.

Her name was Leah.
But I now go by Stephie
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Many nights I had layed in this bed awake listening to the constant hum of the flickering street light which sat outside my window. The darkness consuming every part of my room except the small beam of moonlight which squeezed it's way through the slotted blinds.
The serene silence was broken by the sudden slamming of the front door followed by the low grumbling of what had to be my mother. I lay frigid, straining my ears to hear her footsteps ascending the stairs.
I turned my head slightly, trying to make out the faint numbers on the old clock by my bed, 3:26am.
"psssst." I heard her hiss from the other side of my door "Leah" she flung the door open before stumbling inside. "are you awake?" she whispered in my ear before falling backwards hitting the wall with a loud thud.

4 years. It had been 4 years since my dad died and every night she had come home half cut, incapable of even walking half of the time. Before that day we had been a normal family... me, my dad, my mum and.... Joey.

I continued to lay there in silence, half hoping she would get back up and get out. I leaned over, flicking on the small lamp which sat on the mahogany table. Light flooded the room, engulfing every crevice, filling every part.

I was done. Done with bothering to care about her, done with living this life. I stood up from my bed, kicking her body lightly with my foot, she murmered reassuring me that she was actually still alive. Tiptoing over to the large dresser on the other side of the room I kept looking behind me, hoping she wouldn't wake up. I hastily grabbed the rucksack filling it with as much as I could.

I knew I had to move on... find something new. But I was only 16 at the time and that limited my options. I must have spent at least 4 nights on the streets, hopping from doorway to doorway. It wasn't that bad as it was summer so the air was warm and thick making sleep easy.

On the 5th day I was over being homeless, it was ok short term but I needed something more substantial... something that could change my life.

I remember walking down the high street, clutching onto the bag which weighed heavy on my back. It was a scorching summer day, the air burned against my skin making shade a luxury. It was market day so the long winding street was bustling with happy families browsing the stalls as they wafted themselves with any object they could find. I was sat on a old wooden bench by the butchers, my eyes flicking in every direction taking in the mass of people before me.
"excuse me mam?" a young boy only a few years older than me stood before me, his hands firmly clutching onto a clipboard.
"can I help you?" my tone was harsh... I admit that, but at that moment in time I thought I was broken... and no one could fix it.
"I... I work for the recruitment offices down on Evanson Avenue... we are out trying to get new recruits to join the military" he looked proud of himself as he straightened up his pressed uniform.
"military?" I muttered back, my curiosity spiking. I had always been one for adventure, anything that could get my adrenaline going would be something I would do.
"yes." He looked down awkwardly at the paper
"ok. I'll sign up" I think he was shocked by my reply, as his head shot up an eager grin forming on his face.

That day I signed up to join the military , and within 2 weeks I was at the training Base. I was reveling in my new found freedom, enjoying the rush of new experiences every day. They said I was the best recruit they'd ever had, a natural....

Within 2 months I was out in the field, serving my country. But my happiness didn't last that long.

One mission was all it took for me to realise... I wasn't there because I was a good fighter... well I was kinda, but they were using me...using me to kill innocent people who they didn't like.

I was a weapon...

Running away from the Military was hard, so I did the only thing I could.

On that day Leah died.... And I became Stephie.