Broken

.30.

Grace.

As I walked down the road people would look at me a little confused as to why I had a suitcase. One woman even asked me if I was running away from home, and even tho I told her I was just going to do my laundry, she still have me a twenty minute talk on how it's wrong to run away, and that if I was lying and I was actually running away from home, my parents would call the police and they would find me.

If only she knew that my dad is dead and my mum at a mental hospital.

I continued my journey to the place, and once I got there I made what I had to do, once again, middle aged woman's stared at me since apparently, they haven't seen a fifteen year old girl doing laundry. Notice my sarcasm?

Another girl entered the place, she looked young but not as young as me, probably in her twenties, she was all smiley and just as she entered, she made sure to smile at everyone. She had a basket full of cloth just like the other ladies. Soon, she started walking towards one of the few available washing machines which was one away from me with just one woman in her fifties between us, that within minutes went away since she was already done.

After a long while, i was finally done. I placed everything inside the suitcase in a really nice and careful way so it wouldn't have wrinkles when I got back to Chris' house. As I walked back, I started contemplating what I could do whilst everyone got back home, i would definitely be doing chores, I have no problem with that at all. I guess i should be great full my parents made me do all of chores, now I can do them so easily and sometimes I actually enjoy it, I know, crazy, but even if I do all the chores I'll have extra time of doing nothing. I'd do dinner, but I'm pretty sure I would burn the house down if I tried to.

I decided to just sit in the park near Chris' house, contemplating the trees as the warm wind moved them from one side to another, and the sound of peace was all you could hear. I'd silence is even something you can hear.

"Ran away?" Someone suddenly asked as I could feel at presence at my side. I swear if someone gave me a dollar for each time I've heard that question or felt people staring at me, I'd probably already had enough to by myself a bag of chips with a Coke. I turned to my side to see an old woman sitting there, she was really white, more white than Chris, almost pale. She looked like seventy, but even that old she made herself look amazing, she had lipstick on, mascara, was very well dressed, and let's not forget about the fact that she smelt amazing

"No, I actually just went to do my laundry" I smiled back at the lady sitting next to me.

"Oh I see. Couldn't you just do it at home honey? Or does your mum don't have a washing machine?" She asked a little concerned. She was looking at the trees that got my attention seconds ago.

"Well, my mum is at the...hospital" I finally said. I debated for a second on wether telling her my mum is at a mental hospital, or just telling her that she's at a hospital. At the end I just decided to leave the mental part out, I don't want to creep her out.

"And your dad?" She answered now looking at me, she actually looked worried which only made me wonder how could she? She met me two minutes ago, but hen again elderly people always seem to care about everyone.

"He died" I sighed as the memories came back. Not just the one of the day I found him laying there with a gun besides him and a pool of blood, but also of how him and mum used to treat me. Without even realizing it I felt the warm thumb of the woman clench away a tear that I don't even noticed fell to my cheek.

"Don't cry..." She said as she paused realizing she didn't knew my name, I smiled at her.

"Grace" I answered.