Beyond This Window

Chapter 1: Looking into the Distance

I stare out my window, seeing the same thing I have for the past 17 years.
The forest was dull and gray, snow covered the ground, everything was sleeping.
"Good morning." I tell the snow, knowing it won't answer but was listening..
I open my window to get the fresh scent of winter green, my window was decked with mint and lavender, making me feel calm.
"Nich, breakfast is ready." My father calls. I get my crutches and get up. I go downstairs slowly like every morning, seeing food on the table. I sit down and does my father. I began eating but he didn't. "Nichole, I have to talk with you." His voice was deep. I tensed, he usually never uses my full name, I swallowed hard. "Yes?" My voice cracked. "I think you should get back enrolled in school and not here." He said, looking at me with his icy blue eyes. "But.... I like being home schooled." I protest. "Nichole, you aren't making any friends and your always in your room, looking out that damn window and not actually going outside." He said with a sad expression. "You haven't been out of the house since your leg." His voice was quite. I clenched my fork tightly. I missed my leg, I missed running and doing gymnastics, riding my bike. "I can't dad." I finally say. He sighed. "I understand." And continued eating. We finished eating and did dishes, he went off to work and I went back to my room, looking out my window...

I was eating lunch and writing on my window nook. Same as usual, writing poems and stories. My window was open and I hear someone. "Hey!" His voice was nice and calming, I look out my window to see a teenage boy, probably my age, he had black swift hair that stood out in the front with the help of hair gel. His eyes were a beautiful emerald green. He wore a leather jacket, with a white shirt underneath, he also had ripped jeans that was showing skin and made me almost drool at the sight of him. I wave and I show a shy smile. "I'm your new neighbor!" His teeth were pearl white. We haven't had a neighbor in years, no one really likes the forest anymore. "Do you mind if you come downstairs and we shake hands?" He asked, I have never spoken to another person besides my dad in ages. "I can't." My voice cracked. "Eh no biggie, my name is Drew." He called "My name is Nichole." I replied. "Hi Nikki!" He smiled and gave me a nickname. I hate nicknames besides my dads. "It means Victory of the people." He said, and I didn't know, I felt like an idiot. "I'll see you around Nikki!" He smiled and waved, walking away. My heart fluttered, this was a new feeling and I hardly know anything about this man.
The next few days he came by my house, asking questions but I didn't reply, he didn't give up. "Why don't you ever go to the front door?" He asked on the third day he has been here. I was silent. "I'm anti-social." I replied. He laughed. "Hey, I like anti-social people." He smiled, and every time he did, I felt my face change color from pale to a slight pink. "See you tomorrow Nikki!" He waved goodbye and for the first time since he's been here, I waved goodbye too.

I wake up and stretched. I go to the bathroom, my dark red hair was a mess, my icy blue eyes looked tired. I yawned and took a nice hot shower. Dad was gone and there was breakfast on the counter. I take in the scent of warm pancakes and began to eat. Once I was back upstairs I opened my window, the bitter cold came in so I put on my black cardigan. I waited all day for Drew but he never showed up, I felt alone, with the gray sky making it worse. I eventually close my window and laid down on my bed, falling asleep.

*tap* *tap*
I wake up to tapping on my window, I get up slowly and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, feeling tired I get my crutches and go over to the window. Drew. My face turned red when I saw him. Was my hair a mess? Did I look tired? Were my clothes wrinkled? He waved. Crap. He saw me. I open my windows, the sky was turning to dusk and the sun set looked lovely. "Hey Nikki!" He smiled and looked at her as if he didn't care about her sleepy appearance. "Where were you all day?" She asked, actually feeling bold to talk to him. He looked guilty and sad. "Sorry, school started today, I was hoping to see you but never did." She felt sad, feeling how disappointed he was he didn't see her. "Sorry but I'm homeschooled." I replied. "And sorry I got her very late, I had football practice and dinner." His voice was thick with guilt. I couldn't help but laugh. "It's alright, no need to be guilty." "It's just I left you alone all day." I heard someone call his name. "Aw that's my mom, I'll try to talk to you tomorrow if I can, and hopefully you'll come down from that window." I sighed. "Bye." I waved and closed my windows as he walked away. I'm not coming down, never. Ever.

I looked out my window the next day, just waiting for Drew to return home. It felt like forever until he hit my window with a small rock, I quickly get to my window and opened it. It was Drew, he came back earlier than yesterday. "Hey! I got off football practice early!" I saw his chest, he was swearing and it showed through his shirt making me blush, hopefully I was too far away for him to see.
We talked for a long time about his school versus my school, sorta. But he had to leave and I didn't want him to, but I waved goodbye like always and smiled softly. The sky was gray and the sun was covered,  but looking off into the distance, I saw a flicker of hope for the sun to shine again, and maybe that hope can be shared to me, to get enough courage to go back out into the world.