my contest entry
Nix always fantasized about running away, but she never would have imagined that she would have the guts to do it. For her, the woods behind her old home were a place that she could escape to, from her parents fighting at home, and the harsh truth of reality. One day she finally got fed up with the constant yelling and arguing. She resolved that night,as she lay in bed as her family screamed at each other for the seemingly millionth time, that she would run away to the woods behind her old home. She got up early the next morning, while her so-called "family" was still asleep. Nix quietly packed a bag and left, leaving no indication of where she was going. She walked a couple of miles to her old town. She went into a gas station and bought a half-gallon bottle of water, trail mix, a Snickers bar, and a couple more snacks. She walked into the forest and didn't look back. Nix walked further into the forest, reminiscing about the good memories she has had here with old childhood friends. She sat down and thought about her plans on where she would stay. There was an old abandoned shack in the woods she intended to sleep in. She got to the shack in about an hour. As she was walking up to the shack, something felt off, but Nix thought nothing of it. She walked in and it was surprisingly well furnished for an abandoned shack and had: a fireplace,wooden chair, spindly looking rusty metal bed, a tarnished cupboard, coat rack covered by dusty old cobwebs, and even a desk topped with paper and pencil stubs. Nix decided this would be the perfect place for her to stay. She ate half of her trail mix, and later as the sun began to set, she decided to go to bed early. The sun was still in the sky and Nix was still dozing on the rickety bed when she heard clatter coming from outside. Nix shot up and worried. "Are these people looking for me?" Nix mumbled to herself. She was about to sneak out when the door opened and the person that stood in the door was, in fact, not someone looking for her, but a boy. He was maybe a year or two older than her, with chestnut brown hair and hazel eyes. He was tall and skinny and he wore a pair of jeans and a grey hoodie. " What are you doing here?" He asked, looking just as surprised and confused as Nix. " I'm sorry." She said " I ran away and thought I could stay here. I didn't know anybody lived here." The boy contemplated it for a moment. Finally he spoke up. He asked simply " I'm Jeremy, what's your name?" "Nix." Jeremy contemplated things for a while and said "Well Nix the truth is I ran away from home too.I've been living here for about a month,You can stay here if you like, company wouldn't be too bad.There's only one bed, but I can sleep on the chair tonight.We can figure out the rest tomorrow." Nix was shocked and most of all happy. "Thanks." As the sun set they talked and learned more about each other. Nix couldn't sleep that night. As she lay in bed she could hear Jeremy steadily breathing from the chair and for seemingly the first time in forever Nix was content.
