When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful, a miracle!

--Super Tramp, The Logical Song

Chapter One:
Free

She was free. Absolutely free, with no strings attached, just a small amount of medication that was sorted out in a collection of jars to help her through the day. This did not bother her, as they took away whatever demons that followed her.

Demons. . .

Evelyn Evergreen dazed for just a simple second. Her mind wondering to the demons and nightmares that had plagued her, they snickered at her. As if they were real, for just another second in her life.

No, they no longer existed. Evelyn opened her misted eyes as the taxi driver paused in front of an apartment building. Small as it was, Eve knew this was her new home. Home. . .

How could it be home? How could it ever be called a home when she had never seen the inside? Or even had the time to put away her belongings? How was it home without the sweet cooking of a mother, or the tender touch of a lover?

What was a home without a family to call your own?

“Are yaw gettin’ out? Or do ye want to go back?” Comes the taxi driver’s voice as he glared his beady black eyes into the rearview mirror, knocking Eve out of her thoughts and back into the real world.

“My apologies, sir! I was thinking…” She gave a forced smile and pulled herself out of the vehicle. The trunk popped open and she was able to grab her things quickly. Not that she had a lot to begin with.

The lady whom showed her the new apartment was nice, her smile kind and her features tired. Eve didn’t blame her; the girl was little past twenty and five months pregnant. She was short, her belly already rounded and her tanned face chubby. She had the most beautiful brown doe-like eyes and perfect pink lips. Obviously, this girl was of Spanish decent. Her hair was dark and curled around her face ending just to her shoulders.

Evelyn had learned this woman’s name was Arian. And, as obvious as her Spanish decent, this woman knew were Evelyn moved in from. Not only did this make Eve incredible nervous, but this might even ruin her reputation in a brand new town with a new home, and soon a new job.

Eve was smiling nervously as Arian picked up a small, almost unnoticeable piece of lint from the floor and tossed it out the open front door. The cool autumn air rushed through the living room as Evelyn placed her things on the ground and looked around. The living room was surprisingly open and spacious on the second floor. Her old Mary Jane shoes carried her to a patio with a sliding glass door that overhung the parking lot. The patio was small, but it was enough for her. She closed and locked the glass doors, listening quietly to Arian as she showed the small kitchen off to the other side of the living room. It had three cabinets over the light blue counters that showed gouges and slices.

Gouges. . . Slices. . .

Evelyn pulled down her long sleeved shirt even further over her hands as the fridge was opened and showed that there was plenty of space.

“Oh! We have brand new washers and dryers down in the Laundromat! I’ll show you where that is after this, okay?” Arian smiled. Acting as if she hadn’t seen anything bother the woman-child in front of her.

“All of your old things where moved from the storage unit into your bedroom, which is straight down the hall,” Arian said carefully. Eve was sure to be overwhelmingly happy of to burst out in a temper tantrum. Staying neutral she gave a small smile, nodding slowly as she took a few steps towards the closed bedroom door and slowly reached out to open it.

She pulled her hand back, and decided against the overwhelming memories of a life she no longer wanted. Turning she opened the door for the tiny bathroom. Thank goodness she didn’t take too long to get ready in the mornings, because this was barely large enough for a tub!

The white tiled floor and sink shot her into a flashback of another bathroom with similar tile. . .

Blood was everywhere. And as hard as she might try it wouldn’t stop. Evelyn took the towel from the hook on the wall and tried to clean up the floor. But it spread and stained. Her fingers where painted in it, like a child was with watercolor.

A scream came from the doorway and her silver eyes met green. . .

“Evelyn, are you okay?” Came the calm words of the apartment manager Arian. Eve didn’t smile this time around. And found herself slowly nodding.

“I was just thinking this was an awfully small bathroom. Thank goodness I don’t take too long to get ready!” She gave a forced laugh and the small Spanish girl chuckled.

“Yes, I suppose it is. I live in a two bedroom, and it is much larger. I never really thought of it that way, though. . .” Arian knew something was up and carefully hid this fact. Her fingers gently rubbed the small belly that grew the newest addition of her family, nervous about the girl with a troubled past.

No, there was no troubled past. Eve scolded herself; there is just a lost little girl. . .