Blue by Kasey Jackson Page A

a better life when I am finished with high school. My mother has been working hard to save her money over the last twelve years, and in a couple of years, she should have enough saved for us to buy a safe house near one of the technical colleges. Only a couple more years, and I should be able to go back to living with her. I’m very blessed,” Alyssa said to Tabitha as they reached the doorway of their next classroom.
    “Yes, you are very blessed. I love hearing stories like that,” Tabitha said, looking up at the top of the doorframe of their classroom. “Here’s our class. I usually sit in the back, care to join me?”
    “Sure. Thanks,” Alyssa replied. “Wait, I didn’t catch your name.”
    “Tabitha,” Tabitha replied, reaching out her hand as Alyssa reached her left hand out to and shake it. Tabitha realized that Alyssa was probably embarrassed to shake with her right hand just yet.
    Tabitha sat looking out the window as their teacher came in and introduced Alyssa to the class. Two more days and the harvest would be here once again. She couldn’t help thinking about how much better harvest day would be if she had a family member to come visit her the day before. She was happy to hear stories like Alyssa’s, but couldn’t help wishing her story was the same. No one would ever come to see her on visitation day, and the blow of harvest day would never be softened by a visitor.
    The school day ended, and Tabitha showed Alyssa around the compound for the rest of the afternoon. Together, they walked under the metal awnings, discussing the routines and details of everyday life at Humanity.
    The rains started pouring harder in the evening, and as the night fell, Tabitha showed Alyssa back to her room and retired to her own. Tabitha lay on her back staring up at the ceiling, listening to the drops of rain pounding on the roof, thinking about Alyssa’s hand wrapped around her books. She wondered how her loving mother must have felt to see her daughter bleeding. Tabitha’s eyes winced shut at the thought, and she decided not to reopen them for the night.
    The next morning, Tabitha awoke to the sunrise again, got dressed and headed out before the breakfast bell rang. She went to the courtyard to sit for a while before the rest of the residents awoke for the day. Sitting down on her favorite bench, she looked out around the awning and noticed that the sky was still dark and thick with rainclouds.
    To her left was the back of the main building of the compound, where any visitors would go upon their arrival at Humanity. The building was where the staff had their offices, and a receptionist was stationed at the front desk to answer phone calls and guide any guests to their intended location. The building was much nicer than the other buildings around the compound, though still made out of concrete. The walls were freshly painted, and the roof had recently been redone. Tabitha never really had a reason to enter the main building. The only time any residents were summoned there was for disciplinary reasons, or if the resident had a visitor. Tabitha only knew that the building was well kept and decorated on the inside, from glances through the wall of windows into the foyer every month on visitation day.
    Tabitha sat on the bench, watching the clouds churn and listening to the start of the small rumbles that emanated from them, when a small voice and footsteps broke the silence around her.
    “I guess we are kindred spirits after all,” Alyssa said, sitting down beside Tabitha as a gust of wind blew in a mist on their sandaled feet.
    “Oh—good morning!” Tabitha said. “You’re an early riser too?”
    “I am sometimes, but—well—especially on visitation day,” Alyssa said, pushing herself up on the bench with excitement.
    Tabitha noticed that Alyssa had seemingly put on especially pretty clothes and makeup today, probably in preparation for seeing her mother. She wore a yellow dress with a denim jacket, and had