#1

The day started with an unwelcome shake of her shoulder, pulling her from the dreams where she hid from reality, where she wasn’t herself, where the car she sat in wasn’t taking her to the next hellhole to call home.
“Lux, honey, we’re here,” the social worker that she kept forgetting the name of announced.
“Don’t care,” she mumbled, fumbling with sleepy hands to pull the hood of her jacket down overt her eyes.
“Don’t be rude, Lux,” she reprimanded. “Mrs. Rawlings is waiting on the porch for you.”
“Tell her not to hold her breath.”
“Lux Dalthan.”