Unrequited Love

Callie

Callie started her day like any other, only today her family was getting a new staff member. She heard that she would be around her age and began to grow more excited. Callie had never had any friends her age. She wanted to make a great first impression on her and maybe she could be a possible love interest. She allowed her imagination to run wild. They would lock eyes for the first time and just know she was the one for her.

Callie had always known she was lesbian, but had never outwardly voiced it. Knowing the way her adopted family viewed her, she thought it would be another reason for them to hate her. She didn't understand why she was adopted just to be treated terribly. They treat her like an outsider, less than, a nobody. They often had her parade around and dance as a child for amusement or throw objects just to have her fetch them. They had her in the opposite wing of the mansion to isolate her even further and put her in the smallest room in the house. Not that it was actually that small. Everything in there was massive.

Callie had done everything and more to try to win the approval of her adopted parents. She got straight A's in school and even went on to be a doctor. Her crippling anxiety and depression would ruin that for her shortly after beginning her work. While on call her first week a mass of patients came in from the same accident. They were working in a restaurant that caught fire and were trapped in the kitchen. Their bodies were covered more than 75 percent in 3rd degree burns. The sight and smell of burning flesh sent her into hyperventilation. She decided then and there she could not handle the stress of the job and quit effectively immediately. She ended up back in this mansion that she hated so much. She swore she would never go back.

As Callie approached Dawn she heard her speaking to herself. She tried to break the ice, but managed only to scare her. Great job, Callie thought to herself. This first impression is going smoothly. Their conversation goes on and Callie can feel her words sliding into herself more. Why am I throwing myself a pity party? So what if they think I am a disappointment. Why did I have to say that? Callie found herself scrambling to end the conversation and the only way was to tell Dawn good night. She could feel the heat around her face, knowing she just messed things up. Hopefully it wasn't beyond repair. It was nothing like she pictured it would be. Dawn was even more beautiful than she had imagined and it caused her to stumble and spiral.

Callie had a purpose the next day. She would talk to Dawn again and build a friendship. She decided to put on a cute, grunge crop top and some metallic shorts that were slightly more revealing. Next she would make sure that her make up was perfect. She didn't want to seem like she was trying too hard, so she went for a natural look with a winged liner and threw her hair up into a messy bun. Nothing was going to stop her, she felt good about herself today. Callie walked right up to Dawn and immediately started a conversation. They talked about basic things and slowly started getting more personal.

"What brought you here Dawn?" Callie was sure this was the start of something great.

"I just needed to get away from my old life, you know? I lived in a town where everyone knows everyone and that breeds gossip and toxicity. I wanted to go somewhere where no one knows me or knows where I am," Dawn explained.

"Your family doesn't know where you are? They must be so worried. I know I would be."

Callie and Dawn got into deeper conversation. Callie daydreaming that it would last forever, until she sees a look of panic come across Dawn's face. It's time for her to get to work.

Callie went to bed that night the happiest she had been in years. She had spoken to a girl and they had genuine conversations. Callie thought Dawn was the most beautiful and kind person she had ever met. For the first time she was hopeful about what the future held. Still, would Dawn even be interested in her? "First impressions matter and I made a terrible one," she thought to herself. "Maybe it wasn't that terrible. She had talked to me for hours after all. Perhaps it was that she felt pity on me. I would hate that." Callie's mind went down this slippery slope for hours until finally quieting and finding rest.