Broken

s i x

That night when Chris was in bed he opened Melissa’s notebook and began reading.

Dear Diary,

Being in rehab isn’t all that different than being at home. All I do is stay inside and do nothing. That was until Chris offered to take me outside. God, it’s been so long since I’ve stepped on the freshly cut grass.

It’s different here, freer. If I weren’t here right now I’d probably still be cooped up in my room, dreading to go out anywhere. I wouldn’t eat or do anything. Ever since I lost my family, I lost a piece of my heart that I know I’m never going to find again. It’s lost, just like me. It’s broken.

~Melissa

Chris frowned when he read the last few lines. He knew that she didn’t want to be showed any pity so he concealed his emotions. He flipped the page and began reading the second entry.

Dear Diary,

I’ve wanted to go to so many places, see everything but we all know that that’s never going to happen. Traveling is one of my favorite things in the world. Las Vegas would be nice. Lights everywhere, people walking and the number of things to do is endless.

I’ve heard that New Zealand is beautiful. The amount of pollution in New Zealand is little to none. The weather is always warm and the water is said to be clear. I’ve only ever been there in my dreams.

Hawaii is like paradise. My parents went on vacation there before my brother and I were born. Palm trees, beaches, volcanos.

There isn’t one place where I wouldn’t want to visit. Here in Oxford, I’ve always wanted to visit one of the old streets with antique stores and such. I never got the chance.

There is so much I haven’t seen, and I don’t think I will ever get the chance to travel, not when I’m such a mess.

~Melissa

He read through her entries twice and still didn’t know what to think. Her dreams had been crushed because of the loss of her parents.

He put the book on his side table, switched off the light and let sleep consume him.