With Wings I Soar Read Free Page A

again. She couldn't.
    “Thanks for showing me around. I can find my class from here.”
    “Are you sure?” Ryan hesitated, not sure whether he should hug her or let her go.
    “Yeah, I'm fine. See you later.”
    Tabitha took off quickly, abruptly immersing herself in the crowded hallway. Ryan faded out of focus as she was swallowed up by the crowd of bustling students. Everyone had a friend and everyone had something to say, it seemed, but Tabitha managed to find her first classroom despite the noise and slipped quietly from the crowd into the empty room.
    The rest of the day rushed by as Tabitha was given new textbooks and homework, guaranteed to keep her busy long into the night. She had a lot of catching up to do, so she headed home immediately after her last class, opting not to spend the afternoon with Katie as they had planned.
    “Are you sure you don't want to come over?” Katie asked when Tabitha explained the situation.
    “Yeah, I just feel kind of overwhelmed and want to get started on this homework. I even have a paper due this week in one class. The teacher wouldn't give an extension or anything.”
    “Okay, yeah, I understand. Mr. Turner is harsh like that. Seriously, though, let me know if you change your mind.”
    “Thanks, Katie.”
    Tabitha tightened her grip on her backpack straps as she turned. The sidewalk was long, and empty, and Tabitha dreaded walking home to her empty house. Each step felt like the end of the world. Her tennis shoes, designed for quiet walking, seemed to bang on the sidewalk like a drum.
    Stomp.
    Stomp.
    Stomp.
    Her steps echoed into the empty air, reminding her of how alone she was. It was then that the rain drops began to fall, melting into Tabitha's skin and soaking her clothing. She began to run as fast as her feet would carry her, wishing it was over, wishing the pain was gone. With every thump of her feet and every splash of the gathering rainwater, she felt the aching crack in her heart spread deeper and deeper until the pain exploded and the tears began to fall once more.
     

Chapter 5
     
    The house was empty when Tabitha got home. She left her wet tennis shoes by the front door where a small puddle quickly formed around her shoes. She tossed her backpack on the couch and ran upstairs to take a long, hot shower.
    Tabitha stared at herself in the bathroom mirror while the water warmed up. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders in thick, delicate curls. Her eyes were piercing, but hollow and filled with pain. Tabitha wondered if the world would ever feel right again.
    Somehow, she doubted it.
    She had tried calling Dad three times since he left, but he never answered the phone or called her back. Now, alone in the bathroom, Tabitha pulled her cell phone from her jean pocket and stared at it, willing it to ring. Dad didn't have text messaging with his cell plan because he thought it was a waste of money, so Tabitha didn't bother typing out a short message. Instead, she dialed his number once more in an attempt to reach out to him.
    “I'm not here right now,” the voice mail message greeted her after several rings, “but please leave a message and ---”
    Tabitha hung up before the message finished and collapsed on the bathroom floor in a pile of tears and anguish. Her chest physically hurt as she sobbed.
    “I want my daddy,” she cried out loud. “DAD!”
    No one answered her cries. No one came to her rescue. There was no one home to comfort her or make her tea or promise it would get better: Mom was at work.
    Wearily, Tabitha stopped sobbing long enough to take her shower. She sat in the tub and let the waves of water rush over her. The hot sprays of water washed away her tears and poured over her, sliding over her skin and down the shower drain. Tabitha knew things would never be the same, but she also knew that she couldn't handle this alone. It was time to call Katie.
    Tabitha dried with her favorite blue beach towel. Dad had bought it for her one summer when