3 May 2024, 21:02
Late nights.
Admittedly, this was out of character. Sarah wasn't the 'reader' type, books were hard, long, and required a lot of attention that she most often didn't have. Whenever she DID pick up a book, she'd often skim ahead accidentally and then would have to go back to read the page. A tedious process that would continue on until she finally got finished with a chapter.
But this was special.
A once a year event. Her mother's birthday. She fought back on the woman who raised her. Even though she'd had to help too many times with hangovers or practically beg her mother not to go out some nights, she still was her mum. This was still the woman who'd tucked her in, gave her hair a tustle, and told her she loved her. There were times when she questioned the validity of that love, especially when her mum got in a shouting mode when she was drunk. But, it was something she chosen to believe. It was something that She wanted to believe too.
Standing on her tippy-toes and picking out a cookbook, Sarah had a plan. She always went wild when it came to someone's birthday. The end result may look wild, but you can tell there was care put into it.
She flipped through the pages, skimming over photos of fudge, cakes, biscuits, all sorts of good sweets that made her mouth water. She would need to find just the right thing. Ah-ha! Here it was. A vanilla poundcake. Well, Sarah had often been the one to make food when her mum was out of commission. How hard could baking be? Sarah found herself continuing to read up, studying the recipe until the words were engraved on her tongue. She studied so hard in fact, she felt her eyelids begin to droop. Just a few more pages.....
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Sarah awoke with a stir! What time was it?! OH DEAR! She checked the clock on the wall of the library. It was late! 15 minutes until curfew! 15 minutes! Sarah flew out of her chair, placing the book back in its spot as she (as fast as she could without getting reprimanded) dashed out of the library, and down back to her common room.
That's the last time she reads before bed...
But this was special.
A once a year event. Her mother's birthday. She fought back on the woman who raised her. Even though she'd had to help too many times with hangovers or practically beg her mother not to go out some nights, she still was her mum. This was still the woman who'd tucked her in, gave her hair a tustle, and told her she loved her. There were times when she questioned the validity of that love, especially when her mum got in a shouting mode when she was drunk. But, it was something she chosen to believe. It was something that She wanted to believe too.
Standing on her tippy-toes and picking out a cookbook, Sarah had a plan. She always went wild when it came to someone's birthday. The end result may look wild, but you can tell there was care put into it.
She flipped through the pages, skimming over photos of fudge, cakes, biscuits, all sorts of good sweets that made her mouth water. She would need to find just the right thing. Ah-ha! Here it was. A vanilla poundcake. Well, Sarah had often been the one to make food when her mum was out of commission. How hard could baking be? Sarah found herself continuing to read up, studying the recipe until the words were engraved on her tongue. She studied so hard in fact, she felt her eyelids begin to droop. Just a few more pages.....
___________________________________________________
Sarah awoke with a stir! What time was it?! OH DEAR! She checked the clock on the wall of the library. It was late! 15 minutes until curfew! 15 minutes! Sarah flew out of her chair, placing the book back in its spot as she (as fast as she could without getting reprimanded) dashed out of the library, and down back to her common room.
That's the last time she reads before bed...