Second Chance by zzmbrashear (english readers .TXT) 📖

down and cry, but I couldn’t
“Yes, I’m perfect.” I lied. She gave a sigh that made me know that she knew I was lying.
After that, weeks and weeks went by. Mat would say hello but I would just ignore him. I can’t be his whole life then I don’t want to be in it. I became depressed and still avoiding Roger. Every chance he tried to talk but I didn’t listen. I became increasingly transparent, as if I wasn’t even there.
“Melinda!” Screamed Rachel. She pulled off my covers and I fell out of bed. She was in human form this time. I pulled my pillow over my head. “Get up!” She screamed again but I didn’t move. Then I felt a pulling feeling. When I looked I was floating three feet off the ground. I screamed and then she dropped me.
“Ouch!!!” I said. All she did was grin. “Was that necessary?”
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself! This life that was given to you is perfect.” She told me but I didn’t want to hear it.
“But its not perfect for me. I took everything for granted. Mat, my family, my job, everything. I see it now! I understand!” I said. She looked at my and shook her head.
“No, you don’t understand. There is no way to go back. This is not a lesson, not a test. This is reality.” She helped me up. I felt tears falling from my face. She wiped them. “It will be okay.” I knelt down on my bed and prayed. I was on my knees for hours, just asking the Lord for a second chance. This will not make my faith in him weak. He will help me. I know it.

Chapter 3

For the next month or so I prayed every chance I got. In work, during lunch, on walks, everywhere. I had faith that He would help me. I decided to talk to Roger. I couldn’t ruin the friendship of him and Melinda.
“Hey.” He said as I got my coffee in the morning.
“Hi. How’s the school?” I asked.
“Good. I love teaching the children. Someone has to, right?” He said. I thought it was sweet that he spent his free time volunteering at the Children's School. It was a school for Orphans.
“Can I come with you?” I asked. He most likely thought I was crazy.
“Yes, absolutely!” He said maybe a little too excited. The ride there was quiet. When we got inside Roger introduced me to everybody. All the children were so sweet. I couldn’t help but smile. There was this one little girl in particular. Her name was Sally Johansen. She had little button nose and red bows in her blonde hair.
“Hello. I’m Sally. I’m five. When I get older I want to be a veterinarian. That way I can play with animals!” She said. She talked so fast that it was hard to understand what she said.
“Its nice to meet you Sally.” I said to her.
“Did you know my favorite color is pink? My favorite animal is a puppy. I love butterflies. Don’t you?” She asked me. I laughed at her energy.
“No, I didn’t know any of that.” I said. She was the cutest child I had ever seen. She had hope in her eyes and you could see every bit of it with every glance. I played with the puzzles with her at play time.When we left gave me a hug when we left.
“I see Little Sally took a liking to you.” Roger said to me as we headed for the car.
“She’s sweet, isn’t she?” I said. He nodded in agreement. I wondered why someone wouldn’t want her. “Roger, what is the reason she is in the Orphanage?”
“Her Father, Mother and little brother, Bobby, were driving home from Church when a fruit wagon pulled into the street. They hit head on. She was the only surviver. She has no more family anywhere.” He told me. I felt my heart crumble.
“Thats horrible!” I said. I felt terrible. When I got home I knelt by my bed and talked to the Lord.
“Dear Lord,
I want you to forgive me of my sins today. I’m sorry for what I’ve done. I pray that you give Little Sally a good home. Thank you, My Lord My Savior.”
Then I heard the door creek and I look up and saw Roger.
“You’ve done a lot of praying lately.” He stated and I agreed. “That little girl really got to you, didn’t she?” I avoided the question.
“How can you go and see those faces? The faces that show pain and hope? You know that there is no hope for them. How can you see them and just leave and go home everyday?” I asked him. My voice was shaken and sad.
“Its not easy, Mel. Its what has to be done.” He said and I knew he was right but I couldn’t help but still feel sad.
I woke up at 6:30 a.m for work. I was the second one there. The first was Mat. When he saw me come in he motioned me his way.
“Sit down.” He said and pointed to the leather chair in front of his desk. “There is just something about you. I don’t know but when I see you I see Claire. Her hair, her face, I see her. It kills me because I just want to run up to you and hug you but I know its not her. Can you imagine wanting to hug someone so bad but you know you can’t?” Matthew asked me. I got lost in his eyes. He now has bags under them. He looks like he just got hit by a bus.
“Yes, I know how that feels.” I replied and he looked up shocked.
“How?” He asked me. I couldn’t tell him. I couldn’t say I’m here. Its okay. I can’t say that. What would he do? Would he be mad, sad, happy? I don’t know. All I know if I want to be in his arms again. For me to feel safe.
“I have to go.” I said. I grabbed my jacket and ran out of the building. I didn’t know where to go so I went to the only place where I still felt safe. I went to the beach. The beach where I first met Mat. I remember it like it was yesterday.
It was a volley ball tournament. Boys against girls. People came from all over to watch. I was about to spike the ball. Kelly got on her knees and I stepped on her hands and was inches away from the win. Thats when Mat came in. He jumped up and hit the ball at the same time when I did and it flew me two feet back. I must have blacked out. When I came to people were crowding around me.
“She’s okay!” Screamed one girl.
“Give her some room.” Said Mat. He lifted my head. “Are you okay?”
“Ouch but yes.” I said and then stood up. I was a little dizzy so I stumble but he caught me. He picked me up and took me to his truck. He sat me down on the opened tail gate. He looked at my head and then put an ace wrap on my ankle, which had been twisted from the fall.
“I’m Matthew but you can call me Mat.” He said and helped me off of the tail gate.
“I’m Claire.” I said. Although we didn’t find who won the tournament we still had the party after. It was nine o’clock till midnight. Since I couldn’t do much with a bum leg Mat sat with me on the beach. We watched the sun set and the stars come up.
“The first star.” He said and pointed to the big star in the middle of the sky. “Make a wish.”
“Okay.” I said and then closed my eyes. When I opened them he was sitting closer to me. He gazed into my eyes and then kissed me. I swore I felt time stop. Then I soccer ball rolled into our laps. We both jumped. He picked it up and threw it back to the guys. We just laughed. We fell asleep on the beach. I slept in his arms. That was the first time I felt safe. We woke up to a wave covering our legs. We both jumped up because it was so cold.
“We’re already wet. What do we have to lose?” He said and then took off his sweat shirt. He already had swimming trunks.
“You’re crazy! Its freezing!” I yelled to him but he didn’t listen. He dove right in.
“Come on in!” He yelled from the water. I knew it was cold. I felt it and I could see his breath but me being an idiot and young I took my shorts off and my sweat shirt off and dived in too. It felt like I was jumping into a lake of ice. “Oh my sweet Mary! This is crazy!” I told him. His lips were blue and mine were too.
Then I snapped out of my day dream.
“I knew you would be here.” A voice said behind me. I turned around and it was Mat. He sat down beside me. “This is the place. The place where I met Claire. The best moment of my life.” Then he looked at me. “But you already know.” I was terrified that he knew. I wasn’t sure what to do. Then Roger showed up. He ran to me.
“I was so worried!” Roger screamed. I stood up.
“Worried about what?” I asked. Pushing him away from the strong hug he gave me.
“You weren’t at work. I didn’t know what to think.” Then he saw Mat. He looked at him with an evil eye. “Who is this?” He asked. Mat stood up.
“Hey. I’m Matthew.” Mat said. He held out his hand but Roger wouldn’t shake it.
“He’s my boss.” I told Roger but that didn’t look good. “Go home. I will meet you after work.” After Roger left Mat gave me a confused look.
“So you live with him?” He asked. As we walked along the shore line.
“Yes, him and my Mother.” I said. He nodded his head.
“How exactly did you know Claire?” He asked. I didn’t know how to explain it.
“Its complicated.” I told him. I wish he would drop the subject right there but knowing Mat he doesn’t
“I have time.” He said.
“I don’t.” I replied. I felt horrible for being rude so I changed the subject. “How do you cope?”
“I don’t. I just pray that it will get a little better.” He said. Then looked down. I grabbed his hand not thinking. I held it then let go but he grabbed it back. “Claire use to grab my hand like that.” He said then he started to cry. I’ve only saw him cry once before and that was when he almost lost me. He fell to the ground. I wrapped my arms around him to comfort him. He wrapped his arms around me too. It felt like home. I hated that he was crying. He looked up and stared at me.
“Claire use to hug me like that.” He said.
“I know.” I said and started to cry. We sat there and both cried. After we stopped crying. I stood up. “I have to get to work.” I said and started to walk away but he grabbed my hand. I didn’t want to turn around but I did. He pulled me close and for a moment I was Claire. He pulled me in and wrapped his arms