Chapter 1

That Friday night, all the street lights suddenly went out. The nightingale that had just been twittering so gorgeously seemed frightened and fell silent, and only the lone moon illuminated the square in front of my house.

The tension from sadness in my heart began to grow.

All I wanted was to run away somewhere, to escape from myself and my loneliness.

— But where to run so late, amidst that depressing darkness? Oh! Maybe… maybe to the swing? — I thought to myself, rocking on the bed like a hunched old woman.

— Heh-heh-heh! — I laughed at myself. — Eeeeeh, why not?

I hadn’t swung on it since I was about 8 or so. It’s because… I’m too shy!

— But hey! No one will see me now, — I encouraged myself as I looked out of the window at the playground, — Oh, I must run there to make up for all the emotions I’ve missed out on over the years and to shake those stupid thoughts out of my head!

Right, my sleeping beauty? — I gently stroked my napping cat, Knopa. With her eyes closed, she stretched out her paws and “threateningly” showed me her claws.

So, I grabbed my ugly gray raincoat to scare away any unexpected passersby and headed for the front door.

The corridor was dark, like the rest of the house. I moved fast, on tiptoe, like the ballerina.

Moving through the corridor, I didn’t even illuminate it with my phone screen so that its glow wouldn’t hit the window of my parent’s bedroom door.

— Ow!- Bang!!! — Ooooh, Mmmph — I fell off my feet like a clumsy hippo, tripping on an open umbrella on the floor which my beloved Dad had left to dry at the wrooong time.

— Oh no! — I said, clutching my smartphone in the coat pocket and gritting my teeth in pain, as I heard the rustle of slippers in my parents’ bedroom which was fast approaching the door.

Suddenly someone opened the door and turned on the corridor light, I was blinded and closed my eyes.

— So, where are you going? — my Mom asked in a hoarse, sleepy voice, — and why are you lying on the dirty floor like a piggy?

— Uh, I’m just going to the yard, -I said, meeting her stern gaze. — I won’t be long, honestly, Mom, there’s nobody there, not a single living shadow, well, except for cats and crows.

— Oh yes, what time is it now? — Mom asked tiredly, tapping her smartphone screen, “Wow, it’s eleven o’clock, it’s late, baby, go to bed, now. — Yaaawn! — Tomorrow is a day off, you’ll have plenty of time to run and jump around.

— But…Mom, I’m not 12 or even 16, I’m an old 22-year-old filly. Well, even the fillies are allowed to walk around the farm.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

— Yes, they are allowed, but not at midnight! Because if that filly gets caught by a pack of wolves, no one will save her, — my mother warned.

— Ugh! What kind of wolves are there in town, Mom? I asked her as I tied my pink sneakers.

— You look like such an adult, daughter, but you still don’t understand anything in this world. Uh, I’m so tired. Alex, Alex, hmm, Aleeeex?! Do you hear me? — my Mom snarled looking into the bedroom, at the bed.

— Hmm? What? — Dad barely said, half asleep.

— Your daughter wants to go out at half past eleven, do you hear me? What should I tell her? — She asked irritably.

— So what? Is she 12 years old or what? She’s already a big girl, — my Dad replied, yawning loudly. — Just for a little while, and close to home! Deal? — he called out to me from the bed.

— Yes, of course, Daddy, I promise I won’t go beyond our neighborhood. All sorts of people walk around there.

— What? —Mom exclaimed. —Alex, are you in your right mind, I’m no longer going to pour you a full glass of wine before going to bed. I am, once again, convinced that it was my big mistake.

— But what’s wine got to do with it, Larissa, it’s common sense, not wiiine, ugh!

— What are you trying to say, dear? — she began to get angry. — Do you think I’ve lost my common sense??

— Sheesh, no, what I’m trying to say is that you should let Alisha go out to clear her head, — Oh, how deeply Daddy senses me… — and you, my love, lie down next to me so we can be alone for half an hour — Dad hinted to Mom.

Mom reddened from embarrassment and froze for a few seconds, after which she exploded, swinging her head to Dad: — But what if she runs into some inadequate man?!

— They’re all in bed now, — replied Dad calmly. — And where have you seen them in our area?

— I have, and not only that, Alex.

— What do you mean, Larissa? — Dad asked Mom.

— Well, on Wednesday, one of them accosted me, I didn’t want to tell you to avoid any conflicts, because you can expect anything from them.

— Did he touch you? — Dad jumped up excitedly.

Mom reassured him, looking at her brand-new manicure. — No-no, he just asked me for cash. He was drunk and, I think he needed it for booze.

— And how do you know he was drunk, — asked Dad, propping his head up with his hand.

— Hm, he had it written on his forehead, — Mom couldn’t find a better answer.

— Оh Larissa, in your eyes, every other person is a drunk, ohoho! — Dad laughed. But when he saw his mum getting even angrier, he covered his mouth with his hand.

— Well, Alex, it’s on you, — she chided, and turned to me, warning — If you… don’t come back… in half an hour, I’ll come after you with this broken umbrella and, oof, kick your butt so hard that you’ll never want to walk alone so late again. Did you hear me, Alisha?

— Uh-huh! — I replied with relief as if the hot iron had fallen off my head. But this cheerful mood was abruptly dashed when I looked down at the floor, — Oh nooo!- came out of my mouth.

Mom opened the door again and called. — Now what?

— I think I broke Dad’s umbrella, but no worries, I’ll get him a new one tomorrow.

— Ohh! Don’t let him hear you — she fretted, and quickly slammed the door.

I ran outside like crazy and rushed to the playground. There was no one around, even all the street cats and crows that were just here have vanished somewhere, maybe my raincoat, like that scarecrow, scared them away.

My butt, could barely fit in the swing seat. I pushed off the ground, then again, and again, so hard that I almost flew out of the swing. — Whoops! Hahaha!!

I closed my eyes and felt the rush of adrenaline which got my blood pumping, and endorphins that damped my mental pain.

I was a little dizzy, but it was a pleasant sensation that pushed all the sadness out of my mind, as well as the memory of my promise to my Mom to come home in half an hour.

Oh, finally, my inner ‘Kiddo’ had enough fun for a whooole year!

I don’t know how much time had passed when I thought — Ow, stop, stop I’m telling you. Time to go home, or I’ll be punished. I slowly opened my eyes.

Suddenly, in my peripheral vision, I saw a silhouette swinging next to me, and it looked like it was a man — Hmm?! — I gasped and put my feet on the ground, trying to stop my swing, which didn’t work the first time. Unlike me, he did it on the first go. — Wow, that’s masculine strength! — I was stunned.