The Poem

''Am I ever going to be safe? ''

This story was created by Safetystoryluv.

Chapter One
She nervously stepped onstage and kept her hands by her back, breathing deeply. Questions fluttered through her mind like cruel plainness, horrible and pointless. But they were questions that needed answers to fit in the empty slots. They were questions that had the blankness everything carried before one person lifted themselves up to give you the answer.

But it was an answer Lilia would never be able to find out, no matter what she did.

Such an answer could only come from her mother, and her mother had left them. She foolishly dreamed she'd come back, as her father told her, and that was never going to happen. He'd loved her with all his heart, and suddenly she was gone.

"Where's your stepmother?" Lilia whispered to Ash. The curtains were closed and the soft hum of hushed voices talking filled the room. The sound didn't grow, but didn't stop, either, when the sheet was lifted and they were revealed to the roaring crowds.

"I don't know." Ash replied under her breath. She muttered words I couldn't quite catch and then the first song started. We sung, our voices ringing harmoniously through the cold air. I shivered as we finished the last word and sat down along with my row.

The actors stepped onstage. The ones that had been chosen by their voice and ability to project loudly. Of course, Lilia had hoped for a part in it, but her small bunny voice could only reach about the front row of audience, and that would be no good. It was said that the critic was coming for their last showing, so they'd better get used to this play routine.

The speakers said their lines as the background dancers danced. They dropped right through a hole in the backdrop, a purposeful one for their exit, and off they were, preparing for their places on the stage. They'd take the rear end while the others were busy watching the action up on stage.

Before Lilia knew it, the backdrop was being replaced and the curtain was slowly coming down to conceal everyone. She let out a sigh of relief. A safe sense washed over her before she realized: she'd never be safe. If there was something to run from, that something meant trouble. She wasn't sure exactly what she was running from yet. But she'd find out soon enough.

"...gold," The farmer finished. The group walked and skipped offstage for the last parts before the second song. All of this was so tiring, this business. Lilia had made plenty of friends at her school within her years, but none of them were standing next to her, reassuring her she was doing fine.

She kept thinking everyone was glaring at her, but when she peeked at the audience, they were focused on the people acting. She sighed. Was she getting sick? She felt her forehead. She felt absolutely fine. So what could possibly be going on?

Once the 5th song had concluded, they all bowed to the watchers and thanked them for their time. When Lilia got greeted by her father, she winced, knowing she'd get the worst. At least a smack when they got home for wasting her father's time, or at least he'd yell at her until she cried. Then he'd smack her for crying when she wasn't hurt.

Apparently, feelings didn't count, because he sure didn't care about them. Half the time, in fact, they were completely crushed. Yeah, her dad wouldn't care. Surprisingly, for the first time since she was three and her mother left, her father's tone was soft and loving, like a real one's should be.

She dreamed a lot, too. About her mother's soft hair and warm hugs and coffee breath. About her father lifting her into the air and laughing as her mother tried to tickle Lilia. She wished she could have that side back. She wished it were like the old days. But, as she was constantly reminded as she scrubbed (apart from being shouted at to clean faster), that would never be back.

He didn't even attempt to have faith she'd return. But Lilia just wondered why she left. All the unspoken flows of questions that came in every few seconds to Lilia's brain, she had to admit, were usually gone quickly, after a week or so. But some of them stayed there forever, haunting her. Just as that question did.

"That was alright. Are you okay?" He asked.

"What?" I stammered, confused. Was he talking to me? Was that sarcastic? Any moment now, he'd smack her on the face for saying that, for not understanding... he'd scream at her she should listen, that she heard her... but he didn't. Instead, he chuckled. Warmly.

"Come on home."

Was this another dream? She'd never been welcomed to the roof she lived under, ever. She was constantly threatened to be kicked out, starved, or unwashed. It was a miracle she was able to go to events such as her passions. Also, it'd never been called her home before. If anything, her father had wanted the opposite. Supposedly, she was the reason his wife left.

Ash's mothers walked over and shook Lilia's dad's hand politely.

"What's your name?" The taller one asked. The shorter one shifted from her spot and went to go get Ash, Lilia assumed. When she returned, sure enough, Ash was trailing behind her.

After Ash had dragged her taller mom away and her shorter mom had given in and went to the car, Lilia's father made a run for the door. Half the multi-purpose room was cleaned up, the other half just being started.

"Scrunchies!" Nope. Lilia couldn't test her luck. Her dad gave her a cold, hard stare, and turned back to the road. He

WIP