Sara's Soul Read Online Free PDF

tequila.
    Her head spun into dizzying circles, and she passed out on the couch.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    chapter 3
    chance encounter
     
     
    The pounding of Sara’s head felt like a large bass drum, thump, boom, thump, boom . But the tequila had taken the edge off. Now she needed to undo the effects of the alcohol. Groggily, she rose from the couch and decided to head outside for a walk.
    As Sara exited her home, Mr. Benson was getting into his car. He flashed her an icy stare and then quickly pulled out of his driveway. Sara hated when people looked at her like that. She despised being thought of as a freak. And she especially hated when she felt like she had hurt or angered someone. Her mother had taught her to be kind and empathetic. Star had painted a hopeful picture of the world—one filled with honesty and forgiveness. But once she died, that world vanished right along with her. Sara was left to face the pain and the cruelty alone. There was no one to shield her from negativity, to protect her from hate, or even from herself.
    Sara walked through her neighborhood in a haze. Her eyes glazed over, and she could hardly see where she was going. But she just kept walking. She walked for hours, trudging through neighborhood after neighborhood until she reached town. A Starbucks stood at the corner and, for some odd reason, Sara felt compelled to go inside. She had no idea why she was there. Just a few short hours earlier, she had put a gun to her head. She had expected to be dead, but somehow she had managed to leave the house and enter the coffee shop. It was as if an unseen force had led her there.
    As she entered the store, the aroma of various beverages filled the air and gave her a faint feeling of coziness and comfort. Several people were seated in various spots throughout the coffee shop. Some were chatting with friends; others were deep in thought at their laptops. Many absentmindedly fiddled with their cell phones. The atmosphere was casual and relaxed, the perfect escape for Sara. No one would care that she was here. No one would bother her. Maybe she could clear her head a bit and think about her next steps. She had failed to kill herself twice. There had to be a reason why. Maybe she had something left to do first. Sara headed to the counter and halfheartedly ordered a caramel flan latte. She paid the cashier and sat down at an empty table to gather her thoughts.
    What is still unfinished in my life? she wondered. Why is it so difficult for me to die? Maybe a few minutes of quiet would allow her to bring closure to her mind and heart.
    Her solitude was fleeting, however, and within minutes, two young men about her age approached her. One had messy brown hair and wore a Central Michigan University hoodie. The other, a curly blonde, was dressed in black sweats and a Detroit Lions T-shirt. “Well, look who we have here,” the curly-haired guy said. He grabbed Sara’s arm. “It’s that freak from campus.”
    “Leave me alone,” Sara begged.
    The guy still gripped Sara’s arm tightly and got right in her face. “Is it true what they say? Do you see dead people?”
    Sara gulped, unable to speak. “What the matter? Cat got your tongue?” he taunted.
    “I’ll bet it’s a black cat,” the other guy said with a chuckle.
    “Good one,” his friend said with a snicker.
    The blonde dude put his lips to Sara’s ear. She could feel his hot breath against her neck. She cringed. “I bet I could have some fun with you,” he said menacingly.
    “ Please ,” Sara pleaded, her voice loud but trembling. “Leave. Me. Alone.”
    “You heard the woman,” a kind but stern male voice called from behind her. “Now back off.”
    “And who are you?” the college guy asked. “What’s it to you?”
    “I’m someone who cares,” the voice replied. “This woman is a kind, sweet soul. She doesn’t deserve to be treated this way.”
    “Oh, are you with her?” the brown-haired man asked, surprised.
    “Yes, I