She didn’t know anyone, other than the scientists, doctors, and her parents. She was poked and prodded daily, and pinned with needles. The best doctors studied her, and left puzzled. She was like a freak to the world, unwanted. She was a living science phenomenon, which they had yet to find an explanation for.
She never touched anyone. Her parents never held her. She never held anyone’s hand, or kissed anyone. She never had a shoulder to cry on. She was alone, in that big solitary room.
She could have anything she ever dreamed, for all at the drop of the hat. She did not care though, for she was sad and lonely everyday. She spent her time reading from the expanse of books from her bookshelf, or staring longingly at the one thing she couldn’t have: freedom. Day after day, night after night she sat in that overly sterile room. The room is where she would always live, if the scientists had their way.
She couldn’t do it though. She felt as if she was a caged animal, on the verge of extinction, being watched and preserved. It sickened her. It wouldn’t be too long before they got bored of studying her, and then they would whisk her away to experiment on her. She had to escape, and soon.
At age 21, Annabell was going to escape. There were only two options: escape or die. If she was unlucky, both. Though, she had to do it tonight. Tomorrow she had major surgery and she might not make it.
She covered every inch of her skin. She was hidden in her black, wool toboggan, to her shiny new sneakers. When she was finished, not a bit of trader skin was showing, except for her face. She was ready.
As nightfall came, she slipped through her window. She ran the road the scientist used to go to town, eager to escape from her prison cell. Once she got to town, a downpour started, so she ran to the nearest convenience store. She was glad to have left the room. Glad to be rid of it. She stared at everything in the store, hoping to memorize the things she saw. She never knew when she would be back here again.
Soon, she realized the store had no air conditioner. It was turning hot and sticky, and with her skin covered, she was overheating. Not even standing next to the freezer helped her. She glanced around, and, seeing as the store was mostly empty, slipped of her jacket. Immediately she felt much better, and not only on the inside.
She felt like a normal girl for once in her life. She could be normal! Her doctors were just overreacting. She could too live here! Right then she made a decision to try her best to stay out here, in real life. She would have to watch out, and pay extra attention, but it was worth it. She would never have to see that cold, lonely room again!
As she was drinking it all in, a man brushed by her. He mumbled an apology and scooted on, not glancing back; but she didn’t hear the apology.
You see, she had a fatal disease. She was allergic to humans. One touch is absolutely lethal. That was why she never left that room. That is why she was poked and prodded. That was why she wasn’t allowed to leave. But she was right about one thing.
Annabell would never see that room again.
