Memoir Writing Sample -Bound

The bright blue of the sky was welcoming. Winters in Miller, Indiana, could be brutal, and when spring parted the skies to reveal the beautiful hue of the sky, I revelled. Chewing on a grass seed stalk, lying back feeling the cool breeze, begging for even warmer days than this day. Huge clouds would pass by, causing a chill to rest on the skin, but the sun warmed the flesh just as quickly. Her small, petite frame was surrounded by everything she loved. The blue skies above clouded slightly, breaking the endless blues. Hues of green, spotted with purples, pinks, yellows, and whites of the flowers, permeated the air she drew in. She lay back to encompass all the beauty around her. Baffled by the calm of the world without human interaction. She was exactly where she wanted to be. Never did she want to leave the place or state she was in at that exact moment. The air, fresh and crisp, not quite as warm as a summer’s day but not as cold as the winter just passed. Spring was the beginning of “new”. New things to come, explore, and learn. One of the best times of the year to embody the change within your spirit. Even as a young child, Heather knew that the world could be a beautiful place when given the time to stop and take it in.

 

She picked one of the smaller white flower clusters next to her head. Twirling it around in front of her eyes as she gazed at its simplistic beauty. It made her smile visible. As it grazed across her face, reality began to sit inside her head. No longer floating among the clouds, life called to her some urgency. Heather sat up quickly. Heart beating fast. Searching the sounds around her that still lulled her to return to peace. She knew that she couldn’t, although it saddened her to leave paradise. Life would not wait any longer. The breeze kicked up some, and the rustle of trees sounded as if a hundred people beckoned her to motivation. She rose immediately and sprinted across the field barefoot. With ease, she ran until the blur of greens turned to a blur of greys. Trees were replaced by people, soft grass by concrete, and the sky by tall buildings and storefronts.

 

Rushing towards the task, she continued to run - feeling the urgency crescendo among all the cells in her body. Why was this always happening to her? But like everything else, she would find a way to make a bad situation flow better. It was a natural gift she displayed early, just like her independent qualities, which her mother both liked and despised. It made mom confident that her daughter would make it in the world, but it was often displayed when she spoke to her child. A double-edged sword that mommy dearest had a challenging time controlling. Mom was sure that no one could talk her into anything she didn’t want to do; the problem was that neither could she. Heather was too independent for her liking, which caused some early strain to their relationship. Little did she know that a mom’s voice resonates with her child, whether the child wants it to or not. The tone was always the “told you so” that echoed whenever things did not turn out quite the way she wanted.

 

Heather ran and ran and ran some more. It seemed almost endless. Until the running towards took a turn for the worse.  When did her worry turn into fear? She was pretty unsure how she had gotten to this other state of being. No longer was she looking forward with a slight smile; instead, she was looking behind in fear that it would catch up to her. The fear that if it did catch up to her, she would surely never live to see another blue sky. Heather was tired of running, so she ducked into a candy shop and pretended to be a patron. Moving and gliding as the other children were. In genuine delight and awe of the confections that were presented inside. For a moment, Heather found some happiness as she eyed an enormous pecan delight in front of her. A moment too long because she could hear the door open again and the energy change in the room. At least for her.