Shadows
by Emma Finlayson-Palmer
Senka sat with her back pressed firmly against a
wall, legs crossed and lost in thought. She daren’t move too much in the sunny
afternoon for fear of someone noticing her peculiarity. She preferred being out
by the dim light of the crescent moon where no-one would notice she was any
different to the other teenagers.
Her family had moved from city to city, and on more
than one occasion made a plane journey to a new country. They could never stay
too long in one place, or at least so far they’d weighed up the odds and
decided to move on before their cover had been blown. Senka was fed up and
lonely, and longed to stay somewhere long enough to make friends, although she
knew her parents would never allow this.
‘It’s for your own good!’ They would say. ‘You know
it’s far too dangerous for people like us.’
Senka watched as the long shadows slowly gave way to
the cover of darkness, and realised she had sat for hours on the cold, stone
path. She rubbed her legs as pins and needles pulsated like a shower of arrows,
and tingled with icy pain. When she could walk steadily once more she set off
for home.
Outside the house she looked up at its large, dark
windows, like glassy unblinking eyes gazing back at her. Her parents very
rarely used any of the rooms at the front of the house, another tactic in
keeping a low profile. Senka needed answers, she knew they were different but
whenever she started asking questions they told her she was ‘too young to
understand’ and that they’d tell her ‘when the time was right’.
Her hand brushed across her pocket and she felt the
crinkle of paper stuffed inside, and this renewed her determination. The letter
had arrived that morning, and already she had read it so many times that she
could recite it word for word.
Holding her key a little too tightly, Senka strode
purposefully up the front steps and let herself in. She listened for the sounds
of her parents, feeling drawn towards them as if she were magnetised she was
quickly up the stairs and standing before them.
“Senka! We’ve been worried sick! Where have you been
all day?” asked her Mum as she tossed aside a half packed suitcase.
“You’re packing? We’ve barely unpacked from the last
move.” Senka’s voice raised several octaves higher than normal as she struggled
to keep her composure.
Her father sighed, “I’m sorry sweetheart, it’s time,
we really must move on. We’ve stayed here too long as it is.”
“No!” Senka threw down the crumpled envelope in
front of her parents. I know now why we don’t let people see our shadows. I
know it’s the only way humans can see our true form, and I’m not leaving this
time.”
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