Chasing Butterflies Read Online Free Page A

Gabriel talked to me in the middle of the night. I feel like I miss him, even though we only spoke for a little while. I know that’s complete madness, so I guess I just miss having someone to talk to.
    Granny doesn’t really talk at all these days, and no one else in the village will even look my way. Except Jasmine, but she only looks at me when she’s taunting me. Thinking about Jasmine makes my blood boil. I clench my fists and slam the back door shut as I step out into another scorching hot day.
    “Yara,” calls Granny.
    I stop and turn around. She sticks her head out of the back door and throws a bottle of water at me. I catch it and then frown at her, wondering why she’s thrown it.
    “It’s for you to drink on your way to school,” she tells me. “It’s going to be hotter than Hades today.”
    I can feel my mouth hanging open in shock as I watch her retreat back into the kitchen. Granny hasn’t cared what I’m drinking or eating since I was six years old. Maybe she did bump her head the other day after all…
    “What’s Hades?” I ask, tucking the bottle of water into the pocket of my dress.
    She frowns and shakes her head at me. “Hell, you fool.”
    That’s more like it.
    Granny retreats back into the kitchen and slams the door shut. I sigh and swish the hem of my pale yellow dress and walk past my area of the garden to check on my babies. They’re almost ready and I feel a slither of excitement filter through me. I love when the butterflies burst into the world, full of energy and hope. It makes me wish I were one even more.
    Just then I spot the only other neighbour we have besides Gabriel’s family. Mr Phillips is out walking his dog, just like he always does. And just like always, he spots me and then immediately turns around, walking in the opposite direction.
    I speed up to catch him. “Good morning, Mr Phillips,” I say.
    “Morning,” he mumbles, looking away from me as I walk beside him.
    “What are you doing today?” I don’t know why I bother, but for some reason I keep hoping one day he’ll answer me.
    I’ve seen Mr Phillips nearly every day since he moved into the house next to ours five years ago. He spoke to me on that first day, and then he must have heard the rumours that have circulated around for God-knows-how-many years, because the next time I spoke to him, he did exactly what he’s doing now. He ignored me. Refused to look at me. Acted as if he was repulsed by me.
    He says something that I don’t quite catch and then turns around and starts to walk back in the other direction.
    “See you later then,” I call out to him.
    He raises his arm in reply.
    I huff and fold my arms across my chest as I continue walking. I know Lulu tells stories and I’ve heard some of the rumours that are flying around about me but they don’t seem mean enough to prevent people—adults too—from looking at me. Whatever else it is that she tells them, it’s got the whole village afraid of me, and it’s been like that ever since I was a little girl. Sometimes I wonder if Lulu knows our secret, because that’s the only thing I can think of that would actually make people hate me. But then I remember that Granny said our secret would get us killed if it got out.
    I sigh, hating that I can’t figure out what Lulu’s problem is. My fingers brush over the leaves of the hedge I’m walking past and pluck a leaf off as I veer away from the little path and onto the main pavement.
    “There she is!”
    My head snaps to the right when I hear Jasmine’s shrill voice, and then I see her and three of her friends walking toward me. “Oh no,” I say as chills explode all over my body.
    Jasmine scowls at me. “Well, if it isn’t the weird little bitch.”
    I turn away from them and start to walk away faster.
    “Where’s that cute little satchel of yours today, Yara?” Jasmine walks up to the side of me, causing bits of dirt to kick up my calves. My scalp feels like it has thousands of tiny