Sanctuary by E. Edgar Price

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  The house was still relatively quiet when Sarah went up to her room. She thought she heard Uncle Matt in the kitchen, but no one else seemed to be up and about yet. Her excursion to the gate would go unnoticed, which was exactly how she wanted it to be. She didn’t want any intrusion into her emotional morning, so she would keep her new habit a secret for now. That decided, she crept up the stairs in sweaty, socked feet and gently opened and closed her bedroom door.

  She leaned against the back of the door for a moment, watching the early light caress the round walls in gold. The last few days Sarah spent her time helping Aunt Rachel in the morning and the afternoon. Today however, they were supposed to venture up to the attic. Looking at the bright, bare window, Sarah decided she needed curtains more than anything and hoped they found some the right length. She also thought adding furniture would render her room more homey. As it was, it looked naked and relatively empty.

  Sarah dropped her running shoes in their place in front of the door and headed for the bathroom. She stripped off her sweaty attire and threw the clothes into a nearby hamper. Turning the shower knob, she stepped under the warm spray with a sigh. It felt like the water was washing away all of her emotions along with the sweat and tears. She felt empty, Sarah thought as she lathered up her hair. It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. It felt . . . clean. After getting dressed and gathering her long hair into a ponytail, she headed down to breakfast feeling strangely serene.

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  Chapter 11: Finders Keepers