I could stare at her all day. The way her perfectly defined chocolate brown curls bounced when she walked by. As she sat in the seat next to the window, the sun reflected off of her porcelain skin. You could tell she had makeup on, by the way her mascara smudged just a tad, but it was perfect.
Her soft, milky eyes looked beautiful in the lighting, and her lips were a glossy light pink. The tip of her nose was slim and had a slight glisten to it. When she smiled, her cheeks got a rose tint to them, and her dimples suddenly appeared.
When she laughed, you could see her perfect teeth and hear the joy in her voice. I wanted to die inside when she laughed, the sight was too beautiful.
I love you, Claire.
I jolt awake, shrieking, sweat dripping down my forehead, sheets raveled on the floor after being forced off of the bed. This is the third time this week. I don’t know what is happening to me. I try to slow my breathing and gulp down a glass of water. I view outside my window and see that it is still dusk. Wonderful.
It has been eight years since the “incident”, yet i’m still dreaming, no, re-living that nightmare. I was only a child when it occurred. Well, technically I am only fifteen, but I have far evolved from my younger self. Seeing those sorts of things at a younger age isn’t so peculiar, in fact I had much enjoyed them at the time. But seeing them replay in my head day after day, i’ve realized it certainly isn’t ordinary.
Maybe it was all a dream, all in my silly little seven-year-olds imagination. Oh, but it couldn’t be, it felt so real. I could see all of wonderland with my own eyes, all the amazing and terrifying things. I could hear all those sounds, from things like Mad Hatters disturbing cackle, to the repetitive ticking of the White Rabbit’s watch. I could feel the presence of all the creatures, staring at me, the lost little girl. The long shadowy figure of the Queen of Hearts, the one that I mistake for a chair or a coat in the night. The evil laugh, that continues to haunt my dreams to this day. The petrifying, gut-wrenching feeling everyone would get when she screamed “OFF WITH THEIR HEAD”, one too many times. No, I couldn’t have imagined that. No seven-year-old could imagine such a thing.
My sister enters the room, looking worried. “Are you alright? I heard you yelling again.” she said, with a concerned tone. “Oh, I’m fine. Just another one of those silly dreams again.” I said, trying to lighten the mood. My sister worries about me, I know she does. I’ve heard her crying while talking to mum, who never knows what to do. She doesn’t really care for me, definitely not as much as my sister does. “I was just checking in. Try to get some rest alright?” she said. “Okay, I’ll try. Goodnight” I said as she slowly closes the door.
I sigh, I guess loudly because Dinah hops up onto the bed next to me. She curls into a perfect little ball, purring as I stroked her soft head. Oh, how easy your life is Dinah. I wish I were a cat, with not a worry in the world. I should probably get some rest. I lie down, closing my eyes, trying to think of anything other than the laugh I am hearing from underneath my bed.
I used to come home everyday Never wanting to stay Always being in the way Constantly causing a dismay
This feeling lingered for a while Always wanting to hide in the crowd Never confronting all my fears Crying way too many tears
It’s as if we grow the other way around Starting with our heads way up in the clouds As the times passes we see more down We understand more than fantasies abound
They live their life trying so hard To hide back into the clouds Forgetting all these terrible things Pretending all is good and proud
I’d say I’m more like Harry Styles I want to always be honest and smile Not a Matilda hiding away Pretending all is a-okay
An awakening is what they need Not always needing to fake and bleed Hopefully this time will be better This brand new year of 2023
My parents have decided that it’s best to move out. I really don’t want to, especially since it’s the beginning of my sophomore year. I already spent all of last year making new friends, and now I’m just gonna have to start all over? It really pisses me off. But of course, I’m only 15. So technically, I can’t move out yet.
“George!” my mom yells from the kitchen, impatiently waiting for a response. Dad rushes down the stairs, holding on to the banister so he doesn’t slip. He knows when mom uses that tone that she’s not in a good mood.
“Yes honey?” he gets out, trying to catch his breath. “Can you PLEASE tape those boxes in Aliyah’s room? If you don’t do it now, she’ll open them and she might break something.” she say’s, looking concerned. Aliyah is my 5-year-old sister. She’s such a pain, and she breaks EVERYTHING. Mom ought to be worried. “Yes yes, of course honey.” says dad. “I should’ve done it earlier. I’ll get everything done, don’t worry.” he gives her a reassuring smile. No wonder mom married him. “Thank you honey. What would I do without you?” she says, smiling back at him.
As dad scrambles back up the stairs, I realize that it’s just mom and I left down here. Oh no. I try to sneak up to my room, but she catches me right before I can. “Uh-uh. Now have I got a job for you, Will.” she says with an eerie smirk on her face. I sigh. “What is it?” I say, dreading whatever she’s gonna say next.
There is so much junk down here. We could have a full on garage sale with all of this stuff. “Just start with the shelves and work your way to the boxes.” Mom says from the top of the basement stairs. “Most of this we can donate, but if it looks important then just put it aside and I’ll look at it later.” she says as I scour the area. After mom leaves, I decide to make two boxes. One for donations, and one for mom to inspect.
I’m about halfway through the big metal shelf of junk when I hear a sound. At first, I just think that it’s mom, so I ignore it. I continue sorting through the stuff when I hear it again, but louder this time. I look around to see what it is. (Maybe it’s a rat or something?) But I don’t see anything.
I walk up the stairs and find myself at the door. Im about to turn the knob, but for some reason I hesitate. I should ask her if she made the noise, right? I don’t wanna spend my time down here looking for something that might not even be here. But then again, my mom is really stressed right now. If she didn’t make the noise, she’s gonna ask a bunch of questions and try to find whatever it was. That won’t do her any good right now. So, I decide to do what dad would do. Be a man.
The light is dim down here, since this lightbulb is old. I grab a flashlight and start inspecting the nooks and crannies of the room, seeing if anything is hiding in them. I see this weird looking rope sitting next to a bucket on the metal shelf. It has an old, raggedy texture to it and looks like old hair. It was attached to the wall. That’s not normal, is it? I pulled on it.
Suddenly, there was a creak. A door opened on the empty wall. Slowly, I walked towards it with my flashlight. It cast a shadow from across the side. The noise had stopped. My heart’s pounding so hard that everyone in the room could hear it. I contemplated whether I should fight or flight. I’m feeling flight, but I have to face my fears.
Eventually, I was standing right in front of the doorway. Hesitantly, I shined my flashlight into the darkness. All of a sudden, a group of rats fled out of there and scurried all around the room. There was a nauseating stench from where they came from. I pointed my flashlight in that direction, only to see the most sickening thing that I have ever seen.
Everyone is born with senses. But you don’t get all of them until you turn 18. Some are born with a few, while others get one, or sometimes not any. I was one of the unlucky ones. I was born with touch, that’s it. I didn’t think the other senses were all that important, considering I’d lived 18 years without them. Until that morning, I never understood how amazing this life can be.
I woke up to my someone walking into my room. It’s my birthday. I’m 18. I don’t know how to feel about this. I mean, I can “see”. Before, all I saw was a blurry black void. Now, it’s very bright. A woman sits down on the side of my bed, carrying a tray of cake. I’d had cake before, and all it was was textured mush. But this time, the cake looks quite appetizing. And I can, “smell” it. It smells amazing! Now I’m excited.
The woman (my mother) gives me a sweet smile. I’d never seen how beautiful she was. “Happy birthday sweetie” she says in a soft voice, tears streaming down her face. I smile back at her. I’d never heard her voice either. “Thank you, mom” I say slowly, realizing I can hear my own words. Before today, I could speak, but it was very slow, and hard to understand.
Suddenly, I get excited. I wonder what else these new senses can do! “Guys, get in here!” My mom shouts, startling me. A man and a teenage boy come in. My father and brother. They look so much different then what I had imagined, but they were perfect. They look at me with pure happiness in their eyes, and we all start tearing up.
“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to youuuu! Happy birth-day dear Kianaaaaaa! Happy birthday to youuu!”
Even though I thought that these new senses wouldn’t be all that great, I was wrong. All of that waiting, for my 18th birthday, was definitely worth while.
Aa! I’m awake. No need to yell.
Breakfast is ready? Yay! This day is going well.
Catnip is better, but I’ll wait for that at lunch
Drinking this water is filling me up a bunch
Every day, I like to play in the sun
For it is warm, and it is fun!
Grass is golden, and the wind is peaceful
Hmph! Don’t pick me up! It’s distasteful
I like the ground, so please don’t touch me
Just like that, she let’s me go and the-
Klump! That’s the sound of me taking a dump
Look at that, it’s time for lunch!
Minutes after, I start to get bored
No need! Play with a mouse and you’ll be bored no more.
Oh! Look at that! I caught the mouse
Please, now all I have to do is chase it out of the house
Quit! I need to, I’m getting tired
Rest is what I need, it’s much required
Slowly, I find myself a comfy spot
To make sure that my sleep is got
Universe please! Stop making that noise!
Vacuum is what it is, and it destroys!
Where did it go? It disappeared.
Xany, is what it was, but now it’s gone
You know now I will get my sleep on! Goodnight!
Zzzzzzzz
