Love Bites

Home is where the heart lies

Darkness descended, wrapping itself round everything like a blanket. It softened corners, blurred edges, shielded things from prying eyes. He loved the darkness, it didn't scare him as it did so many others. People feared the dark and the monsters it hid, but when you are the monster; there is nothing left to fear.

The lamp threw a weak wash of yellow light onto the walls and floor around it. Tasha closed the curtains on the night, she hated the dark. She felt as though it was trying to claw its way inside, swallow the light. She felt better now she couldn't see the rectangle of black, the portal to fear's home.

Back on her bed, she pulled her laptop towards her and began typing, she had to complete this application before the deadline on Friday, and this university was her first choice. She cursed herself for leaving it so late, but she'd let herself become swept up , as was her habit, by Harry. Harry and his wonderful pecs. She flushed at the memory of some hot and heavy nights in the back seat of his car. She shook her head, trying to delete the memory like she could a file on her laptop. Focus. She'd been so besotted with him that she'd let everything slip, friends, school work, everything; then he'd shown his true colours. They always did in the end. They ruined it; ruined her. She was angry at herself, she'd nearly let a stupid - if incredibly well sculpted - lad ruin her future.

A soft knocking at her bedroom door interrupted her train of thought.

"Yes?" She called out irritably, not bothering to stop what she was doing or get up. Her door opened and her father walked in; short and stocky with a shaved head and a full sleeve of tattoos he looked every bit a heavy metal biker and not at all like the kind, caring social worker he was. He was a warm-hearted, gentle man who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it but he still loved rocking out too. Tasha reasoned she got her own fiery temper off her mum, but her mum fiercely rebuked that statement.

"Tasha, me and your mum are popping out to see your Uncle David. Do you want to come?" He asked. Tasha's Uncle David was her mum's little brother, born with Down Syndrome, he lived in sheltered accommodation in the next town over. They visited as often as they could, especially recently as he seemed to be forgetting little things and getting upset easily. It hurt Tasha to see him that way, but she never let her parents see that. They worried enough for all of them. However, tonight she really couldn't get side tracked.

"Thanks Dad, I would but I have to get this application finished," she told him apologetically.

"Okay, we won't be long." He gave her one of this signature concerned looks, "Don't burn the candle to far down or you won't be able to re-light it." He blew her a kiss and closed the door. Tasha shook her had with a smile, typical dad, always looking out for everyone else.

Tasha turned back to the screen, logged into Spotify, put her earphones in and took a deep even breath, ready to tackle her application.

She awoke suddenly with a start, her laptop lay abandoned half way down her bed the screen cycling through all the pictures on her hard drive in screen saver mode. Her earphones had slipped out, the music still playing  though now as if down a long tunnel. She glanced at the clock, the small red digits read 2:06. Damn, she hadn't meant to fall asleep! Grabbing her laptop she looked at her progress and groaned, only half way through. God damn it. Right, if this was going to get finished, and she really couldn't afford to procrastinate any more, then she needed coffee and brain food. Tasha stretched, saved her work and left her room for much needed fuel. She padded quietly past her parents bedroom and down the hall. However, as she reached the top of the stairs the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. All the lights were out, something wasn't right. Tasha's parents knew her fear, knew why she detested the dark so much and they knew never to turn all the lights off. So why we're all the lights off now?