Court Of Immortals

Emery

'RING' 'RING' 'RING' Eyes slowly open and adjust to the sight of the warm yellow light peeking through the wooden shutters of Emery Campbell's small tidy room. The dark wooden walls, the small twin bed, and wooden cabinet are illuminated. As she sits up, her soft light brown hair falls in front of her bright green eyes. She lifts her thin body out of bed, slips on her fluffy, light blue slippers, turns off her blaring alarm, then she stumbles over to her window and studies the glorious scene of the trees across the street and skies piecing together to make an astonishing landscape. Emery walks over to her bed to fix it up before she strolls over to her bathroom. Turning on the lights in the rustic room, the bulb flashes on and off until finally, 'POP'. The bulb bursts, somewhat dimming the room, but Emery is unfazed, as she has had untrustworthy bulbs, faucets, door hinges, and stoves, nearly her whole life. As she looks in the mirror she brushes her hair out of her face, she exposes her pale skin sprinkled with freckles. She is fairly slim, tall, and beautiful. As she prepares for the day she showers, then brushes both her teeth and her tangled long hair, before throwing it up carelessly into a loose bun, then makes her way back to her bedroom. She slips into a baggy, beige, knitted sweater, far too big for her, and a pair of dark grey jeans which she cuffs at the ankle, finishing off the outfit with her trusted pair of plain white sneakers and her thin-framed black circular glasses, that tuck under loose strands of her dark hair. As today is the first day of summer Emery plans to spend her day at the library, gathering some books for summer reading, but as she walks down the hallway and is nearly out of the door she hears.

"Em? Is that you? Come in here please." The voice belongs to Emery's older brother Aiden.

The excitement had slightly diminished from Emery's eyes as she turned and walked into the kitchen where her brother was. Emery and Aiden had been on their own since Emery was 8 because their mom had died in a car accident. Aiden was 18 when it happened so legally he could take care of them on his own.

He was sitting at the kitchen table sifting through the mail which included an assortment of bills. The fairly small room was lined with light wooden walls and a large window in the center to let in the light on this beautiful June morning. Aiden had been hounding Emery about getting a job since the summer before this one because she was finally old enough. Last summer she did in fact find a job, but she had to quit when school started back up due to the fact she didn't have the time. She walked into the room, sullenly, and met her brother's eyes, which were the same gleaming green as her own, as they both had their mothers. Her hair, which was pushed back from the arm of her glasses, was out of her face.

"Are you going to find one today Em?" She stayed silent, this caused Aiden's long pale, freckled face to slightly sadden. He briefly lowered his head causing his own curly light brown hair to fall over his eyes, before setting the mail that was in his hands down and looking back up. "Emery, please you're 17 now, I need you to help me out a little more like last summer. I know I am driving you crazy, but we need to stay stable if they are gonna let me keep you." 

"I know," Emery responded slowly and quietly, "I'm sorry, I'll try to find one today." As these words were said Emery's head hung low and her eyes were now fixed on her dirty sneakers. Her hands were clasped in front of her in front of her.

Aiden pushed his chair back, stood up and steadily walked toward Emery and grasped one of her hands in his own, he used the other to gently lift her face up using a single finger under her chin. There were tears swelling in her piercing green eyes and as she met his eyes once again she burst. She threw her arms around her brother and buried her head in his shoulder. She was so overwhelmed as for the past few months the two had been financially struggling.

"I'm sorry'' he said under his breath, holding her tightly, "I am sorry we have to live like this. Just know I love you and I'm here." He felt very guilty for her sadness, as he felt it was his fault for not giving her a better life.