All of my family is dead. I watch as their conjoined coffin, which used to be my home, burned to the ground. All of my memories, sorrow, and existence burned down with it. What do I do? Shall I sit and here and become a wreck, or shall I disappear?
Let's weigh my options. If I stay I'll be put into the system until I'm of age. This life would be a long terrible life. Jumping from house to house, never forgetting from which I've come.
If I leave, I would have to completely disappear. My life is burning in front of me, so why not take my life completely into my own hands? I would be homeless and trying to find a job, but would my other options be any different?
Both options would be a life of despair. Eventually, me taking my life into my own hands would be in my favor. This would allow me to get a job and figure everything else out on the road. Is this my decision?
I can hear the sirens blaring in the distance. My head whirled in the direction of the siren, trying to piece together my thoughts. Supposedly those were left in the fire as well.
'Should I stay or should I go?'
This question rang in my head, bouncing off the walls of confusion. I gripped my head, trying to desperately get ahold of myself, and stop the ringing. Why can't I think straight?
one month earlier...
I watch as my mother and father practically collided with each other as they moved around the kitchen. "You can slow down. The event won't start for another couple of weeks."
"Celeste, " she said with disappointment in her tone. "This is one of the biggest parties of the season. It has to be perfect. You know how much time these parties take to plan."
"Of course mother. We have this party every year and you still get worked up about it." Another look of dissatisfaction crossed her before she shooed me away to get some things ready for the party.
Getting her worked up a bit is one of the funniest things to do between my brother and me.
"Charles, hurry up! Mom's going to have our asses."
"Language, Celeste, " my father says as he kissed my forehead. A shiver ran through my body and I backed away trying to force a smile. "I'm sorry." I gave him a convincing smile as my brother finally walked down the steps.
"You take longer than me to get ready!" I screamed as I pushed him out of the door. We laughed and joked until we got to the car. "I'm driving," he said with determination.
"You're not driving my car." We wrestled for the keys before I snatched them and jumped into the car. "I'm driving us home," he said with a smile. I looked over to him grinning as I turned the radio up and peeled out of the driveway.
"We have to pick up some cake samples. When we finish we can go out to the lake." There is only a month left of summer. After that, I start my senior year and Charles is doing a gap year before college. "Why does she have us get the cake. They usually get it."
"They probably got sick of us. You should have seen her this morning! She was practically pulling her hair out," I said with a proud smile. I stood back as he held the door for me, and we walked in.
"Hello, we're supposed to be picking up cake samples for our mom."
"Of course! What name would she have put it under?" she said, with a smile as she flipped through a call book. "I guess she would put it under Elana." She stopped flipping through the pages of her book and looked up.
"Elena Domhall?" she questioned, with a sparkle in her eye. My brother and I exchanged a look before sighing and nodding our heads. "Yes, but it's not that serious. We just want the cake samples, please."
"Are you sure you wouldn't want to get a full cake? We can get them out to you right now." Her enthusiasm made me feel nothing but regret. Why did we have to come here? Everyone acts as if our family is so high and mighty, but we're normal people.
"I'm sorry ma'am we're on a time crunch. My mother sent us here for samples only."
"Of course." She typed a couple of buttons on the register, making it fly open with the signature sound.
As we wait, I walk around the small bakery with awe. It's small and cozy, obviously run by a person with more wisdom than the person that addressed us earlier. I run my hands on the smooth countertops that hold cute figurines.
Someone cleared their throat and tossed the bag on the counter. "Your order is ready, Ms. Domhall." I looked in her direction and smiled. "Bad day?" I pulled my wallet out and loaded the tip jar with a wad of cash I don't care to count. It's my parent's money my mother choosing to flaunt and dispose of it by buying useless things.
"Thank you for getting the samples together. I hope your day gets better." Charles grabs the bags while I hold a smile, looking at the employee. She looks sad and disturbed. I hope she's okay.
We finally made it back home but there are balloons and ribbons everywhere. All of the decorations are practically flying out of the door once we arrived. "What the hell is going on?" I said as I stepped over a dozen balloons. I could hear my brother hysterically laughing behind me, trying to gain his composure.
"Sweetheart, we are moving the party up to this Friday." She held up a pair of silk samples with practically the same shade of white. "Excuse me?" I asserted, trying to wrap my head around this.
"Very important people are coming in this week and can only make it to the party on Friday. We have to move it up so we can accommodate them." She looked to one of the planners and whispered more demands in her ear. The planner ran away with fear and speed unnecessarily demanded.
Before I can ask who they are, or why is it so urgent to see them, she walks away with one of her planners. I turn to Charles before throwing the cakes down. "We gave a couple more days of freedom. Let's head down to the lake before she tries to dress us." A smirk flashed on his face before we raced up the stairs.
I hopped down the stairs on one shoe to find he was already standing there tapping his fingers on his arm. "What took you so long, old lady?" Before I could respond he turned around, snatched my keys off the rack, and we raced to the car.
The breeze and music playing lightly in the background managed to calm me until Charles' phone rings. "If its mom doesn't pick up!"
He laughed before bringing the phone to his ear and continuing a conversation. "You're coming in town? Wait, you're here now?" There was a long pause as he listened to the person. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, trying to figure out who it was. "Of course. I'll see you Thursday, Zane."
"Who was that?"
"Zane Duman. He's an old friend of mine. He's coming and in town and is going to make it just in time for the party." He looked my way to find approval maybe, but I stared back confused. To my knowledge, he doesn't have any friends I don't know.
"Why would you see him Thursday then?" I turned in my seat to face him directly, wanting a straight answer. "His mother might come to see the preparations and he's required to come as well."
I turned back to face forward in my seat. Zane Duman. He must be a part of the family my mother moved the dates up for. This should be interesting.
