lights are on, (but nobody's home.)

Chapter Two: I'm sorry I left.

I woke up to a sharp ringing in my ear; it was my alarm clock. I shut it off, opened my eyes, and was met by a small sliver of light, seeping through my curtains. I jumped out of bed, and threw my curtains open, to be greeted by a black, starless sky. the snow on the ground had to be a foot deep, at the least. I walked over to my nightstand and lit a few candles

I went into my closet and grabbed my wool red skirt, my thickest dress shirt, my warmest white sweater (with a big, red 's' on the front, for Sullivan), and a pair of my white wool tights. I put it all on in a flash. I brushed out my hair and put a red headband on (which matched my skirt), and I then curled my bangs and the ends of my hair inwards (I am trying to be 'on trend'). then slipped on some black Mary Janes (knowing very well, that they wouldn't do well in the snow.)

I looked at my clock. "4:15-" "Dorothy! come on! we have to go." my auntie busted into my bedroom. "yes, ma'am! I'm coming!" I quickly picked up my bags, blew out the candles that were burning, and walked out into the cold hallway.

I stopped at Julia's bedroom door, I quietly opened the door and slipped through. "Julia, Julia-" I whispered, while gently nudging her shoulder. "what?" she still had her eyes closed. "I'm about to leave, don't you want to say 'goodbye'?" I cooed, stroking the hair out of her face. "oh, okay" she sighed and got out of bed.

I picked up my bags, and then we walked into the front room. where we both grabbed our coats and went outside. the cold, frosty air filling our lungs. "I guess mother isn't up yet," I muttered as I helped Julia down the icy steps. my auntie was waiting in the car, honking the horn. "I'm coming! I'm coming!" I yelled.

I bent down to get to Julia's level, and then hugged her. "goodbye, Jules." I smiled, trying hard not to cry. "goodbye, dolly." she sniffled. I couldn't tell if the sniffle was from the weather or the melancholy of this desolate goodbye.

"Promise you won't replace me?" I gave her my best puppy dog eyes. "promise." Julia smiled. "pinky promise?" I held out my pinky. "pinky promise." she interlocked our pinkies. "come here!" I hugged her once more, much tighter than the last. aunt Prudence honked the car horn. and motioned me to get into the car. I snapped my head around to her in irritation. "one second!" I looked back to Julia. "promise me you'll me be good for mother, and that you'll do everything she says without having to be told a million times?" "promise." she wiped a tear from her cheek. "that's my girl!" I ruffled up her hair. "oh! yeah! I call you whenever I can, alright?" I got up and my bags into the backseat of my aunt's rented sedan. "okay!" she smiled. "that's my Jules!" I kissed her on her head and got into the passenger seat. "goodbye!" I waved, as my aunt began to drive off. Julia sorrily waved back, then walked inside.

<3

tears began to sting my eyes at the thought of not seeing her for months. tears began to run freely from my eyes. my aunt noticed this. "hey!-" she snapped in my face. "-enough of that! I don't want to see any tears coming from those eyes, at all. you can cry tonight in your bedroom." she scolded me. "yes ma'am, sorry." I wiped my eyes. then began to stare out the window, and attempted to keep my mind off of leaving Julia behind. "oh! I forgot to tell you! I already enrolled you in school" "WHAT?!"

•thirty (very awkward) minutes later•

the car ride wasn't very long. (but it was very awkward). we arrived at the airport on time. and after a short wait, we checked in, gave our bags to a very kind man, then boarded the plane. the plane was nearly empty. "guess no one's going to Liverpool, eh?" I tried my best Liverpudlian accent. my aunt just gave me a weird look. she rudely pushed ahead of me, to walk in front. "guess someone forgot to take their happy pills this morning." I mumbled following her far behind, to ensure she wouldn't hear my remark.