The Devil's Gift/The Bloody Handed

1: A Change

The ride was long and boring. It continued to drag on and I found myself dozing off. It was all the same scenery but different coordinations. I sat in the passenger seat next to my Aunt Barb. It smelled of putrid perfume and I swear my nostrils were burning. The ride was silent unless she asked me how my grades were and such and such. She seemed not to care about her biological sister having cancer or being on her death bed at that.

They have a dark past and I'm not sure what it is all about; but if I had a sibling rivalry I'd try to make amends before it was too late. Barb's lips were pursed as if she was in deep hypnotic thought as if maybe she did have a soul after all but doesn't want to admit it.

The car comes to a harsh stop in front of a big freshly painted blue house with a mowed lawn and planted or potted flowers. The pathway was swept clean and had fresh yard clippings. You could just smell the privilege.

"Well, we're here. Make yourself at home.. there's a room upstairs to the right. You and Jason will have to share a bathroom however." Great, just great. I give her a pursed smile.

"Thank you, Aunt Barb." I open the door as soon as she shuts the car off and head inside.

Immediately I'm greeted with stairs. I slip off my heavy boots. To the left was a huge living room with black leather couches and a nice box TV. To the right I saw the dining room and a hallway which I guessed led to the kitchen. I walk up the carpeted steps and am met with a familiar silhouette at the top.

"Well, well look who the cat drug in!" I look at Jason with the deadest eyes possible and raise my eyebrows. He was in a blue shirt and jeans, hair slicked back. "Anything new cousin?" He puts out a fist indicating a fist bump and I hesitantly bump it with lethargy. He wouldn't stop if I didn't.

I immediately take a right and enter a decent sized room. The biggest I've had if you don't count the living room I slept in for a few months when my room had a roof leak.

There was a nice day bed in the left corner which were complimented with white dressers that had shiny, silver plated handles. I feel the ground below me feel a bit softer than usual, my toes being tickled with long fur. I look down and see a pink carpet. I gag in my mind. I was okay with the white aesthetic but I cannot do Barbie.

I throw my duffel bag onto the bed along with my body. I sigh as I look at the ceiling, hands crossed over my chest. This is my home for the next year. 365 days. Maybe forever. Who knows. I just hope Dad kept his promise to visit with Mom when- or if- he could.

I can't just sit here and be alone with myself and stare at these rich pictures depicting happy people. I honestly needed to clear my head. Yeah, that's it. I sit up and open my duffel bag, pulling out the frame. I lean over to my left and place it on my nightstand. I smile. I stand up and look at the pink rug, my lips immediately frowning. I scoff, kick it under the bed, and firmly nod. Much better.

I head down the stair case and slip my boots back on, not bothering to talk to anyone. Who hurt anyone to explore?

I walk down the pathway and see trees flowing with the wind in a rhythmic motion. I dig my hands in my pockets and pull my hood over my probably knotted hair. I take an immediate right and make way down towards where a row of buildings were.

Maybe I can go window shopping. Or real shopping once I get a job. If I can get a job. It kind of sucks Star-court Mall is under construction. Mom used to tell me stories about this place her and Barb used to work at together. When she heard the Starcourt mall was getting built over the area it used to be in, she was so devastated. Probably because those were the only good memories she held with Barb.

Cars drive by and cigarette smoke impales my senses. I cough, immediately retaliating the smell. Mom used to pick up smoking and lit one whenever she felt stressed. A pack of Marlboro and she was set for a week. The doctor told her to stop due to the possibility of her cancer progressing. I bite my cheek; I have not yet accepted the reality of her being gone one day. Taken too soon kind of gone. Not the natural death we all anticipate.

I cross the crosswalk, and keep my head down. I felt as if I was a green thumb. As if I stood out. Hawkins is only so big, and I'm sure the regulars know when there is an odd ball out in their town. And might I mention I hate questions.

But maybe that was a mistake. My foot all of a sudden stubs into what felt like someone's leg.

"Shit." I whisper under my breath. I peer up through my line of site and see a girl who appeared to be around my age. The girl had short brown hair in a feathered and layered hairstyle. She had freckles painted on her face and a natural beauty to her. She wore a dark jean jacket with baggy jeans and a fuzzy black sweater.

"Hey, you new?" The freckled short hair girl asked pointing at me. What, do I look like an alien to these girls?

"I guess you can say that." I take my front and bottom teeth, tearing skin off the corner of my lip. I lift my head and try to look more normal. "My name is Clarissa. Clarissa Gregerson." I give them the most genuine smile I can. They both smile at me and the same girl holds out her hand.

"Well if that's the case then I'm Robin Buckley." She gestures her hands out to her as if she was a grand prize. She then holds her hand out to me. I can't help but chuckle a bit as I take her grip and shake it.

"So what brings you on this side of town? You going to Hawkins or are you graduated?"Robin asks as places her arms across her chest.

"Well I'm actually 19 but I'm going to Hawkins to finish off my senior year and hopefully get my diploma." I nod. "I came here because... my parents moved." I'm not going to give my sob story to a girl I just met.

"Aw, sweet! You're going to love it here. I will show you all around Hawkins! I'm a senior too." I can't help but laugh due to her abundant energy.

"Sweet, thank you. I guess I'll see you.. tomorrow then?" I look at Robin. I try to act as normal as possible.

"Ummm.. duh!? Of course. Meet me at the flag pole at 7:50." Robin waves at me as I do so back. I think I did that pretty well. Maybe I had enough excitement for today.

I turn around and go back to the house for some well needed sleep on a comfy bed I haven't had in a long while.

As I walk down the street I find myself counting the rhythm of the flickering light covered with moths. It smelled of fresh flowers and mowed grass. The air grew colder and the stars grew brighter, the clouds dissolving into thin air.

I look over to my right to see kids laughing and holding ice cream in their hands while riding a bike, the sweet treat melting down their arms and clothes. I missed being that young.

Even if I didn't get to experience much I held a lot of happy memories in my mind. And I was scared to lose them one day and never gain them back. Who knows how many memories you lose everyday? 1, 2, 4, maybe even 10 or more. The only thing I ever want to remember are two things. My mother's smile and the day we all went to the park and I first learned how to ride a bike. Those were core memories I knew would forever be engraved into my memory.

I smile as I pick up the pace; it was starting to get cold.