Red Maranna

Chapter 1

Gasping in panic, I reach out for my lamp switch. I can't breathe and my head really hurts. "It felt so real" I mutter to myself. I look at my bleeding palm, I had squeezed it so tight my nails bore into my skin. Although I shut my eyes, I can't succumb to sleep. I pick up my phone from the nightstand. I check the time and turn it off. Standing up, I put on my flip-flops and head to the kitchen.

'Creak, crack!' the floorboards cry. I freeze in fear and my heart is pounding. I can't move and I can feel something out there, watching me. "What are you doing out here this early?" Mom asks. I jump and scream in horror.

"Hey calm down, it's me," she says before flicking the lights on. Whoa! Her face- she looks half dead and her eyebags are huge. "Mom, your face. How long have you slept for?" I inquire. She intensified her grip on her favorite kitten mug, the one I got her as a gift when I was six. "Have you been up all night?" I ask. She nods her head slowly, in an attempt to convince me it's okay.

"That's not cool Mom! You can't keep doing this, for your health!" I say.

"Look darling, I had to work okay? I have to put food on the table, besides, I'm a grown adult and you aren't responsible for me," she replied. What? Is that really what she has to say? "Mother, you can't let it happen again! I've got no one else, I can't lose you too" I cry.

"Why are you up by 3 am? Using that phone again huh?" Mom scoffs. Why is everything my phone's fault? "No Mom, I-" she interrupts me before I can answer. How rude?

                                                                          **        **

Mom has been avoiding eye contact with me for the last few days. From many years of living with her, I am certain she is hiding something. Beams of light shine on my face as her car approaches. "There you are," I say as I reach out for a hug. We walk inside the living room and Mom goes to the kitchen counter. She gets a mug and makes coffee for herself. Not a word from her and that is very unusual. "Are we gonna talk about your caffeine addiction or is there something else bothering you?" I query.

"Do you mind... can I just have some alone time? For once?" she blurts then covers her mouth. She waves at me in apology but there's no point. I'm already hurt. "You sure?" I ask.

"Yeah. I just need to think." I nod and head towards the stairs. When I peek at her, she's crying really hard. I turn around and sit with her. Her eyes are fixed on the chandelier above our heads. "What's wrong? You always say I can talk to you about anything so it's time for you to do the same" I say. I place my arms around her neck in hope of comforting her. "There's something you need to know."