Something from the Silo

Pull your weight

It's crazy how much people take for granted: I remember how I'd get home from school, plop down on the couch, and turn the tv on. I never thought I'd be crippled, or that my parents would get caught in a burning house and die; me being the only survivor. Why did I live? Did God do this to punish me? What would I do with myself. I had plans, but now I can't even finish a sentence without questioning myself.
All of these thoughts ran through my brain on rewind during the night. I cried for a long time, seeming like a balloon tight with air that slowly leaked out, making painful, sorrowful sounds. My eyes were heavy and I couldn't breath besides the gasps between the sobs. I'm one hundred percent sure my aunt heard but I didn't care, I didn't care about anything. I felt an emptiness I'd never felt before.
The next day the sun shined through my window, through the heavy curtains and on my face, waking me up to a situation I wouldn't wish on the worst person. My stomach growled for food but I didn't move out of bed, the yearning of my stomach was the only feeling I felt and I welcomed it. My suffering couldn't bring my parents back, but it could make me pay for the fact I'm living and they aren't.

Eleven in the morning came around, and I heard a light knocking on my door. When I didn't immediately answer aunt Bernie poked her head through and said," Honey? There's sausage in the microwave, and I can tell ya right now that your uncle grazes like a horse, so you better get up and get ya some while you can." I pushed my face down into the pillow while thought about what to say that would get her to leave. " Aunt Bernie, I think I have a stomach ache, do you have sprite or something?" I turned over on my elbows, my hair for sure a mess and falling out of its ponytail. She gave me a look of pity, I hated being pittied but I wasn't getting up, no one could make me. I laid flat on my back and I watched her retreat back into the hallway. I felt numb, I wanted everything to be over. My throat strained and tightened as I tried to hold back tears, I've been so emotional lately, I'm so stupid. Soon Bernie was back, she had crackers and juice that she sat on my night stand and then rested on the foot of my bed."Now Stella, I know this whole situation... Isn't ideal to say the least, and I'm gonna give you today to adjust, rest, and get over your phantom stomach bug; but tomorrow you're gonna be pulling your weight, keeping busy and putting your mind to something with a purpose." While she was saying all of this I laid quietly, what she was made sense and I could tell by her tone of voice she wasn't gonna be one to mess around with a rebellious teen. So I simply returned in a monotoned voice," Okay". She gave an affectionate pat on my leg through the comforter and left. I stayed in my room the rest of the day, I drank the juice and nibbled on a few crackers; but mostly I slept and milked the last day I'd be able to stow away in this place.
I woke up late at night, I don't know what time it was but it had to be early in the morning. I stood up and stretched up extending my body completely for the first time the whole almost two days. I walked to the window and slumped against the frame. I scanned the almost pitch black scene outside; The only light was provided my the hordes of stars and the sliver of moon showing. My eyes locked on a kind of building, it was tall and had a light color, it looked half way engulfed in ivy; but it wasn't the structure I was so intrigued with, it was the figure sulking around the bottom, close to the ground. As my eyes adjusted more and more, I craned my neck out like a curious turtle. I was confused on what type of animal it could be, I didn't see any definite legs and it lacked much shape. It rounded the corner of the building and as quickly as it appeared it disappeared, leaving me with a shill down my spine and a nagging curiousity.