Ablizorm

The New Normal - Oct 08

Toni 's version of normal was slipping. Normal started off in her childhood. When her father would come home late for work and the Austin family would reheat the dinner they had made hours ago. When her mother kissed her on the head and called goodnight over her shoulder as she turned off the light. When she went to school every day, her only worry was her grades and overdue school work. Then normal changed. Normal became her and her father eating dinner alone. Long sleepless nights without being tucked in. Getting kicked out of her AP classes and getting diagnosed with depression. And normal kept changing. As Toni got used to her mother's absence, as she grew older, became an orphan, made friends, lived. But Toni would have never imagined that her normal would settle on this. This Hell that she was forced to live through every single day. Bills went unpaid on the kitchen counter, the garden abandoned. And then Toni met Zuri and Ellie. She had pulled her life together because of them. And now? Her life was being ripped apart. Because of them. Suddenly the 'normal' that she had always longed for had been flipped over to reveal a mess. A mess of lies, deceit and candid obligations. And, of course. That mess was her life. Her normal.

~•~

Her mother used to always say, 'Change is good'. Toni used to live up to that. After her mother passed her father was broken. Toni still vividly remembered the funeral, but not as much as the words that came out of her father's mouth. 'Welcome to the real world' he had said. It seemed ironic, as though the world was trying to prove his words correct. Quite the sentiment.

Toni didn't welcome the real world. She despised it. The real world had taken everything from her. But it's given you something in return, Her conscience whispered. It's made you special. Not everyone gets powers...the voice grew stronger, gripping her attention. The thoughts that she had locked away flew out. You're unique It said. you're different. But Toni refused to believe any of it. She shoved all thoughts of her potential powers to the back of her mind. She had found her normal, and she planned to keep it that way.

She was going to keep this life. She was going to go shopping (If they could manage that week) every Wednesday. She was going to make breakfast around nine. She was going to take the laundry to dry at the end of the week. She was not going to think about getting hunted down. She was not. Nope. No. Definitely not.

Toni glanced down at the pile of clothes in her hands, realizing she was gripping unnecessarily hard. Toni loosened her hold, plunging her tunic into the basket. She threw the rest in unceremoniously. Picking up the bin, Toni headed towards the laundry room. Her thoughts though, we're definitely not on laundry.

She dropped the basket on the floor before heading to Ellie's room. She had been meaning to check something for weeks, though couldn't because Zuri had always had a watchful eye. Her friend was currently at the park, giving Toni a brief period where she could investigate in peace.

Toni stepped into Ellie's room. What was she expecting to be different? It was still the same woodsy-peppermint smell, though the aroma had faded. Thanks to Zuri, the room remained vacuumed and neat. Toni thought something would be different, that the room would be dark, and feel abandoned. She had thought there would be a particular smell associated with a crime scene. Toni mentally rolled her eyes. What was she expecting, barricade tape? Honestly, she had been watching way too many movies lately.

Toni stepped up to Ellie's dresser uncertainly. It looked the same, the wood old but preserved, the knobs silver and slick. Toni opened the drawer she had first seen the charm in. Hesitant, she scanned the contents. A pile of clothing, some rings...no blue charm. Toni stepped back, her heart sinking. She had thought...well, she had thought that it would still be there. Toni headed to her room, somewhat deflated.