Come and See

Boogeyman

I couldn't remember the last time I had heard his voice or gazed into his oceans. I still had those dreams. They were always the same. A dark cold room, metal bars keeping the evil in and the innocence out. The swinging stained hooks floated below a cracking ceiling. Stale coppery air, sticky flooring under my feet.

It's too dark to see too clearly but his pale flawless skin always seems to glow in the shadows. His skin bleeds and he beckons me near. I take his hand and then in a blink, I'm hanging from those hooks as he looks at me with that smile. But it doesn't seem to be the same boy and that smile. It scares me more than the pain and the loss of blood.

And as he twirls under my scarlet raindrops I scream. Silent at first but it gets louder and louder until....

"Belle!"

My eyes shot open at Sean's exasperated call. They couldn't focus quickly enough heavy as their lids were. "Mmmh?" My newly awoken body didn't want to make words and in reflex, my hand covered my eyes from the light of dawn. "I'm sorry" I muttered as the covers were flung from me.

I was well aware, I had woken the whole house.

"It's the third week in a row Belle," Sean said his voice cracking with his adjustment to puberty. Setting up I rubbed my eyes and stretched reaching for the sky. "Ugh. Sorry." I offered a smile and ruffled Sean's hair. He looked very much like his father whereas his brother, Alex, had their mother's appearance.

I had always thought that was one of Alex's struggles back then.

"Belle?" Sean asked timidly, pulling me from my groggy dazed thoughts. I tried to laugh but it came out rather feeble, "oh I am so not a morning person" I hummed, removing my hand from his head. "Well go on and get ready for your first day at school and I'll make you breakfast," I said slapping my cheeks and trying my best to wake up.

Sean's face broke into a large grin. "Can you make french toast?" He asked. I groaned at the site of instant puppy dog eyes. There was the little boy I used to babysit and help with his homework. "It's messy and I hate it" I paused and his eyes got sadder "But, since it is your first day of high school" I sang cheekily.

Sean beamed and ran to leave the room "Thanks Belle you're awesome!" He called already gone from my room and down the hall headed for his own.

Standing up I stretched again. "Mister B must be gone already" I muttered, padding out of my room and down the stairs. "That is if he ever came home at all," I thought. My eyes landed on the undisturbed lazy boy recliner. Usually, if he had been home the throw pillow was scrunched into a ball, an empty bottle sat on the side table next to the coaster but not on it and the ESPN magazine was thrown onto the floor.

However this morning the throw pillow sat perfectly in place smoothed and fluffed. There was no bottle on the side table not even so much as a ring of residue from the melting chill ringed around the wood. And tucked away in the magazine pile was this month's ESPN magazine. "Nope never came home" I paused shook my head and went to the kitchen "Again" I sighed.

Sean sat across the table from me munching on his French Toast looking spiffy for his first day. I gazed into my black cup of coffee with tired red eyes, still in my pink house coat less fluffy now and much more linty. It had seen too many non-dry clean-only washer machine cycles and was terribly moth-eaten and snagged. Full of coffee stains, juice stains, oil stains, and every other kitchen-related stain.

"Hey, you" I called dryly grabbing Sean's attention. He watched me with caution "Don't bring five girlfriends back here" I said cracking a smile. Sean laughed and pushed his plate forward, "Can't be late for bus!" He called jumping up backpack in tow. Sean kissed my cheek and headed for the door. But he paused in his steps.

"Hey, Belle?" He asked quietly. "hm?" I hummed, feeling the question coming and I still wasn't ready for it.

"Alex gets out today..." Sean paused for a moment, "are you going to get him? It's his birthday. I thought maybe we could go out to eat at Bucky's dinner...like old times" Sean stated. I bit my lip and saw that smile from my dreams.

"Sure we can," my voice was weak but I looked over my shoulder and tried my best to smile at him. "I'll stop by here before going to get him to pick you up so be changed ok?" I said and watched him smile, nodded, and leave.

At least someone was excited.....