The Rock

Part 3

15 years and one month earlier

-

I settled into the rickety porch chair of my grandparent's beloved farmhouse. It had been a while since I'd visited, and it felt like a breath of fresh air to be back in the simplicity of rural living. The wheat fields stretched out before me, basking in the sun's warm embrace, swaying gently in the breeze. To most people, they were nothing but an ordinary field of wheat, but to me, they were beautiful in their own right, with their soft golden hues and endless expanse.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, savouring the peaceful ambience, when suddenly, Sharleen's excited voice disrupted my thoughts. She appeared from behind the door, her face beaming with joy and excitement.

"Hey sis, want to play hide and seek with me?" she asked, practically bouncing up and down with enthusiasm.

I sighed, not really wanting to play, but feeling guilty at the same time. Sharleen had always been my little shadow, but lately, I hadn't been giving her the attention she deserved. I looked up at her, and her face fell when she saw me shake my head.

"Perhaps later," I said, trying to sound as cheerful as possible. But the truth was, I wanted to soak up the peace and quiet of the farmhouse and the wheat fields. I wanted to forget about school and the pressures that came with it. I wanted to just be in the moment, but I felt guilty for feeling that way.

Sharleen let out a sad sigh and looked at me with pleading eyes. "Come on, you never wanna play with me anymore," she said, her voice quivering.

I felt a pang of guilt, knowing that I hadn't been spending as much time with her as I used to.

"We can play after dinner, okay?" I said, hoping to make her smile again.

She nodded slowly, still looking disappointed, but at least she wasn't crying. "Okay," she said before running back into the farmhouse.

As I sat there alone, I couldn't help but think about how much my life had changed since the last time I visited this place. High school had become more serious, and with it, came more work. I barely had enough time to do everything I wanted to do, let alone spend time with my little sister.

With a heavy sigh, I pushed myself up from the porch chair and made my way towards the wheat fields. The tall stalks swayed gently in the breeze, creating a soothing rustle that seemed to beckon me closer. As I walked through the field, the wheat brushed against my skin, tickling me in a way that felt both comforting and calming. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, allowing the scent of the wheat and the fresh country air to fill my lungs. It was like a balm to my soul, washing away the stress and worries of the day. For a moment, I forgot about everything else, lost in the simple beauty of the moment.

My younger sister Sharleen interrupted my peaceful thoughts. I turned to face her and saw her holding something in her hand.

"Look what I got!" she exclaimed with a huge grin on her face.

I struggled to push aside the tall stalks of wheat blocking my view to get a better look at what she was holding. My eyes widened with shock as I realised she had my diary in her possession. It was my private haven where I poured out my deepest emotions, thoughts, and fears.

"Play hide and seek with me or I will read your diary!" she threatened with a mischievous glint in her eye.

My heart sank at her words. She couldn't read my diary. I couldn't let her invade my privacy like that.

"Give it back to me!" I shouted as I lunged towards her. But she just giggled and ran away from me as fast as she could, her little feet pounding against the ground.

As I ran after Sharleen, my heart was racing with a mix of emotions. She may have been small, but she was fast. I eventually caught up with her and grabbed her shoulders, making her come to a halt as she huffed and puffed.

"Give it back. Now," I demanded, my voice stern.

For a brief moment, she looked like she was going to give it back, but then she threw it as far as she could, causing it to land with a splash in a dirty pool.

"No!" she shouted.

My eyes narrowed with anger as I watched my diary drift in the filthy water. I stormed back into the farmhouse, up to my room, and rummaged through my top drawer until my fingers closed around the precious rock. This was going to teach her a lesson.

I dashed back down the stairs and out onto the porch, where Sharleen was still standing nearby.

"Remember your precious rock?" I taunted her.

Her eyes lit up as she saw me holding it in my hand.

Without any hesitation, I hurled the rock as far as I could into the wheat fields. Sharleen's eyes welled up with tears as she ran towards the field, her voice breaking as she cried out, "Why did you throw it?"

A heavy feeling of regret washed over me. My stomach churned with sickness, and I couldn't help but feel like I had just made a big mistake.