Don't Get Too Close

Chapter 1: The Circle of Life

If a million loved you, know that I am one.

If one loved you, know that I am it.

If none love you, then my love, know that I am dead.

Those are the kinds of words that slowly drip from the heart and through the mouth like blood, in the same fashion venomous words spew from the heart and through the mouth like a snake bite that continues to sting just until the venom completely takes over the body 'till death. 

Those are the kind of words that are longed for, yet dreaded at the same time. 

Why is it, that whenever I have the motivation to write in my journal, it always feels like I'm writing some drama or novel. Maybe it's because I wish my life was such. Why is it that some people's lives seem to fit together like some romance trope where they fall in love with their soulmate for life and are destined to be together until the end of time, and others' are an utter and complete mess. 

The concept of writing my feelings and thoughts down in a journal seems like such a wide ranged topic so being that I'm writing about love seems to the random eye a distraction, and maybe it is. Regardless, the topic is still related. I never know how to end these stupid things because it feels like a start of some cringy early 2000's teen movie. Maybe that would even be better than this. Than the real world. 

I sign off my entry with my name and date and I shut the small black notebook. I limply pick myself up off my bed and walk to my bookshelf, just across from my bed, which sits in the middle of my room.

I reach in the middle and pull out from the shelf, a large hardcover copy of The Notebook. I open the book directly in the center to reveal a rectangular hole, cut into the glued together pages, about the size of my black notebook.

I slipped the notebook in the space, shut the book, and returned it nearly to its place.

Sure it's odd or even paranoid of me but I always prefer to be safe than sorry.

I turn to look at my clock sitting on my nightstand to the right side of my bed.
4:00 pm
Time to start dinner.

I quickly pull up my medium length blue hair into a messy ponytail, allowing a few short strands of bangs to fall forward in my face as I race out of my room, closing the door and heading downstairs.

I make my way to the kitchen, passing my two younger brothers sitting in the living room playing Super Smash Bros on the tv. On my way in I grab an apron and throw it around my head, tying the back tightly.

I swing open the fridge and start brainstorming. With all the leftovers and miscellaneous ingredients we have, I plan a loaded potato casserole with steak and cheese and throw it in the oven.

I take a moment to breathe and look around at the mess I've made before getting ready to clean up. In that moment, I feel a presence creep up behind me, just as it strikes, I turn and dodge around behind it and jump on its back. As the figure steadies themselves now with my weight added to the mix, we both burst out in laughter.

"You've gotten sneakier Simon!!" I say, trying to catch my breath from laughing so hard.

Simon replies in a struggled tone, while maintaining balance,

"And you've gotten Heavier sis. It's good to see the new eating habits are strengthening you. How about the boys? Is it helping them any?"

I hop off his back as he huffs for air and turn to him with a big smile,

"Oh yeah, those boys are never not wrestling each other or me during the day."

Simon looks at the floor solemnly but then smiles.

"I know these long trips help take care of you guys but man do I hate being away this long. I feel like I miss so much."

He turns and looks at the boys, now ignoring the game but wresting each other on the floor.

"They've grown so much in the last two weeks, it's amazing. I missed you all. Hey by the way, where's Brian?"

"Ah, he's still at work, he got a promotion! With a promotion comes new hours, he should be home soon. I'm sure the boys would love a referee in their sparring match. Dinner will be ready in about an hour or so."

Simon walked over to me and hugged me tight as he took a breath.

"Thank you so much sis. Without you and your part, this family wouldn't function. I'm happy to be home."

I smile.

"Well I'm sure you guys would find a way, but I'm happy to have a part here."

Simon let go and turned toward the living room, now joining the boys' wresting match.

After watching them tussle and roll around for a minute or two, I continued to clean the mess I made in putting dinner together.

Just as I finished, the timer for the casserole rang. As I removed the golden loaded steak, potato and cheese casserole from the oven, Brian walked through the door greeting everyone with smiles and hugs after a long day at work.

I finished setting the table, and placed the salad and casserole down in the center.

"Alright everyone!! Dinner is served!!"

~~~~~~~~~~~
"Alright boys, only a little longer on the game and then you need to get ready for bed, it's a school night!!" I call from the kitchen as I put away a stack of plates that Brian washed and Simon dried.

The room remained silent all except for the clanking of dishes. Brian dried his hands and walked toward the wine rack and pulled out a bottle of red wine and a few glasses.

"Partake anyone?" He inquired as he raised an eyebrow.

Simon shrugged as he walked over to the mess drawer and grabbed a corkscrew.

Brian looked at me.

"You little sis?"

"Nah, I'm good. I'm headed grocery shopping here in a bit anyways."

They both nodded their heads in understanding as they kept focus on serving their wine.

~~~~~~~~

Soon enough, dishes were done, they boys were in bed, and the older two have gone through two bottles of wine and lay passed out together on the couch.   

I head up to my room quietly to grab a small black backpack hanging on my wall next to the door and I leave, closing the door lightly behind me. 

I carefully walk down the stairs and out the front door, closing it behind me. I walk down the driveway and down the sidewalk for a while until I reach a dead end, which breaks into a path leading into a dark wooded area. 

I reach into my bag and pull out a black cloth covering and a sheathed knife. I place the knife just inside the waist of my black leggings and I tie the cloth around my face.

I swiftly hop up into a tree and start traveling through the woods by way of the higher up tree branches, scanning the forest floor as I make my way deeper into the wood. 

There it is. 

I lock my sight on a dark shadowed figure, walking through the center of the dark woods, coming upon a clearing. 

I silently hop down from the tree as I hid behind one, closest to the clearing. 

I reach into the knife sheath and remove the knife. 

I turn and swiftly make my way just behind the figure, reaching up one hand to cover it's mouth and the other, which was holding the blade, across the front of it's neck, slicing the throat. 

Only the sounds of it gurgling on it's own blood and the crickets in the background could be heard. 

I waited until the sound stopped, and I let the body slowly fall backwards to the ground.

I stand and give a small smirk and allow a scoff to escape my lips, 

"Yes, this will do nicely."