SHOW ME HOW

Chapter 1

Devin's POV

Birds chirped as the cool morning breeze gently caressed my bare face. Seated on our cozy back porch, watching as the sunrise, with its golden hues weaving an inexplicable tranquility into the fabric of my restless soul.

I was entirely captivated by the mesmerizing display of beautiful colors, boldly presented by nature before me. I could sit like this for hours, immersed in the deep sense of contentment it stirred within me.

As the summer holiday dwindle, only a week remain for me to savor the peace of home before having to face the chaos of rowdy schoolkids and relentless homework again. Soon, I would return to finish the final stretch of high school, with hopes that fate would clear the path to college.

I'm not prepared to surrender my false sense of normalcy, peace and security, yet.

Sienna, my mother—a dedicated nurse—works relentlessly hard, taking on as much extra shifts at the hospital that she can to keep us afloat while simultaneously tackling the mounting bills and debt. I wish I could ease her burden—not just financially, but emotionally—because I see the weight of her silent suffering, even though she tries to hide it from the world.

Every day, I witness the underlying fear that drives her—a constant worry that she might become too powerless to sustain our family's needs. Though her face always appeared serene, her eyes betray the quiet turbulence beneath. She believes that I'm oblivious to what unfolds around us, yet if she truly saw beneath my thoughts, she'd know that I absorb every detail, choosing silent observation over confrontation.

I would rather endure the weight of my own inner turmoil than shatter my mother's perception of reality.

Elijah, my twenty-one-year-old brother—three years my senior—is currently at home on a break from his studies in Italy and will be heading back there in just a few days. He's studying architecture on a partial scholarship, which greatly eases my mother's financial burden.

I'm seventeen, with my eighteenth birthday just a few months away. While I can manage interactions with strangers, I find true solace in being alone.

"Morning honey," Mom called out as she made her presence known on the back porch. In her hand, she held her favorite oversized, rugged brown coffee mug that amusingly reminded one of a character from the movie 'Wrong Turn'. She was dressed in crisp white jeans paired with a navy-blue strappy top, layered under a longer navy-blue cardigan. Her shoulder-length black curls, with no hint of grey, perfectly framed her face. I've inherited her striking green eyes, intensifying our resemblance. Despite her years, she appears much younger—more like someone in her late thirties.

"Morning, Mom," I croaked, stealing a brief glance in her direction before turning my gaze back to the sunrise.

She joined and sat beside me, watching the sun rise in a comfortable silence.

Mom wrapped her arm around my shoulder and gently pulled me close so that I could rest my head on her. These are the moments I cherished most—silence that spoke volumes between us. I never had to explain my silence; my mother and brother intuitively understood me.

"You're so cold," she remarked, retrieving the throw blanket that had slipped from my shoulders and wrapping it around me again—something I hadn't even noticed. She draped it around me once again, then gently caressed my arm as she held me tight against her side.

I don't know how long we sat being absorbed in our thoughts, but mom moved, gently pulling me out of my reverie.

"I made breakfast—come grab a bite before we hit the road. I'll go wake your brother. We're leaving in an hour" she said, casting a brief, sad glance in my direction before disappearing through the back door.