The Twins Across The Street

Chapter 2- Sea foam and cardboard boxes

I sat in that empty room, my body quaking from the pressure and weight of the strong emotions that I felt bubble inside of my chest and spill out. I cradled my head in my hands as tears relentlessly fell from my eyes. My cheeks became coated in my own tears. I felt…. pathetic for crying. Sometimes I wished…that I… felt nothing at all, so I wouldn't have to deal with the overwhelming feelings of sadness and hatred.

I felt my throat start to tighten as I choked out a noise that only could be described as animalistic. My breathing became erratic and heavy, I felt as if a weight was put on my chest, making it harder for me to even take in short gasps of air. My left hand traveled to my right arm as it was a learned instinct. I felt my nails grasp onto the thin flesh on my arm tightly, digging into the skin harshly. My body started rocking back and forth as I scratched at my skin. I felt as if i couldnt calm down. Why was I like this? Why was everything so overwhelming? I shouldn't be crying! But yet here I was..in the corner of the daisy yellow room, sobbing like a child would..

"Juniperrr! Moving trucks are here!" I could barely hear Helens 'obnoxious voice over my own pathetic cries. I felt unmotivated to get up off of the carpeted floor, but I knew if I didn't Chris would go through all of my stuff..and that…was the last thing I needed. I slowly stood up, my legs shaking more than a plate of jell-o. My wobbly legs threatened to give out under me and send me back to the floor. I took in a shaky breath as I slowly started to make my way to the door. My trembling hand wrapped gently around the cold metal doorknob. I felt weak as I pulled the door open and started to walk down the stairs that seemed to take longer to get down than they did before..

Eventually I made it to the first floor, seeing brown cardboard boxes litter the floor. I looked at the boxes reading over the labels that were messily written in sharpie. "Kitchen…bathroom…..knicknacks…." I let out a sigh, none of the boxes were the ones I had packed for myself. I turned to the front door, knowing i'd have to go outside to the truck just to grab the few boxes I had..and due to how pissed off Chris seemed to be I knew i'd probably have to end up dragging my rollaway bed into the house and up the stairs just so id have a bed to lay in tonight.

I took in a deep breath as I started to walk towards the front door, but the sound of people talking made me stop in my tracks and listen closely. The voices I knew for a fact were Chris's and Helens. What the two of them said was unintelligible due to their almost hushed voices, but the tone in which they spoke instantly gave away what they were talking about.

Chris spoke in a more harsh yet comforting tone, meanwhile Helens voice sounded sorrowful, as if she was on the verge of tears. I felt a smile pull at the corners of my lips at the fact that Helen sounded so distraught over just the fact that I hated both of them, or maybe she was just manipulating my father into believing that those simple little words affected her soooo much so he'd send me off to a random boarding school far away from here just so her and him could start a family and act like I never existed. The idea seemed almost pleasant to me…getting away from them might be exactly what I need. I wanted to feel…okay again. I felt myself get caught up in my own little fantasy of running away from them both and going back to mom and living with her. The thought of living only with my mother gave me the motivation I needed to walk to the front door and walk outside.

The skin numbing cold wind was quick to engulf me in a hug the second I opened the door. Even though I was in jeans and a rather long sleeve t-shirt the wind was still seeping into my clothes, biting at my skin. The coldness of the night shocked me. It was the middle of September and normally September nights were fairly warm..but not an uncomfortable warm. September nights were the perfect for hanging out with friends or sitting in a park alone just enjoying the silence. I stepped out of the house, wrapping my arms tightly around my body, trying to hold in what little bit of heat that I could. I shivered as I walked to the carelessly parked U-Haul, ready to just grab a few boxes and pull my bed out of the U-Haul and get everything else in the morning when it wasnt so cold.