Storytime

Chapter 8~ Talking

"Uncle?"
"Yep?"
"I'm ready to talk." After I fell asleep, I didn't feel like talking. I was still in shock from everything that had happened.
"So Illeya, what's the story?"
"I don't really understand it myself. Josie, the new girl. When I went home, I got really ill and... Then I was here. It's the complete opposite to what it was back home."
"Who was this Josie girl?"
"She had a lung condition... I almost killed her. After everything, I didn't know it could get any scarier. I find myself here where everyone hates me and I met you."
"I scare you?"
"No no. You're the only thing I like about this world. Just meeting you here, now... It was unexpected."
"I understand." I sip my coffee nervously, my hands shaking.
"We'll find you a way home. Promise." He takes my free hand in his and kisses it lightly.
"Uncle? Do you understand what she meant?"
"What do you mean?"
"She said to go home, I have to understand."
"Understand what?"
"That's what I'm wondering. I mean, what is there to understand?"
"Maybe you need to understand... The unexpected?"
"Maybe. But it seems more than that. If they wanted me to understand that, there are much easier ways than this."
"I suppose that's true. Well, I'm sorry Illeya, but I honestly have no idea."
"Neither do I." I sigh and look at him, sorrowfully.
"Your mother told me you never looked like that."
"I never did. Not in either world. Can I... Tell you a secret?"
"Of course."
"In the other world, I'm the most popular girl in school. Everyone either loves me or fears me. And, you have no idea how ashamed of this I am, but I'm a bully there too. I do it because I feel its the only way to survive. I act all... Confident and direct but... Every time I look in the mirror, I despise myself. I feel guilty for all the people I've hurt, I feel ugly. No one knows because I don't want to be alone."
"Oh Illeya..."
"I'm sorry." Tears slip out of my eyes and onto the covers.
"I'm going to tell you something okay?"
"Okay." I sniff.
"You are a very beautiful girl. No matter what you've done, no matter who you are, you will always be my beautiful girl. I know you can change this. And by changing, you don't have to be alone. You just have to find the people who will accept you for who you are, not for someone you pretend to be. It doesn't have to be like that."
"There's something else."
"Go ahead." He smiles and brushes his hand through my hair.
"Josie. My mum, in the other world, told me... I'd never felt sorry for someone before. But with her, I did. I was so upset about it, so scared that I'd killed her. My mum said... It was because I was in love. Uncle, I think I might be gay. I think that might be the real reason I turn down all those boys."
"I still love you. I will never judge you. Ever. You're my girl. I'm so proud of you." I rest my head on his broad shoulder and he threads my hair. I smile sadly, tears still pouring down my cheeks.
"Uncle?"
"Yes my girl?"
"Will you still be there in the other world? At home?"
"I will make sure of it."
"Will you remember?"
"How could I forget my girl, eh?" He ruffles my hair and I beam, feeling at home with him.
"Now come on. Let's get some breakfast." I look up at him and he smiles warmly, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and leasing me down the creamy white staircase.

"Now I know it's not much-"
"Oh shh. It's great, uncle. Thank you." I sit at a pure oak wooden table, seated in a chair made of mahogany. In front of me is a spread of jams and marmalades, toast and cereal, croissants and brioche. And he says it's not much!
I see him raise a knife and stick it into his chair, smirking.
"That's mahogany!" I cry, gasping in horror. As he pulls the knife out, both of us burst out laughing.
"You're the best uncle ever!"
"I'm your only uncle! And for the record, I know no one else who would have got that reference."
"Hm, I can think of a few back home."
"I thought so. I didn't think you of the reading type."
"Well, I have a lot of secrets. There are a lot of things people would never guess about me."
"I thought so." We both smile.
"Tuck in then! Waste nothing! I don't like food to be wasted."
"Somehow, I thought you'd say that."
After having my fill of the spread before me, I look at my uncle in horror.
"What is it?"
"Do I have to go to school today?"
"No. I don't think so." I get out my laptop from my bag that sat beside my chair. As I turn it on, I dread what may come up once the screen appears. When the screen turns on, the chiming of an email notification rings in my ears. Reluctantly, I click on it, opening the dreaded email. As I suspected but hoped it wouldn't be, an email from the school stares me in the face. It states that the Office did not agree to me taking time off school and so I have to go into school today. My face turns to one of fear and horror and I slam the laptop screen shut.
"New email?"
"Yeah. From the school."
"Oh. Really?"
"Yeah." I look down sadly at my lap.
"Let me guess. Office didn't agree to it?"
"You guessed it. I have to go to school."
"Oh sweetheart I'm sorry."
"That's what dad used to call me. In the other world, I mean."
"I'm really sorry Illeya. I didn't mean to..."
"It's fine. I just hope that... This world isn't the same as the other."
"I understand." I smile sadly at him and get up out of my seat, preparing myself for what is to come.

Slinging my bag over my shoulder, I left the house without a single glance backwards. I was scared. For the first time in my life, I was scared. I didn't know what was to come, I was afraid of those people. I was afraid of myself.