Room On Fire

Room On Fire Chapter 2

Eden

   I couldn’t bring myself to tell Abigail anything about why I really wanted to leave. I wasn’t ready to admit to her about Christofer. I knew I would have to tell her eventually, but I just wasn’t ready.

   Abigail sat up to look at me again. “When do you want to leave, Eden?” She asked me. Her voice was grave and serious. I saw worry lines form between her perfectly arched eyebrows.

   I shrugged and picked a piece of lint off of my Smiths tee shirt. Abby only sighed then began to crawl out of my bed. I watched in awe as she swung her perfectly toned legs over the side. Her shirt was bunched up revealing her agile hip bones and her secret tattoo of a peony. My sister was perfect in every way and for as long as I could remember; I wanted to be just like her.

   “Well, dad will be at work until six tonight as usual. So we can plan to leave tomorrow.” Abby said, pulling her shirt down. The sweet pink flower disappeared. She stood without another word and left my bedroom.

   I sighed in relief and my shoulders relaxed. I ran my fingers under the edge of my shirt, raised smooth scars danced under my fingertips. I bit my lip again, harder this time, fighting back the tears threatening to escape. I couldn’t tell her about Christofer at all.

   As I pulled on my favourite yellow boots, I noticed Abigail left her clothes in my room. I smiled to myself, pushing Chris from my mind and focusing on finally escaping. I gathered her jacket and the rest of her clothing, throwing each over my shoulder so I could grab her shoes in both hands.

    I made my way next door to her room through the hall. Her door was closed which wasn’t like her at all. I blew a strand off my hair from my face and knocked.

   From the other side I heard nothing. I knocked once more, a little bit more forceful than before. “I have your clothes Abby, you left them.” Still no response, so eventually I just opened the door myself, dropping her converse on the floor in the process.

   “Abby are you…” I froze. She sat cross-legged on her bed, her head in her hands. The shirt she was wearing earlier was on the floor beside her. Her bony shoulders shook as she tried to muffle her convulsed cries. Her stubby fuchsia nails were digging into her temples as she cried.

   “Abby” I whispered, chewing on the inside of my lip. My sister is the strongest person I know, and I’ve never seen her cry. “Abigail, are you okay?”

    I walked towards her and reluctantly rested my hand on her bare shoulder. She froze when I touched her, so I pulled away quickly. Her hands fell at her sides, revealing her face. Her brown eyes were puffy and red, tears slipped down her bony cheeks in small waterfalls. Her lips were chapped and her bottom lip was cracked and bleeding.

   Just seeing her cry like this made me want to break down and cry right beside her, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. “Abby, tell me what’s wrong.” I whispered, tucking strands of my damp hair behind my ears.

   She reached over to grip my hand in hers. She squeezed it with such force I swear I could feel each individual bone in my fingers pop, but I let her. “I just…” she huffed, “I’m worried is all: about leaving. I’m worried about your future. I can’t be a…”

   She looked over at me, her gaze loving but fragile. “I can’t be a mother.” Abby said in a whisper. I laid my head on her shoulder and let my eyes drift to a close. Cigarette smoke and mans cologne lingered on her skin; her familiar scent putting me at peace. “I’m sorry. I know we’ll be okay though.”

   I nodded and sat up straight again. “We need to prepare if we’re leaving while dads at work tomorrow.” I stated, removing myself from her bed. She nodded and pulled up her black bra strap that slipped down her arms.