My Wolf-man

Chapter 1 ~ Patience

I woke up, gasping for air. I coughed and spluttered, still feeling the weight of the dream lying heavy on my shoulders. I sat up in my bed raking my fingers through my hair to get the strands out of my face that made it harder to catch a gulp of air. I focused on regulating my breathing back to normal. I swung my legs out over the side of the bed, and cast a glance at the simple digital alarm clock sitting on my bedside table. 5:30. I sighed. Might as well get up, I thought. I knew I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep again, anyway. 

I thought back to the remnants of the dream lingering in my memory. I had dreams, or nightmares, really often. At first it was scary, but I've learned to accept them and I don't willow on them as much as I used to, because I know they're never going to disappear. I don't even know why I get them.

I grabbed clothes out of my dresser and made my way to the bathroom. I was tempted to skip showering this morning, because I was nervous at the thought of seeing water after the feeling of drowning in my nightmare, but... 

"Screw it, I really need that shower," I muttered.  I placed my clothes on the white bench, next to the sink and opened the dull yellow shower curtain. The metal rings at the top squeaked as they dragged against the rod keeping it up, causing me to cringe. I hate that sound. I swear on my life I will never get used to it. 

I flicked the hot water on, and shut the bathroom door taking my clothes off and seeking the warmth of the water. I let it run over my face, and closed my eyes. I caught flashbacks of the dream. 

The girl with the raven hair was ordering her men to push me under. I kicked and clawed but nothing did any good because they chucked me in the lake like a rag doll. All I saw was black clothing and combat boots before they pushed my head under the water and held me there. I splashed, screaming under the water until all I could see was bubbles.

I heard the water timer click and the water stopped running, leaving me standing naked with the cold air quickly seeping through the mist of the warm, leaving a layer of condensation on the mirror. "Whoops, sorry Gramps," I muttered. I don't usually use up all the water but I must have gotten caught up in that nightmare. 

I shivered, my teeth rattling, and quickly hopped out of the shower grabbing my blue towel hanging on the wall. It had holes in it from being used so much, but it was the only towel I had, and I knew Gramps would never buy me another one. 

He did what he could, providing for me, because I had no family anymore. My parents died in a car accident a few years ago, and I didn't know a lot about my family tree. Plus, Gramps was the next guardian I was supposed to go to according to social services. 

I wasn't there when the accident happened, but I still feel my lip tremble when I think about what life would be like now if my parents were still here. I rubbed the towel around me, collecting the water droplets before they dropped to the floor. I dried my hair and hung my towel back up on the hook on the wall. I collected my undergarments and put them on, along with my plain white, slightly faded white t-shirt and olive green shorts. I tied the waistband on my shorts up and put my socks and shoes on. I still had my Converse sneakers which gramps gave to me the day I rocked up at his house, drenched in tears. I use them often but still take care of them, so they're in an alright condition. And I'm surprised they still fit me, but I don't grow that much. 

I grabbed my hairbrush and brushed my chocolate-brown hair. The parts that had dried were already beginning to return to it's usual wavy state. I tried to tame them, but they never obeyed me. I gave up a long time ago.

I put the brush down and stared at myself in the mirror. I always wondered how many girls in my school take ages to do their hair or makeup in the morning. I've never had the problem, though, because Gramps never bothered to buy me makeup or any other beauty product. He was getting old now, and I knew he wouldn't understand why I wanted them if I asked him for some. He'd just stare at me, blank-faced and a scowl would quickly wash over his face. "You don't need it," he'd say before walking away. I'd take it as a compliment, but the scowl was strong and you could tell he didn't mean it in that way.