Everything in the dark

New beginnings

My eyes shoot open at the sound of the alarm clock. Looking around at the pink walls, I can't help but smile; this is the last time I'll be seeing them for a long time. It's not like me to wake up this chipper, but after a grueling summer and four dreadful years, I couldn't  wait for today to come. I roll over, turn off the alarm, and check my phone. A couple of texts from my manager reminding me to pick up my last check.

Leaving is bittersweet because that job was my only escape from school and home, but my excitement still lingers.

I get up and head to the kitchen to wake up my brothers and make breakfast. I walk down the hallway to their room, carefully opening the door and stepping over dinosaur toys and Legos. "Shit," I mutter as I step on a Lego, accidentally waking the boys. "Sorry," I whisper. "Come on, guys, get up. I have somewhere to be this morning, come eat."

Groggy, they both get out of bed and limp toward the kitchen in their matching pajamas. As if it weren't obvious enough that they're identical twins, their mom insist on dressing them the same. I roll my eyes

At the kitchen, they take their usual seats.

"What's for breakfast?" Isaac asks, his head resting on the table.

"I want French toast," Noah whines

"Wait, wait. If he gets French toast, then I want eggs," Isaac retorts.

"Okay, no french toast and no eggs. I'm making cereal," I say, grabbing the box from the counter and presenting it to them. They both lower their heads in disappointment.

"Mom won't be happy you made us cereal," Noah points out.

"Well, you know what? I'm in a rush. I have to pick up my paycheck," I say, pouring milk into their bowls. "And she can feed her own kids," I mutter under my breath as I hand them their food.

"And I'm leaving for a couple of months. Aren't you guys going to miss me?" I ask them. They both stare at me blankly before turning on their iPads, their attention fixed on the screens. "Ouch," I mutter quietly before making my own bowl of cereal.

——

As I finish washing the leftover dishes, my stepmother walks into the kitchen. I glance at her without saying a word. "Good morning, my beautiful boys," she says, giving noah and Isaac a kiss on the cheek. She waddles over to the kettle, her pregnant belly looking like it might pop at any minute. "So, what did you guys eat?" she asks.

"Cereal," the boys say in unison, their eyes glued to their iPads.

"Cereal?" she repeats dramatically, then looks at me with an arched eyebrow. "Hmm," she says sharply before taking the now-boiled water from the kettle and pouring it into her "#1 Mom" mug. The irony isn't lost on me.

Glancing at the time, I realize my dad will be up any minute to load the car with my stuff, so I'd better get going. As I go to grab the keys, my stepmother stops me. "You can't use the car. The boys have their little league practice."

I look at her in confusion. "I thought they practiced on Wednesdays?"

"Nope, today," she responds curtly, taking the keys from my hand and placing them next to her phone on the counter.

"When's their practice?" I ask, my arms now folded as I watch her stir her tea. Just being around her makes my blood boil, and I know she feels the same about me.

"It's at 11," she says, avoiding eye contact while mixing her coffee.

"Jen, that's in two hours. I'll be quick. I'm just picking up—"

I can't even finish before she cuts me off. "I also have errands to run beforehand, so I'll need the car," she responds.

I feel my face heat up with anger. She's clearly doing this to get a rise out of me. I want to yell, but I know better than to let her provoke me today. I remind myself that in less than 24 hours, I'll be back home and happy and nearly 3000 miles away from her.