Dont Turn on the light

Chapter Two

My sister wanted a shower to take her mind off things. I stayed on a seat in the lounge room. A little too close to where my grandfather once sat. Although the images I have of him now are disoriented and unpleasant. My Dad popped on a DVD that was a comedy apparently. I couldn't focus on it long enough to know what the characters name was. My Dad was laughing although I could tell it was forced and for my benefit. I couldn't handle being in the same room and needed to leave, had to escape, wanted to be alone. As I left the room I squeezed my dad's shoulder as I left. I could feel him watch me walk out.

I headed straight to the room. The room my sister Melissa and I share. She was still in the shower. I sat on my bed facing the large mirror on the wall. I could see myself and I did not recognise the image looking back. The image had puffy lips, raw red eyes and tear stained cheeks. I looked deeply at myself, tilting my head slightly. I couldn't stand to look at myself anymore. I flipped over to face

the window closest to my bed. I slowly drifted off to sleep trying to rid myself of the images of my grandfather on the couch.

***

My shoulder is shaken gently so I immediately know it is safe. I blink a few times to get the sleep out of my eyes. I felt like I'd been asleep for an hour maybe, but no it was 5 hours. My Nan looked at me with her sweet eyes and kind smile and told me dinner was ready, I forced my smile and slowly got up. I glanced at the mirror once again this miserable face looked right back and me. I couldn't believe that was me. I went to the bathroom to wash my face, had to turn on one of those flickering lights and I usually refuse to enter the bathroom unless the lights are on properly but I forgot walked in and was startled to see a figure moving. What an idiot. It was me in the dark. I had just frightened myself. I headed out to dinner and grabbed little food, even though I skipped lunch I was not hungry. I played with my peas as my Nan and Dad discussed something said in the newspaper. I shoved the food in my mouth of the hopes it would stay down. My grandfather just flashed through my mind, they were childhood memories that was slashed through the images like blood was splattered on them. I clenched my eyes shut and prayed the images would disappear. As I opened them my Dad was making me head to bed. I knew I wasn't the only one having these flashes. Dad had pained eyes from crying so much, my Nan had tried to cover up the tear stains with make-up and my sister barely said anything when she's always a chatter box. I could tell I was being taken to bed but my eyes were shut. I could feel myself on the bed and that's the last thing I remember.

***

I wake in a cold sweat breathing heavily. I sit upright and my first instinct was to check to see if Melissa was in her bed. The sheets moved so I knew she was okay. I quietly got up dodging all the known creeks in the floor. Gave one more glance to Melissa and then left. I slowly made my way down the hallway and pass my dad's room. It's closed but I can hear his loud snores. I chuckle to myself quietly and move forward to my Nan's room. I can hear sniffles so I know she's okay. I can see the lounge room being lit up. I slowly approach it as I do I can see its the moon shining in. As I enter the words that were there before illuminate, the bleach Nan used to get it off has left it glowing under the moonlight. The flashes of Pops body flashes in my mind. I fall to the ground covering my eyes and ears with my hands. I didn't even notice I was screaming till I felt hands on my shoulders. I looked up to see everyone looking down at me. I don't remember anything after that. I must've passed out.

I wake up in my bed, the sun is shining through my window. I have such a headache from screaming last night. I try to sit up but my head feels to heavy. I can't keep doing this. Why would someone kill my pop? Why did I have to see him? Tears start falling down my cheeks, the loss of my pop setting again. After about 20 minutes of lying in my bed, I slowly got up and looked at the double mirrored wardrobe. Written across them in my Nan's lipstick was the words;

Lucky you screamed Bitch.