sunflowers

○ chapter two ○

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt

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   My keys jingled like a bell as I opened the front door to my empty house.

   Well, my almost empty house.

   "Theodore!" I cried out to the little cat that I heard half-running half-tumbling down the wooden steps that led to the second floor. He let out a squeaky meow as I picked him up and cuddled him close to me. I tugged the keys from the lock and closed the door behind me.

   "You've been home alone allll day, you must be terribly lonely." The plaster was smooth and cool to touch as I felt along the wall with one hand, book bag slung on my back, Theo in my other hand. I turned down a hallway and my fingers were soon hitting wood jutting slightly out from the wall; a door frame.

   I entered my bedroom happily, setting my book bag down beside my desk. I'm not sure what my bedroom looks like, my parents say that it's yellow though it could be black for all I know. Despite my not knowing, it's still my safe haven. I know exactly where everything is, I know how many walls there are, I know how many windows there are, I know that the floor is a rough wood that's cold to touch with bare feet in the morning. I never know where things are, but here I do.

   I sat myself and Theodore on my unmade bed. He explored the comforter and pillows while I removed my shoes and set them aside. By running my hands over the sheets, I can tell that Theodore was sleeping recently, he probably just woke up when I got home. Lazy cat.

   I went over to my desk in the corner of the room and turned on my made-for-blind-people computer. "Okay, let's see the damage," I said, reaching out for my school bag and dragging it towards me. Because I can't exactly write and read easily, I ask my teachers to email me the assignments that don't necessarily require sight and then I have my fancy computer read the emails out loud to me. Usually I have to study or read chapters blah blah. Thankfully, they have book on disc and braille options.

   After I found out what the homework was, I repeated the assignments aloud until I memorized them. "Calculous, literature, physics, history, French. Calculous, literature, physics, history, French. CalculousliteraturephysicshistoryFrenchokay!"

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   My music was loud while I studied for world history, sprawled out on my stomach with Theodore asleep on my back. My fingers were running across the page quickly, as quick as lightning, when the slam of the front door interrupted my mojo. The click click click of high heeled shoes told me that my mother was home.

   Click click click. "Eleanor?" she called as she walked slowly down the short hallway leading to my room. Her keys jingled like little bells. The clicking stopped in front of the doorway. "Ellie, honey, why are you on the floor? Did you fall? Are you alright?" She slowly made her way into my room and I looked in the direction that I thought she was in.

   I shrugged. "I'm alright, just didn't feel like finding my bed is all." At this point Theodore had awoken and jumped from my back. He was moving too quietly for me to know where he went.

   Mom sounded a bit surprised. "Oh. Okay. Well, as long as you're okay?"

   I nodded and smiled. "Yeah, I'm fine. No worries."

   "Okay, sweetie. I'm just going to be upstairs if you need me," she told me as she began walking away slowly.

   "Mmhm- Oh wait, mom? Do you know what time it is?" I looked up at her from my spot on the floor.

   She hesitated , probably checking her phone. "It's 8:40. Have you been on the floor since you got home, Ellie?"

   "No, I was at my desk until maybe an hour ago. Do you know where Dad is tonight?"

   "I think he's in Russia for the next two days. International flight that got in late last night. Then he's got a stop in New York City for a day, then he'll be home on Friday until Monday morning."

   "Tell him that I'll make a cake for his homecoming." Dad hates it when I bake because 1. I'm a blind girl in the kitchen and that worries him and 2. He then feels inclined to eat whatever I bake, which then fattens his belly.

   Mom gasped jokingly. "Eleanor Violet, you wouldn't?!"

   I smiled in a faux evil kind of way. "I've already decided that I'm going to. There's no changing my mind now. Sorry."

   Mom chuckled at me. "I love you, Eleanor." Her voice was laced with affection and I suddenly felt a kiss being placed on top of my head. She must've taken her shoes off because I didn't hear her walk over to me.

   "Love you too, Mom."

   "I've got an early shift in the morning so I should be home much earlier tomorrow. We could go to that flower shop you love so much after school if you'd like." Her voice came from near the doorway.

   I smiled. "Yeah, that would be fun. I can't remember the last time I was downtown. Plus, one can never have too many plants." I motioned towards the numerous plants and flowers that were placed throughout my bedroom.

   Mom laughed. "It's a date then. We can leave at 3:40."

   "Alright! Goodnight Mom."

   "Goodnight, sweetie." The door was closed with a light click and I returned to my studying.

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thank you so much for reading!