The Center of Gravity

Episode 3: Thief

» Day 55 «

    "Rowin, you're okay!" my mother cried as I ran out of the house to greet her.

    "Mom!" I yelled, throwing myself into her arms. I began to cry with all I had in me. I had been alone for so long that seeing her was just too good to be true.

    She smoothed back my hair from my face, placing a kiss on my forehead. It was springtime; the birds were singing, flowers getting ready to bloom. Life couldn't have been better.

    Tears soaked my cheeks as I relished in the beautiful moment. I couldn't fathom that she was there with me, holding me, loving me. I had needed her all this time and now she had come back to me.

    "Mom..," I mumbled, pulling back from our embrace to get a good look at her.

    Only, I fell off the bed.

    I yelped as I crashed to the floor in a heap of blankets. Sweat was beaded on my forehead as I laid there, staring at the ceiling.

    I almost had it. We were almost there, in a moment where I could hold her in my arms and never let her go again. Except, I knew when I had dreams. They felt too perfect to be real.

    A loud crash came from the kitchen and I shot up into a sitting position on the floor. Someone was here, an intruder. Who even knew where I was? How come I didn't--

    The boy.

    I sprang up, stumbled down the steps, and stood in the kitchen, horrified by the sight.

    "What in the world do you think you're doing?!" I yelled.

    He spun around like a kid who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Practically was. The only difference was a box of Ritz crackers.

    Crumbs were littered all over the countertop below him. His mouth was full as he slowly chewed the remaining crackers. He mumbled something, causing bits of food to fall out of his mouth. A large bowl was on the floor, turned on its side.

    "You... How--? Why--?" I stuttered, at a loss for words.

    He stared at me, utterly shocked that I had caught him. It was his second day at my house, and he decides to take liberty of food distribution.

    "Explain yourself," I demanded, walking around the island and snatching the box from him.

    "I was hungry," he replied, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

    "That's not good enough," I said, closing the box and resisting the temptation to dig in.

    "Why?! Why are you trying to kill yourself by starvation? It seems like the worst way to die," he elaborated.

    "Because if I don't eat breakfast today I'll be able to survive tomorrow!"

    I ran a hand through my hair in distress, putting the box back on its shelf. I glared at him, absolutely disgusted. He had to know that I had a system. I even let him eat more than I would've yesterday when I found him. What's wrong with him that he wouldn't think about these things?

    "I didn't mean to," he said under his breath.

    I grunted in response. There was nothing I could do to control him. He lived in my house.

    "I have a solution," I declared.

    "What's that?" he asked glumly.

    "How about we get you your own place?"