The Oath

Chapter 2: How Everything Changed

Chapter 2: How Everything Changed

Korallynn:

                I was never quite sure of myself. I’ve never been beautiful or graceful or anything special, but I’ve accepted it. I’m a great musician though, so it definitely helps me get through everything- the good and the bad. I sing, but I mostly like to play. I can play violin, viola, bass, cello, piano, guitar, drums, flute, piccolo, pretty much anything. It’s like I was gifted, a musical prodigy or something. For me, it always just clicked. It’s the only thing though. I’m not a great student, I suck at sports, and I am no artist.

My mom was proud at first, but now she’s just used to the whole “Korallynn is awesome at music” act so it’s old news I guess. I’m 15 and the oldest of six kids- I know, it seems like a lot. I love it. I have two younger sisters- Prudence, 11; and Luci, 7. Then there’s my three brothers- Jude, 13; Benjamin, 9; and Brayden, 2. I love all of them a lot, but they take up a lot of my time since my mom is single- my dad died 2 years ago- and she works all of the time. She’s an emergency physician at the local hospital and she’s the head of her department. It takes up most of her time so Jude and I take care of the younger four kids and ourselves.

Since my dad died, my mom became a workaholic. In two years, she went from being one of the lower level physicians to being in charge of everyone. She loves it though and it helps her cope, so I can’t really complain.

Now, I spend my days taking care of everyone- especially Brayden- and writing music. Today, I was in the middle of writing my latest rock song, trying to work out the chord progressions in the bridge, when Luci skipped up begging me to walk her to the store so we can get some candy. The store was only 3 blocks away, but Jude had taken Pru and Bennie to their baseball and softball practices a mile away and Brayden was taking a nap. I really didn’t want to wake him up since these naps took so much work to achieve, so I compromised. “Luci, can’t Jude take you after he gets back from practice? You know Brayden is sleeping.”

“Yeah…about that…” Luci responded shuffling her feet and studying the ground like God had just appeared on our carpets.

“Luci...Honey, what did you do to the baby?” I question, standing and setting Luna, my guitar, in the stand. I started heading for the stairs that lead from my room in the basement to the main floor of the house.

“I swear, I didn’t do it on purpose. He was crying and I could hear you playing your guitar, so I just… picked him up… and then dropped him… on the floor.” As Luci finished, I hurriedly raced up the rest of the hallway to get to Brayden’s room at the end. The door was slightly ajar and I could now hear him whimpering as I push the door open and see him crying on the floor, his eyes glassy and his lips pouted.

I ran up to him asking if he was ok. As I scooped him into my arms, he cuddled his face into the crook of my neck and wound his chubby little sausage fingers into my thick hair. I felt him shake his head just as Luci said, “I’m sure that candy would fix everything.”

The smile on her face was just irresistible, and Brayden’s sudden nodding into my neck proved her right. I quickly slipped shoes onto Bray and put my own on as Luci tried to find her favorite flip-flops. When we were finally ready to go and heading to the door, the doorbell rang. I set Brayden on the floor, giving Luci a stern look that says ‘Don’t you dare pick him up’ as I reach for the door knob.

Standing on my porch is a tall, tan man with my same slate grey eyes. Just looking at him, I know that something is about to change, something major. Cautiously I say, “Hi… Can I help you?”

His grey eyes light up as he smiles, showing his perfect white teeth, and responds, “Yes, are you Korallynn Ryder?”

“Yeah…” I respond. I slowly start to close the door, subtly inching my way behind the door so I can slam it in his face if need be.

“Well then you can help me. I’m your father.” As he says this, I can feel about a million thoughts fly through my mind at once. Everything is jumbled and I stare at him with my mouth hanging wide open. The only thought that I can fully make sense of is ‘What the hell?!’    

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