Reflection
Chapter 1
The white puffs of cloud floated around me and held me up. All logic told me that they couldn’t, but they did. Each way I turned they stretched until it faded into the soft pink sky. It was peaceful, with no one in sight for miles. I closed my eyes and breathed in the pure air and the smell of the clouds which could only be described as a sweet buzzing sensation in the base of your brain. I felt the soft moisture from the clouds between my fingers. It was so soothing.
Then it changed. The smell became stagnant and the water in the clouds was falling. My eyes snapped open and the pale sky had turned a hideous grey. I was falling. The droplets of water from the clouds were coming as rain towards me and all around. My stomach had been left behind and I fell backwards faster and faster towards the ground. I could see the line of clouds above me where I had once been standing and I didn’t dare look down. My panic stricken body was frozen but my eyes scanned my surroundings frantically. All I could see was grey. The sky was a dull canvas for the strokes of white lightning that cracked in the distance.
The air was cold now. Not the soothing type it had been, but the type of cold that sent a shiver down your spine. I managed to turn my head to the left and I was faced with a thousand water droplets. They weren’t acting like the rest of them, they were equalling my quickening pace. I stared at them as my breathing quickened further. They were a beautiful blue, like the blue of the ocean when you’re underwater. It’s crazy but, it felt like they were, watching me. Almost like an eye.
Then, as if they could see the pleading on my face, they began forming together, first only a small puddle, then growing. It seemed as though all of the droplets were joining together to form a large wall of water beside me. It was like a wave that stretched upwards and curved on each end, giving a blatant contrast to the dark grey sky behind it. Then, like a skateboard sliding down a ramp, it slid under me, never losing its shape and creating a blanket of water beneath my back. I swallowed hard, and tried to control my breathing. I squeezed my eyes shut again, harder this time. My speed was too much to survive the impact with the ground. I was going die. But as the thoughts entered my head I was caught by the water. But it wasn’t like water, more like a safety net to absorb my impact.
I sat up and breathed out heavily. I’d been woken by the screeching alarm on my phone. I pressed the button to make it stop. 6.35. A message was on the screen
Reminder – moving today
I let out a long sigh as reality hit me once more. It was just a dream and Shane was moving in. Today. I slipped my feet out from under the covers and slid out of bed. The sunlight peeped through the edges of the curtains and warmed my face as I neatly folded back the covers of my bed. The cream bedspread was only a few shades lighter than the beige walls that surrounded it. The walls were lined with bookshelves that were overflowing, making it look almost like a library.
I took the running clothes out of the top draw of the wardrobe and put them on. I checked my phone again 6:45. I realised I had spent 10 minutes just staring at my room. I had 45 minutes to be back and showered in time for the rising of the rest of the family.
I popped my headphones in my ears, placed my phone in my pocket and carefully opened my door, hoping not to wake anyone. I tip-toed down the stairs and gripped the door handle, turning it slowly. Then there was a figure in the reflection of the glass panel of the door. I whipped around, wondering whether Alex was coming down to tell me off. But there was no one there; strange. I shook my head and ran out the door into the brisk morning air.
All of this change was doing my head in. It was only a week ago that Mum had told us that Shane was moving in. They had been dating for 3 years and he was finally moving in, and so quickly. I needed time to adjust, it would change everything and I liked the way everything was. I pumped my arms and legs faster at that thought. He was going to be here every day and every night. It didn’t matter though; it wasn’t like he was replacing anyone.
I rounded the corner of the block and sped to the front door. I opened it to see Mum and Alex eating at the table, together. I checked my phone: 7.20.
“What are you doing,” I asked, confused.
“We’re eating breakfast dear,” she replied politely.
I raised my eyebrows, “But it’s 7:20. Shouldn’t you be at work? And you,” I gestured at Alex “isn’t it a bit early to be out of hibernation?”
Alex grunted, I couldn’t figure out if it was in agreement or annoyance at my comment; maybe both. His usually perfect grey-blonde hair flopped over his hazel green eyes that were the same as mine.
“Be nice Hazel. I have taken the day off to help Shane move in,” she brimmed.
I internally rolled my eyes, it’s not that I didn’t like Shane it was just men in general. They had nothing on what women had to go through. They lived a careless life, moving from person to person until they got bored, not even caring about the consequences they make. Men are nothing but pigs and heartbreakers and we’re better off without them.
“Well shotgun shower,” Alex said, breaking the silence.
“No way,” I shouted racing up the stairs after him.
