We Don't Sleep

Lull

"Children smile and children cry. Children dream and children lie. Children wish to grow up soon, Children don't realize what they have to lose."

Children grow up and children speak, Children are copies of those they proceed. Children can never think for themselves, using the thoughts from those with which they dwell." 

Barreling through the streets Caraline sprinted towards the ocean. Sweat drenched her forehead and her hair clung to her neck. Her brother was chasing after her, his face red and his eyes bored. Calling out towards his sister.

"Caraline just stop, you're not allowed to go there. It's for your own good!" His long awkward legs carried him closer as he grabbed her arm pulling her back. They both wrestled to the ground and Caraline, being significantly younger, was easily subdued. Her breathing was ragged and her face contorted in frustration.

"Why! Why can't you let me go. It's a beach not a dumb volcano!" She hissed through clenched teeth. Oliver tired from chasing her replied dully,

"A beach and volcano are the same. It's just the appearance that is fooling. Both are just unknown death traps. Just shut up and listen to mom and dad. They only wanna keep you safe." Caraline looked at her brother with even more malice.

"You're a dirt eaten fool! If it's unknown than i'm gonna be the one to know it! You all are scaredy cats! I wanna see the ocean crash along the shore! I wanna see the outside towns! I'm tired of this damn town and its stupid people and stupid streets and stupid boring goddamn rules!" her voice dripping with acid as her brothers face flushed redder than she had ever seen.

Enraged her brother yelled, "Don't you go saying words like Damn and this town is your home. It is perfectly fine. You got a nice family with food on the table and friends who deal with your childish ideas! You should be happy!".

Caraline's lips pressed into a line so thin her lips started to turn white. Her short temper getting the best of her as she fired back.

"THAT'S EXACTLY WHY. THIS TOWN IS JUST NICE AND FINE AND I SHOULD BE HAPPY I GOT FOOD BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT'S IT. ALL THIS TOWN IS. A BORING SAFE LITTLE BUBBLE. I don't want to be fine. I want to be happy, and that's something i will never have here." By this point tears pooled in her deep coal colored eyes, but she willed them not to fall.. Her brother, speechless, quietly picked her up and dragged her back home where her parents detached gaze looked at their daughter. "We only want you to be safe," the mother whispered just loud enough for Caraline to hear. Miserably Caraline replied, "ya safe, just safe." This time a single rebellious tear did fall.

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The light slipping through the cracks in her curtains danced across her face as she stirred in her comfy position under the covers. "School" was all she thought when she realized she could not fall back into her blissful slumber.

She didn't want to go. There was no reason to. She had no friends but she did not care, she was happy with knowing that one day she will leave. And after last night she planned on it being soon.

"Soon i won't have to wake up for school, soon i'll get to do what i want and not what others wish of me." Her mind repeated as she slowly got up and dressed in a t-shirt and overalls. Rolling up the too-long pants legs, she laced up her sneakers and walked towards the kitchen where her mother was busily making pancakes on the stove.

"Caraline sweetie you're running late! Go now you don't have time for breakfast!" The mother scolded her daughter. Caraline reluctantly grabbed a slice of toast from the plate her mother had made and walked to the door. There was no motivation to go to school so she didn't rush despite her mother's overbearing gaze.