DIMENSIONS

Before

Emp•ti•ness. /ˈem(p)tēnəs/
(noun)

1. the state of containing nothing
2. the quality of having no value or purpose; futility.

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They say to first let your abilities consume you, the taker must be weakened by some sort of emotional trigger, mine was emptiness.

I don't remember when my gifts first came to me, I'd say I was probably born with them. What I do remember is the first time they made an appearance.

April 17th, 2002, I was four at the time. I was sitting on the stairs looking through the wooden banister as the smell of burning wood from the neglected fireplace helped wake me from my interrupted slumber. It was late, probably around midnight, I wasn't supposed to be there.

"She's our child I can't take care of her alone!" Even though the kitchen was farther down the hallway, I could clearly make out my fathers voice as he slowly went from talking to shouting, keeping his voice quiet enough so that I wouldn't be disrupted. They didn't know I was right around the corner.

"I'm so sorry David. I know we've always worked well together... in the past, but I really can't stay." That was my mother, the way her voice cracked informed me she was on the verge of tears. The thought alone made me feel disturbed. Why was my mommy so upset? I had never seen her cry before that day. She had always been calm and collected,  even in what seemed to my innocent mind as the worst incidents.

"What changed?" I immediately hugged myself as soon as he spoke. I didn't understand the weight of his words but his voice... I'd never heard my father speak with such an icy tone before. His speech was cold and distant, he was hurt. I was then greeted with silence.

"It's not you." I had to strain to hear her voice as she spoke in a whisper.

"Then what is it? Why are you doing this Jacks I don't understand." He was pleading now, the only comfort I felt came to me from the use of my mother's nickname. He couldn't be that upset, he loves her. They were supposed to live happily ever after. That's what the stories had told me, why wouldn't it come true?

"I'm sorry." She sniffled and I looked back. In the shadows the kitchen light casted I could see their embrace. A strange warmth enveloped me as I closed my eyes trying not to think of the dark feeling I had inside of me, and when I opened my eyes, I felt whole again. My mother was shaking as they pulled apart. "I have to go." She said in a rush before grabbing her jacket off the hook in the hallway. I could see them clearly now as he grabbed her hand with a sudden desperation. She softly took his hand carefully unwinding their fingers before kissing his palm. He stared at her as she walked down the hallway and I shot down the stairs before she reached the front door.

"Mommy?" I cried looking up at her. She shot a glance towards my father before kneeling down to my level.

"Sweetie, listen... mommy has to leave for a while." She said softly as she looked down on me, her face already wet with tears. The sight shot a terrible pain through my heart.

"When will you be back?" I asked her.

"I don't know" she lifted me up into a tight hug as I started to cry. She whispered soothing words into my ear as she rocked me back and forth. After a few minutes she put me down so I could wipe my face. My father walked over and grabbed my hand pulling me closer to him. She reached behind her neck and took off her rose gold locket draping around my neck. She looked at me with a sad smile. "I love you okay? Never forget that." And then with one last glance at the both of us, she was gone. I clutched the locket in my hand and the warm feeling was gone, only emptiness remained.

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Author's Note

So there's that, please vote and comment your opinions maybe? I'd be very grateful!! Love you guys

-Meagan