Changing the World

Chapter Eleven: Living Conditions

It has been six months of living with my dad. I have been progressing at work far more faster than the ones that have been there for years. The manager has given me a promotion so I have been getting bigger paychecks. Each day I have been writing something, a story, an entry, a poem, I have even tried writing a song. I have come to realized that the things I do are slowly changing the world. My world.

The next morning:
I slowly open my eyes as the soft blue light travels through the window and fills my room with a calm feeling. The air had a crisp touch, a little too cold from what I'm use to. I shiver and curl up in my blanket more.

It's too cold...and it feels early. I wanna sleep again, I don't have work today anyway.

I shut my eyes, the warmth of my body underneath the blanket gives a sense of peace and serenity. The comfort surrounds me as a slowness enters, I begin to rest.

Ab..solutely...bliss...ful.

My alarm goes off.

GAH-! WHY DID I SET AN ALARM?!

I quickly try to shut off my alarm but end up falling out of bed, getting twisted in my blanket and falling on my face.

Perfect. Just perfect.

I lay there for a few seconds in pain, then the frigid air reaches my exposed body, uncovered from the blanket, I shiver as I am soon covered in goosebumps. I crawl out from my blanket, being released from it's grasp on my body feels better. I slowly stand and yawn.

Mmmh~
Well, I needed to shower anyway.

I fix my bed and head to the closet, the wooden floorboards creak and groan as I step over them. I open the closet door and pick out a nice outfit, one that looks cute yet fits the lazy mood.

It's my day off. Might as well spend it here at home. Relaxing and comfortable.

I gently place my clothes on my neatly set bed. Then I grab my special towel with ducks on them, face the bathroom door and head inside. When the door opens, I feel the room is a lot more cold than my own, the tile floors feel as if ice cubes were underneath my feet. I set my towel on the rack and slide open the shower curtains. I reach for the knob to turn on the water, and with a slight twist, the below freezing water shoots out from the showerhead. I quickly turn the other knob to make the water warm, it takes about thirty seconds. Every so often, I stick my hand into the water to feel the temperature until it's just right. Finally, I step in.

Ahh~
So warm, so comfortable. Blissful once more. It makes me feel sleepy.

The water splashes against my thin frame. Running down my body, from my neck, to my chest, over my stomach and down my legs. It feels as if a blanket were covering me, the steam from the water makes the air warm. After a few minutes of enjoying the feeling, I finally decide to take my shower properly. Lathering my body and hair in soap multiple times to make sure I am squeaky clean.

It's funny, before I didn't want to shower because of the cold but once I get in and feel the warm water, I just don't wanna leave. Heh~

Ten minutes go by of wash, rinse repeat, followed by enjoying the warm water. Then I finally decide it's time to get out.

Turning off the water and watching the last drops fall into the drain, then stepping out of the shower to a warm atmosphere. I grab my towel and begin drying off my body, then I head into my room, forgetting how cold it was. My body tenses up and I am filled with chills.

Eeep! I wasn't ready for this sudden change!

I run to my clothes and quickly dress myself to combat the cold, which works. I then spend the next half hour doing my hair, making sure it looks both beautiful and cute. I go back into the bathroom to brush my teeth and when I enter again, the sweet aroma of strawberries enters and delights my nose.

Ah, such a wonderful smell~!

I finally head out of my room, walking downstairs to find my brother in the living room, watching television and my father sitting at the table, a cup of coffee in hand and the newspaper in the other. I make myself a bowl of cereal and sit next to my father, "Morning Dad, whatcha reading?" He smiles, "Mornin sweetheart, it's just an article about a new car. Supposedly the best in the world, but I doubt it. Most likely all talk and no proof." I lean in to read and he looks at me with a confused yet happy smile. "Since when did you get so interested in reading a newspaper?" I laugh nervously, "Well, you know, if they say it's the best car, there has to be a reason, right?" He nods, "That is true...say, I know we have been living together for a while but have you ever considered living like an adult? Such as moving out to your own home?"

WHAAAT?! THIS IS SO SUDDEN! No, wait, act natural, be calm...

"Eh?" I tilt my head slightly. "I mean, it might have been a thought before but I never actually put it into consideration. B-besides, what about Jason?" My father waves a hand, "Never mind about him, I have my own plans for Jason. I am talking about you right now." I sit back in my seat, "Alright dad. Well, if you want me to, I can start looking for a place." He reassures me, "Doesn't have to be right away, just future thought is all." I nod and finish eating my cereal.

Well, that was scary. I thought he didn't want me around anymore. I felt like I might have done something wrong...

I then head back into my room, sit at my desk and begin writing an entry to mark a memory.

I mean, this might even be a good thing for me. I think I should at least give it a shot.