My demons (book 1)

Where it all started

The sharp sound of the alarm clock rang through the house, successfully interrupting Aisha's dream. She struggled to ignore the annoying ringing but gave up after a couple of moments, groaning in irritation as she tried to reach out to turn the alarm off. 

When she couldn't reach it from her current position she rolled over, but evidently rolled too far as her back hit the hardwood floor with a sound thud that only served to annoy her further. Finally, she managed to press the damn turn off button and the house was wrapped in silence once again. 

She had a glance through the window, scanning the street for anything out of the boring normality she experienced every day. She was hit with a wave of disappointed upon realising it was going to be yet another boring day. It felt like she had had it on repeat for years. School, work, home. Always the same routine. She hated that town. Nothing ever happened there.

She let out another exasperated sigh before making her way to the bathroom, struggling to make herself look at least presentable for the world. Not that it mattered anyway, with no actual friends she was used to blending in, remaining nearly invisible to most of her classmates. She figured no one would bat an eye if she walked into class wearing her pyjamas. 

Still, she put some jeans on, picked out a shirt to go with it and did her makeup. After she was satisfied she dragged herself downstairs, barely registering the movements. The downstairs area was empty which indicated her father had already left for work. She was quite grateful for that, they hadn't been on the best terms ever since...ever since mom left. 

She swallowed the emotions before they could consume her, shaking her head as if that could erase the ever present ache. After spilling the milk everywhere, she resorted to eating raw cereal. She was munching on it slowly when she finally glanced at the clock. She cursed under her breath before finishing up her food and bolting out the door. She was late already and had missed the bus as a result. She was already a few houses down before she remembered she had forgotten her school bag. With a shrug, she continued walking. Good thing she at least remembered to lock the front door. It wasn't like anyone would actually bother breaking into their house, but her father would still throw a fit if he returned home and found the doors unlocked.

As she made her way down the street, she saw her co-worker, Caleb, driving in her direction. 

He was handsome, to say the least, with his deep blue eyes and a goofy smile that could so easily transform into a smirk if he was trying to me charming. Shame she could only view him as a friend, more like a brother than anything else. He was the only one who could bring her out of her shell, make her smile despite the emptiness she had felt most of the time. He was the only one who stayed by her side after her mom left, the only one who would rather sit in silence for hours than stop being friends with her because of her pain. 

Logically, she knew he had more than friendly feelings for her but decided to ignore that fact on daily bases. She couldn't lose him. He stopped by her side and honked, snapping her out of her thoughts. She stopped and glanced up at him, seeing he had already rolled down the window. 

"Your clock malfunctioning again?" he teased and she rolled her eyes at him. 

"Want to play the hero today?" she smiled her half-smile up at him and it was enough to make his eyes sparkle. Smiling was rare for her and even when she did smile, it was the half-smile. And it was always with Caleb. 

"Hop in," he exclaimed with a toothy grin and she was quick to take a seat beside him, buckling her seatbelt. He smiled before starting his car again, a smile never leaving his face. What a dork. He was so easy to love, even if just in a friendly way. It often made her wonder how could someone like that love her. Well, how anyone at all could love her. Her mother once told her the name she gave her stood for 'the one who is alive'. Aisha appreciated the irony. She lost herself in her thoughts as Caleb took her to her personal hell.