Their life was flipped upside down at the age of 8, after the disappearance of their older brother. 10 years later Ari is still feeling the effects as they watches their parents marriage crumble around them. All they have left is their friends, pote...
I jolt awake, my breath catching in my throat, my heart a thundering presence in my chest. The remnants of the nightmare cling to me, lingering, a haunting echo of unbearable memories. I wince as the sun's rays catch my eyes through the cracks in my rickety blinds like delicate fingers painting shimmering patterns of light, invading the dimness of my room. I groan, relaxing my grip on the blanket, I surrender to the embrace of the pillows, allowing the warmth of the morning sun to caress my face, tempting me to steal a few more seconds of sleep. I grant myself a few more fleeting moments, letting my eyelids drift shut before pulling myself out of bed.
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I watch my milk splash over my cereal trying to ignore the silence that plagues my home, an unwanted echo of the life I once had. One filled with morning chatter of the day's coming events and sweet aromas of homemade breakfast is now reduced to the house's settling, an ache in the stillness. I attempt to submerge the silence beneath a tide of music as I prepare for school but nothing compares to the hustle and bustle of my family getting ready in the morning, such an ordinary experience I never knew I could miss so much.
A decade has passed since my brother's unsolved disappearance, which became the catalyst for our family's unravelling. For two years, my parents tirelessly searched for my brother, but the weight of countless sleepless nights eventually took its toll, causing their once-strong bond to crack and fray.
On the brink of divorce, they leave me home alone, their absences masked as "business trips," "couples counselling," or simply "taking a break." Regardless of the reason for their selfish attempts to escape our harsh reality, it didn't really bother me. The only thing worse than solitude is the struggle to feign normalcy when everything is far from okay. Speaking of, I should get ready for school. After a brisk shower, I tame my hair before I slip into a cozier outfit as the weather is growing colder by the day.
~For example, the vibes~
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Rounding the corner to my school, I stop and take a deep breath, struggling against the growing tightness in my chest. One last year,I fail to reassure my swelling apprehension, This isn't how I used to feel, but ever since the disappearance, my anxiety has grown and cast a shadow over my days. I steady my breath and push through the unease, determined, as I make my way towards my locker. When my eyes land on familiar wild apricot locks fiddling around in the locker next to mine, relief washes over me... Ollie.
