All the Difference

"Fine"

    "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." Robert Frost

     I could read the big poster from across my bedroom. Every morning when I woke up I would read the poster.
     I sat up in my bed, the blankets all kicked off. "I had another dream," I thought. My bedroom had a luminous feeling as I noticed it was going to be another dreary day judging by the cloudiness outside. I was struck by a feeling of lethargy as I drug myself out of bed. Who am I kidding? My life is perfect.
     I made my way downstairs to see my ten year-old brother and eight year-old sister sitting at our kitchen table eating breakfast. They seemed energetic as always.
     "Rise and shine, Brantley!" my sister Riley said while pelting me with an orange. Her smile radiated through the room, almost enough to put me in a good mood.
     "Oh he's gonna be all mopey again, isn't he!" my brother Daniel whined. He was interrupted by my mother making her way into the kitchen, looking a bit overwhelmed.
     "Hey, what did I tell you? Now sit down and eat your breakfast. You don't have much time to get ready for school," my mom explained. Riley and Daniel stuffed their mouths with food and went off to get dressed in their rooms.
     "How'd you sleep last night?" my mother asked. She gave me a look that told me she knew the answer to that question already.
     Avoiding her gaze, I answered, "Fine."
     "Brantley, I thought we were trying to be honest with each other. Tell me the truth," she looked into my eyes like a pleading mom would.
     "Lately I've been having the dreams again," I started,"and each time it gets worse."
     "Honey, I think we should get you help," my mom said.
     "I don't think that will do any good," I said while taking the orange previously thrown at me and walking back to my room.
     I walked back to my gloomy room. It was the biggest bedroom in the house, besides my parents' room. The walls were painted light gray, and the carpeting was dark gray. The walls were covered in band posters, along with my other poster. There was one window, and it was right next to my bed. I had a computer desk and a wooden bookshelf on opposite walls. I also had a bedside table next to my bed.
     I slid my closet door open and grabbed my usual, a graphic tee and some jeans. I slid them on. I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and comb my hair. My hair looked to be messy today, so I just decided to grab my favorite classic black beanie to put over it. Besides, it was raining so my hair would just get messed up anyways. For a guy I was told I cared too much about my hair. I grabbed my phone and shoved it in my jean pocket and slid my black Vans on. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and made my way downstairs.
     "Why don't you grab a jacket?" my mother asked as I emerged from the staircase. "You'll catch a cold with that downpour out there."
     Grabbing the jacket, I made my way outside. Sure enough, there was a downpour. I walked down our road a while until I got to the bus stop. At approximately 7:04, the bus came, and I got on. I sat in my same seat, seat 12, put my headphones in, and drowned out the world until I got to school.
     I'm Brantley Hughes. I am 17 years-old, and this is my story.