Shoe Laces

1. défi

[Flashback 10 months ago]

"TACKLE HUG!" Damon screamed tackling me to the ground.

"Damon!" I exclaimed, laughing so uncontrollably hard because he had successfully surprised me. He continued to hug me as I was crying with laughter. Once I calmed down I looked into his dark brown eyes and ruffled his short brown hair. He laughed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

We were in our tree house in the back yard. The thing was old but you couldn't truly tell. It's massive structure was built by my brother and I, along with our little brother's help. It was no surprise that it had stayed up so long. Damon was amazing at building things ever since he was younger. They said that he is destined for great things. My smile grew wider knowing that my older brother was awesome in every possible way. (Not that I'd ever admit to that or tell him. It's a sister thing).

Just then Jonathan walked into the room. He saw us there in the room as Damon was tackle hugging me. "EWW GUYS GET A ROOM!" He said. Damon chuckled and hugged my harder, kissing my cheek. "AHHHHH MY VIRGIN EYES" Jonathan screamed. Damon and I couldn't stop laughing as Jonathan playfully covered his eyes and feigned fright. I got up and tackled Jon as he was distracted. He began to screech "LOVE! Get off of m~AHHHH!" I cut him off by tickling him and he ended up falling to the ground, laughing and begging me to stop.

Fun fact: We Woods are all extremely ticklish...

"PLEASE AHAHAHAHA I CAN'T TAKE THIS! PLEASE I'LL DO ANYTHING! I-I-I'LL DO ANYTHING! JUST PLEASE! PLEASE STOP HAHA!" He shrieked while laughing really hard. His face started going red as he was unsuccessfully trying to get loose.

"SAY THE MAGIC WORDS JON!" I yelled continuing to tickle him. He looked at me his eyes went impossibly wider in his laughing fit. He suddenly smirked and was looking behind me. Confused I let my grip go loose as I go to look over my shoulder. Suddenly I hear Jonathan scream "NEVAH MUAHAHAHA!" and Damon screaming "I'VE GOT YOU NOW LOVE!" I, realizing what was happening, turned around just in time to see Damon tackling me to the ground once more. The boys both began a tickle war against me. We continued laughing and ganging up on each other for a good half an hour more before we all decided to truce and have a picnic in the tree. Damon and Jonathan both brought up snacks and glasses. We poured red grape sparkling water into wine glasses, pretending that it was fancy wine, toasting to a perfect life, and ate sandwiches pretenting they were grapes and fancy cheese. Afterwards we had all fallen asleep, wishing that the day's perfect magic would last forever.

[Flashback ended]

I was in the back yard now, 10 months later, Gazing at our tree house. It's magic now fading as it stood, slowly falling apart. It's once beautiful rosewood structure chipping and splitting, its mahogany roof had begun to cave in and its walls looked a depressed washed out brown, the once sturdy and elegant swing was now chipped and the rope looked as if it would snap at any second. I watched the tree that held this massive rotting structure. It was magnificent. But it held a certain sad and loneliness within the picture. As if I wasn't the only one who was missing Damon, but the very thing that we had built together was too. I can't fix the tree house all alone every time it breaks. Don't get me wrong, I've tried many many times but without Damon or even Jonathan here, I unfortunately can't do very much. Maybe that's what gives it that sad look. My brothers weren't here to fix the house and constantly keep it at it's finest. I bet Damon would have a heart attack if he saw this again. I laughed a laugh that was filled with an empty loneliness at that thought.

I then felt water land on my hands. Startled, I brought them to my face and realized they were shaking and that the water was coming from my eyes.

I was crying.

I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my head on them. I stayed there for what felt like hours before I went inside. Numb and tired from crying, I went up to my room and plopped onto my bed.

Finally letting sleep take over my exhausted mind and consume me whole.

I miss you Damon. It's so hard without you here. ~Love Angel Woods