ELAPSED

ALREADY HOMESICK

        "Stop aggrandising the situation. She's just unconscious", he asserted. I was still in shock. I couldn't believe Jaden did that. I mean he's never even talked back to Aunt Hailey, and now he just kills her! Okay, I know I'm exaggerating, but Aunt Hailey is still just lying there on the floor.
        "We have to leave NOW Sterling! Grab the bags and wear your shoes. We're taking Aunt Hailey's truck. Come on!" I gaped at him wide eyed saying "Now? But we still need to buy the supplies, and I have to finish packing. Plus we still need lots of money Jaden. We can't just leave now." He stared at me in a bizarre way and said "I cant believe you're saying that after what just happened. Do you want to stay here till she gets back to consciousness?" Just thinking about Aunt Hailey made me shiver. "Okay, but give me a minute." I said, running to my bedroom door. Jaden stared at the dark room for one last time and locked the attic door.
        I lunged into my room and tried to grab all my necessary accoutrements. I would never be coming back to this house again. Just thinking about that felt eccentric. I've been in this house ever since the accident, which was only two years ago. But I've never left Arkansas. And now I don't even know where we're going to stay. "You done yet?" Groaned Jaden from outside the bedroom door. " Yup!" I said, grabbing our family photograph. I looked at my room, sighed and shut the door behind me. " Finally!" He said, while pushing me out the front door. I nervously grinned at him while I jumped into the rusty dark blue truck. "I can't believe we're finally going!" I said with a squeal. Jaden smiled at me and ruffled my hair. I smiled back, but was thinking about all the stuff we still had to buy. "We should stop by a supply store on the way." I said, making a list of all the material we needed. "Don't worry squirt. There are lots of stores that have trekking equipment on the way to Mount Elbert", he assured me. I was also worried about our budget, but I didn't say that out loud. I mean Jaden was working hard enough. I was the one doing nothing. I couldn't even provide a source of ancillary income. Jaden stared at me and noticed that I had a dejected look on my face, so I let the idea slip. I tried diverting myself and asked "So where to?" He grinned and said "Oklahoma". That wasn't far from our place in Arkansas. We were on the west most part, so Oklahoma was close by. "Oklahoma, here we come!" I said.
        There were thumps coming from the house, and we realised that we had to leave immediately. I took a look at the old withered house for one last time as we drove off. I kept glancing back until there was no sight of it anymore. I sat upright and looked out the window. The orange soil was reflecting the light pink sky. The thing I love most about Arkansas is its sunset. I would never be able to see that phenomenon in the same way anywhere else.
           I felt my left eye, but it was still puffy. Luckily, the nose bleed stopped, but my tummy still ached, and my shins hurt so much. The only person I could think of when I thought of pain, was Aunt Hailey. I wonder what she's doing right now. She wouldn't bother searching for us, but she would be pretty furious that we stole her truck. I couldn't even imagine her being related to mom. The old hag was her own sister, but she was nothing like mom. The bad part was that even we didn't know this until the accident. We never met her that often before, but when we did, she wasn't like this. She was obviously not the kind of aunt that smeared her niece and nephew with kisses, but she never seemed THIS bad.
       I thought about what mom and dad would think if they knew we were running away. There was one time where I was upset with mom, so I hid under the sink for two hours. She was so worried. Mom and dad even decided to call the cops. That's when I called the whole hide and seek game off. And the look on her face was priceless. I slightly smiled to myself while reminiscing. Man, I wish my parents were still alive.
         I rolled the windows down and let my long hair fly wildly around my shoulders, and took a sniff of the pleasant Arkansas breeze while letting loose a tear or two. I hugged my aching stomach and let sleep take care of everything else.