Dysphoria or Ephoria

Chapter 4: Welcome Back, You Sorry Bastard

I’m not too sure if I spent a lot of money on a train ticket for nothing. I thought taking the train was supposed to be faster. Driving takes nine hours from Toronto to Quebec City. I’ve been on the train for the same nine hours and I’m only at Montreal. I don't get it... Whatever. At least all I basically have to do is sit here and stare out the window. I asked the train attendant how much longer it would be and she told me another three hours. I’ve been asleep and listening to music for several hours. And I’m running out of things to do. Suddenly a bright idea comes into my head. I pull out my journal and pen and start writing.

Everyone wants to be free

Like branches in the wind from trees.

So much holds us back

Why does life throw us all his crap

Is it so hard to spread your wings and fly

All because monsters will try to strap you down

But you mustn't let them make you cry

Because it is up you to make life your own

If it knocks you on your ass

Get back up and put up your fists

Fight tonight ‘cause your life depends on it

You will win. You will conquer all

(I made this poem. Please don’t steal it.)

Is weird that it took me the remaining three hours to write that? Anyway I was so focused on my poetry that the train attendant had to tell me to get out. So I got up and exited the train with my bags. Right when I get out, I’m tackled to the ground by a person with a bushel of curly dark brown hair. Being not too much on the tall side - five foot nine - I fall. Luckily my bags break my fall.

“AHHH! My dear boy!” the lady hugging me says. I know that shrill excited voice from anywhere. I hug the woman back as we roll around the ground.

“Aunt Annie,” I greet her back more calmly.

My aunt gets up, helping me up as well.

“I can’t believe you remember me!” she shrieks. It’s honestly easy to believe that this hyperactive thirty eight year old woman is the older sister to my equally as crazy mother. I don’t really see how I can be part of this energetic family when I’m such a calm and timid person.

“Of course I remember you, Annie. You’re my aunt. And it’s only been a few months that i haven’t seen you,” I say. My tone is much lower than Annie’s.

“What are you talking about? It’s been-” “Mom it’s only been a few months,” my cousin, Kody, interrupts her mother. “He and his mother was here during christmas holiday for a few days and then we just spoke to them during spring break too.” My aunt stays quiet as she tries to remember whether her daughter’s statements were true.

“Oh... you are right, Dakota,” my aunt says a little angrily. But her moods immediately picks back up when she yells, “Anyway, it felt like forever! I’ve missed you both so much!” She then randomly snaps her fingers at her daughter and says loudly, “ Dakota, take your cousin’s bags. Don’t be so rude.” Yeah... My aunt Annie can be pretty bossy at times. Dakota rolls her eyes and huffs at her mother, but does what she’s told. She holds out her hands for me put the straps of my bags in them. I put into her palms.

“Thanks,” I whisper to her and give her a small thankful smile. Kody adjusts the bags on her shoulders then shoves me playfully. I shove her back carefully enough to not knock her over, knowing that the weight of both bags combined basically weigh as much as her.

“Well, let’s go then,” Annie chirps. She turns around and starts walking to her car, which so happens to be a sleek black Infinity QX56.

“Happy late fifteenth birthday, Kody,” I murmur to my cousin as we approach the SUV. Her birthday was in April.

“Happy late sixteenth birthday to you, Luce,” Kody says back. Mine was just a few weeks ago in June.

We get into the car and drive off to their house. I wouldn’t really say that they are super wealthy, but they do have enough money to get a house that’s pretty far fetched based on my standards.

I get out of the car and eye my new home for... well, i can’t really say the next month since I’ll be at a sleepaway camp... Anyway, I always love coming to their house. It’s nice, big, fancy. When we enter the house, we walk into the grand hallway. A huge crystal chandelier hangs for the ceiling as a the centerpiece for the area. As Kody closes the door behind her, I hear the familiar clanking of nails against the wood floors as their pet chow chow, Beast, comes to greet us, running and barking. And yet again, I get knocked to the ground.

“Hey, beast,” I laugh as he licks my face.

“God damn it. Not again,” my aunt Annie mumbles annoyingly to herself. I understand why said that though. Whenever I come over, Beast greets me by jumping on me. And as nimble as I am, I fall. “Beast! Hey!” Annie calls out to their dog, clapping her hands to get his attention, “get off of him, you lil nasty.” Beast barks playfully, licks my face once more before getting off my chest to scurry off to another wing of the house.

I get up and smooth out my clothes with my hands.

“Oh dear, Lucifer. are you alright? I swear, that damn dog always does that to you. I don’t get it.” My aunt rushes to me and checks my body for any dings and nicks that her dog might’ve caused.

“I’m fine Annie. I’m used to it by now,” I reassure her.

“He should be,” Kody pipes in, “after having that dog for five years.” Kody places my bags down by my side.

“I’m just being cautious. You know how heavy that damn dog is. I wouldn’t be surprised if he weighed more than you,” Annie points out. I’m not too sure to who meant to say the last part. But it wouldn’t really matter considering that Kody and I weigh more or less the same. And no, Kody isn’t fat. I’m just skinny. “Anyway, you seem to be okay. Go say hello to the others. They are somewhere is this god damn castle,” Annie instructed me. She walks away, mumbling profanities to herself about how the house is too big.

I follow Kody around the house since she told me that she knew where everyone is. Their father is out, her sibling is still home. We go up the huge staircase to the second floor. The first door the let is her brother, Jean’s, room. Dakota doesn’t even knock, she just walks in. I just wish that she did knock because the first thing we both see, is Jean, sitting on his bed with pants around his ankles and his dick in his hand.

“Jean!” Kody screams at him. Just she screams, the white fluid launches right into his face. I wasn’t even doing that at thirteen years old.   

This will definitely be an interesting summer.