Electric Love

Chapter 3

I walk past the deformed tree and think back to Nathan again. I don't know what is wrong with me! We have barely spoken and I can't stop thinking about him! I am determined to get my mind off him. I think of my little sister, Anna. She is seven years younger than me, which makes her 8. She is positive. The girl is always laughing at something, usually me. We have to be careful not to touch each other, but I let her know I love her every day.

My father died when I was 9 years old. He was working in a factory that melted plastic for recycling. One of the machines backfired and he had to run to the second building to inform the workers. He tripped on the way and his face hit the ground. He was Grounded instantly and passed out. The workers found him in five minutes and took him into the hospital but his body wasn't producing the necessary electrons. He died in four days.

Anna was too young to remember him, but sometimes she asks me to tell her a story about him and I tell her all about the times he would read my favorite bedtime stories. He would act out the motions and do the voices of Winnie-the-Pooh and Eeyore. His interpretations would keep me laughing almost all night long.

I suddenly hear a small crash and a bloodcurdling scream.

"Reese!!"

I run as fast as I can, thoughts of my sister bombarding my mind. What if she was Grounded? I run faster, in danger of Grounding myself if I trip. My foot stumbles over a rock and I grab onto a tree. I am falling fast and a sharp place on the tree rips my protective glove. Screaming, I sling the hand with the split glove behind my back. I land on one hand, risking a broken wrist. I stand up and run a finger over the tear. If the ground had touched my skin, I would have been Grounded. I have never been so close to being Grounded without being Grounded before.

"Reese!" I hear the scream again, this time much closer. I jump back and close my left hand into a fist in order to close the tear if I fall again. I resume running. In about a minute I burst into the clearing and see Anna on her back on the ground. Her head isn't touching the ground but she is just laying there. As I get closer I realize she's hysterically crying. I run to her and lean over her.

"What's wrong! What happened, Anna?"

"I was-oh-I was climbing-" she stutters. "The tree, and I-I fell! I th-thought I was gonna be Grounded!" At this she sobs louder and reaches for me. I decide it's worth the risk to comfort her and let her grab my hand. Our palms touch through the rip in my gloves and all my strength dissipates. My head lols back and forth as I struggle to stay conscious, a battle Anna is winning. Positives usually are stronger than negatives in Grounding issues. My father was negative, that is part of the reason why he died. Anna is staring wide eyed at me.

"Are you alright, Reese?"

"I'm-fine," I say through clenched teeth. Anna lets go of my hand and dries her tears. She stands and pulls me up. I lean heavily on her and she stumbles, almost falling. She puts her arm around my back and helps me into the house. My mother is at the sink washing dishes. She turns at our entry.

"Oh my God! What happened?!" She shouts and runs to me, helping me into a chair at the table.

"Reese let me touch her!" Anna says.

I draw in a shaky breath. "There was a hole in my glove and she grabbed my hand," I state. "I'm alright."

"Why are you soaking wet?" my mother questions.

"I went for a little-" I take another breath,"-swim."

She rolls her eyes."You need to take it easy for the rest of the day, honey," my mother says with a smile before she turns to Anna. "What about you, sweetheart, do you feel okay?"

"I feel like I need a nap, mommy," she says.

I chuckle with my mom. "I feel like I need a dirt nap." I state.

Anna smiles with one corner of her mouth as she moves to her bedroom. I get up slowly and make my way to my bedroom, located directly across the hall from Anna's.