I sung along carelessly as my music echoed through my ears. This was the part of the day I always looked forward too.
As I walked past Mrs. Walton’s house I offered a small wave and smiled when she returned it. Mrs. Walton was our neighbour. She used to baby sit us when we were little, but never really acknowledged us after I turned 15. I’m not really sure why, but I think my mum has something to do with it. I mean who would want to be friends with an over-the-top, obsessive mother.
My string of thoughts were interrupted by a blaring series of beeps. I read my watch. 5:00 already! I needed to pick up the pace if I was going to make it to the dam and back before sunset. I had to get home before mum finished work. She wasn’t allowed to know that I go walking everyday. Mum is paranoid about the ‘outside world’. She has this whole theory that the world is going to end any day now. She drives me crazy sometimes but I still love her.
After running flat out for 10 minutes, I could faintly see the dam ahead. There was something about going here. I felt free. Free from everything my family had ever taught me.
I slumped my back against a near by tree as darkness started to close in. I sat there for what seemed like forever just admiring the beauty around me. How the water caught the remaining sunlight. How the trees swayed gently as the crisp breeze passed through. How the singing of the small birds rung around me. If this wasn't peace, I don't know what is.
Snapping out of my daze, I dusted my hands on my grey sweatpants. I pushed myself to a stand and broke into a jog. I was back before I knew it. As stumbled up the driveway to our small, plain, grey house, I was immediately tempted to take off and run away. My jaw dropped when I laid my eyes on my mothers green Volvo.
I hesitantly walked through the door knowing that I would soon have to face the wrath of my mother. Sitting on the kitchen counter my brother, Jeremy, had his nose in a book and his brown unkempt hair falling slightly over his face. The thump of the door closing caught his attention and soon his face lit up with a smirk. I knew I was in trouble.
“Leah, mum’s gonna kill you” he said with a devilish grin.
His grin only became wider when mum stormed through the door. The furious look on her face told me it was going to be a long night.
"LEAH MARIE DRAKE! WERE ON EARTH HAVE YOU BEEN! YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN HURT" I was bombareded with many questions from my mum.
I just hung my head low, the floor seemed to become so much more interesting when being yelled at. After a few minutes my mum had calmed down. The creases between her forehead were no longer evident and her eyes were
"Leah, you know i just dont want to see you get hurt, which is exactly why you are not alowed to leave the house" My mum said in a calmer tone.
"Yes mum" Is all i answered back. There was no use getting into a fight with her at the moment. It had happened before and it always ends the same. Me storming off crying and mum getting so angry, she could be mistaken for a bull.
"This world is going to end soon and we all need to keep safe" My mum directed this at both me and Jeremy who had had been thoroughly enjoying watching me shrivel under mums glare.
Jeremy was always looking for trouble, whether it was pulling pranks on me or sneaking out of the house while mum was asleep. But no matter how many times we fought or he annoyed me, we had an unbreakable bond. I guess that's kind of what happens when you are stuck with him 24/7 and he is your only friend.
My mum had kept us in the house pretty much since she heard about this nonsense prediction that the world would end. She became so obsessed with preparing everything, that she became oblivious to what she was missing around her. Our dad left 5 years ago, which was about a year after it started. Honestly I dont blame him. He invited us to come with him, but i couldnt do that to mum. She needed someone to keep her from being swallowed into insanity. I was here to keep her off the brink of madness. Jeremy stayed too, although he doesnt like to admit it under that tough rugid looking boy there is someone who genuinly cares about me with his life.
"Ok mum, I'm going to go to bed" I told her. I had lost my appetite and I dont think it will be returning anytime soon. I wadded up to the creaky wooden stairs and turned right into my bedroom. It was small, but i had always liked it like that. The walls had a pink tinge that filled the whole room with warmth.
I crashed into my single bed and i was enclosed in warmth.
Soon i drifted off to sleep
