Chasing a Broken Butterfly

Chapter 5:

I pull up to the driveway and sit in my car for a few minutes. I'm trying to contemplate Nathan's facial expression when Mikey called my attention. What did it mean? Why would he feel sorry for me? He barely knows me. All I really hope is that I didn't screw this up. This whole opportunity to embrace the change as Mikey put it. we really do need the change in our lives...

With a sigh, I climb out of the car and head up the stone steps leading to the front door. After locking the door behind me, I take my black toms off and leave them by the door before heading towards the back to let my dog in. She's a pretty little thing, really. With her dark, grey hair and black spots, she almost looks like a darker version of Scooby Doo. Except she's not a Great Dane...she's a Catahoula Leopard. When I relay that information to people who ask, they think I'm making up a name and look sorry for me. Sometimes I wish I could yell at them that I'm hard of hearing, not stupid. As if that would make things better...

I guess I really do have some pent up feelings about my hearing impairment. Enough to take it out on random strangers who attribute my apparent stupidity in making up a name to a kind of learning disability. But thankfully I haven't lashed out on anyone...yet.

I fill Lacey's bowl with fresh water and check that she still has food in the other. Her ears stick up and she appears to be concentrating on any sounds worth noting. I guess it seems to be clear because then she heads towards her bowl.

"Good girl, Lacey" I coo. Not only is she my dog, but she's also been trained to be my ears for the times I'm alone in the house...like tonight.

I sit down at the kitchen table to watch her eat and scan my phone for any messages. There's nothing.

Why would there be anyway?

Lacey stops eating midway suddenly and jerks her ear towards the back door. She is staring intently and her whole body goes rigid. I feel my heartbeat rise a bit, but it usually always does in circumstances like these. I hate when people can hear things I cant. But most of all animals. They hear things that even the average person can't pick up. To me that's scary. The unknown is always frightening.

I stand up and walk over towards the living room window. I pull back the white curtains just enough so I can peer into the backyard. I don't see anything out of the ordinary. The two large oak trees in the back make the shadows that much darker and harder to see through. Suddenly the backyard lights turn on. I gasp and wait to see if I can sense any movements within the shadows. The lights only turn on when movement is detected. The porch is empty however, except for the patio furnishings that seem untouched. I then see a squirrel dart right in front of my eyes and disappear into the black darkness where the oak trees stand. I realize I'm holding my breath and breathe out. Well, that's a relief.

"It's okay Lacey girl, it's only a squirrel" I say calmly. More to reassure myself than to calm my dog. I turn to look at her and realize that she's abandoned her food bowl. Maybe she just isn't all that hungry...

Instead she has decided to plant herself right at the foot of the stairs as if to signal to me that it's time for bed.

I go to turn off the kitchen lights, make sure the doors and windows are locked and pad up to my room upstairs with Lacey trailing right behind me. Her bed is situated in my room for my sake. I change into flannel pajamas as Lacey settles herself down. I close my bedroom door and sit myself at my desk to complete some of the 'introduce yourself' homework assignments that were given today. I swear the teachers treat us like we are five years old...does anyone really want to know my favorite color or my favorite childhood memory?

"Nobody gives a damn..." I mutter.

After completing the last sheet of homework, I lay down in bed. Before I know it, I feel my eyes flutter and sleep starts calling my name. I start dreaming about the boy with enchanting green eyes and mesmerizing smile. I'm so deep into analyzing his person that I don't realize that the backyard light turns on again and that Lacey has moved right in front of my door in a guarded position, a low growl coming from her. I drift off to sleep in a happier world...unaware of reality.