Unlocking Wonderland

Step Into Reality

I sat on the sofa and staring at the fire that Nick started for us.

We had been here for three weeks already, I would often sit in front of the fire that warms the whole house as I reminisced the days my dad would start fire at our house upstairs.

To top it off, I was worried that Nick hasn’t been home or even called his family.

I wanted to talk to him about it, but it was like he has some sort of psychic power that he’ll easily change the topic even before I start talking.

He’d find every reason just not to talk about it. He even went as far as going to fake grocery in the pantry that had surprised me on how my dad stocked it without me noticing.

Maybe he did it during all those time that I was secretly spending with Nick.

“Hey…” I hear him whisper behind me.

I smiled and looked over my shoulder. “Hey…”

“What are you thinking about this time?” he asked.

“It’s nothing…” I said as I rested my head on the sofa again, staring at the picture of me and dad that I have been carrying around since I woke up.

“You miss him?” he asked, sitting beside me.

“Very much…” I said in a whisper.

He sighed and sat beside me, I folded my legs and wrapped an arm around it and leaned on his side, while he stretched his arm on the back of the sofa, right under my head, making me rest on his shoulder.

“I never told you how I found out about this place.” I said.

“No you haven’t.” he says.

A small smile crept into my lips, “It was after you left, about a week after we started to meet at the fence.” I said. “He told me earlier that I needed to have my x-ray later that day. I hated that, you know when I needed to hold my breath for a long time and hold still. It was just annoying really, but I did it anyway, to amuse my dad and just get it over with.” I paused. “That day I ran into his office and I saw him sticking the key into one of the books and it popped open, revealing the metal door and all. But he just wanted to check on it, he opened the door, looked inside and then closed it again.” I sighed, “I never asked about it, I thought it was just one of his top secret works, you know? I guess never really knew my dad as much as I thought.”

“Well, at least you found out of the truth now.” he says shrugging, “Or at least some of it.”

I gave a weak nod, “I’ve never lost anyone before…” I whispered, “not like this.”

“I know…” he whispered, his hand was touching my knee, his thumb drawing circles.

“Don’t you miss your dad?” I asked, he sighed. “Nick?”

“You want to-“

“Nick, stop it.” I sat up and turned to him.

“Stop what?”

“You’ve been avoiding talking about going home for two weeks. We’ve gone to grocery far more than I have ever gone to the grocery with my dad.” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. He frowned and looked away. “Don’t you miss them? Your little sister?”

“I do…” he whispered.

“We’ve been here for almost a month Nick, they’re probably worried-“

“Trust me, they’re not.”

“And why is that?”

“Just trust me, Keyana, please.” He says, a little louder than I expected.