Blue Skies

One

- Sunday, October 14th -

Blue skies. So pretty and calm. So much freedom. If only I could reach high enough, but the gravity that keeps me down on this planet prevents me from doing so.

Music drifts from my iPod to the air around me. I try to have these moments every once and awhile. Laying in the grass, breathing deeply into what keeps me alive, and feeling connected to nature. It's what takes my mind off the troubles of reality.

"Paisley! Dinner!" Mom yells out from the kitchen window. Damn it. I sit up and stretch, trying so hard to not lay back down. I speak aloud, "Be there in a second!" Grabbing my iPod, I stand up and start walking to the back door that leads to my house.

The delicious smell of pasta flows throughout the kitchen, and pleasantly guides right into my nose. As I get to the dining room, I pause the music from my iPod and lay it aside. It's my night to setup the plates and silverware onto the table. My two little brothers, Kenny and Mason, zoom down the stairs and around the kitchen with their paper airplanes. Eventually, they run into me and lose their balance, making their creations crumble.

Mason lets out a cry, "Mom! Paisley destroyed my airplane!" He crosses his arms and sticks his tongue out at me. I return the action to mock him. "Mason, go wash up before you eat. Make sure Kenny does too!" Mom says from the kitchen. I give him a smirk that makes him frustrated. Kenny tugs on his shirt, "Let's go before she yells at us." The pair proceed to walk to the bathroom to wash their hands. It gives me time to finish setting up the table.

The boys eat their dinner as they talk about the shows they watch on TV. Mom looks at them with her soft, blue eyes. So much love and admiration. But under it, I can see her pain and worry. I look at the empty seat next to her. "When do you think Dad is coming home tonight?" She brings her attention to me, "I don't think he'll be here anytime soon, sweetie. You know his job is important to him."

"Mom, I'm finished." says Mason, who pats his stomach to exaggerate his fullness. I roll my eyes with a grin, "Good, now you can finally go to sleep." Kenny slows down with his food, knowing that if he ate any faster he would have to go to bed as well. Mom stands up, "Go ahead and put your plate in the sink, I'm going to rest for a little bit." She walks over to the boys to kiss them on the top of their heads, leaving them warm and loved. "I love you guys, don't stay up all night." With that, she yawns and walks over to the stairs to go to her room. I look over to her seat and notice that she left her food on the table. Not a single bite was taken from her plate.