When we used to dream

✔03. "The storm looks like its just around the corner."

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S A R A H

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I looked down at my screen and noticed Dean's missed call notification. I bit back a sigh. 

"Going to school?" Dad's voice called out from behind me and I turned around to find him with his apron, a spatula in his hand, his face covered with flour and the last remnant of his sleep.

"Yeah. Is mom up?" I asked him, deciding to not comment on his lack of sleep knowing full well that he would wave the topic off, and he nodded. 

"Yeah, although she refused to eat." He said frowning and I smiled. "Give that to me." I said motioning to the plate of bread-butter behind him (wondering momentously just what he was doing with flour) and he gave it to me. 

I entered the room and saw mom staring blankly out of the window. "Mom?" She didn't react to my voice and I swallowed down my hurt. I crouched in front of her. "You didn't eat anything last night either. Have something." Mom's lifeless eyes met mine and I tried not to let the small glint she got in them after seeing me get to me. Knowing full well that it's not me she is looking at right now. 

She slowly raised her hands to my face. "Were Mason's eyes this light?" She asked to herself and I shook my head. "They were darker than mine." I told her pointing at my honey colored ones that were way lighter than his dark hazel brown ones. 

She nodded and then looked at the plate. "Mason liked bread-butter for breakfast." She said and I smiled. She raised her head back to look at me. "I miss him." Her voice cracked and I willed myself not to let any emotion slip from my eyes. "Mason will hate it if he finds out that you are not taking care of yourself." I told her and she took the plate from me. 

As I left the room, I found dad standing in front of me. I nodded at him. "She is eating right now." I told him and he sighed. We both knew that it wasn't my word that made her listen, but my face that was so similar to his except for the eyes. We both had same warm chocolate brown hair and angular face, just our eyes were different shades. That is why she listened better after looking at me. Everyday for the past year, Mason is all she saw whenever she looked at me. 

"You would be late." Dad told me and I waved him bye, not letting it bother me that he didn't even ask me for breakfast. 

It's fine. I consoled myself, and left the house.

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Our first class got cancelled in lieu of career counseling people visiting our school. We were all given a form that we were supposed to fill with our career choices and first, second and third preferences for colleges, and submit by the end of the term. 

I turned to look at Asher. "Have you thought about what you want to do?" Asher shook his head, still looking down at the form in his hands. "My parents want me to become a doctor like them, but I haven't really thought about it." He glanced up. "What about you?" 

I shrugged. "I am not sure either. I like studying, but I don't know what I am gonna do once I graduate." I looked at Kevin sitting beside Asher. "What about you? Football?" Kevin nodded. "I have been thinking that I want to pursue a career in the sport for a while now. I will talk to coach before I decide but I think I am almost certain that it's what I want to do."