Sudden Departure

Chapter Twenty-Three

Broken glass scattered across the dusty floors. A newly broken picture frame and an awkward middle-school picture of me crashed to the ground.

I shook my head and tried to snap out of my weary daze. The travel through the Gateway had been brutal. I had no idea where I was going, and my lack of focus spun me around chaotically like a top.

It turned out; I had ended up back in my old house.

I shuddered, remembering what had happened when I last came back here. A pain so strong it physically hurt.

"What was that?!" a familiar voice burst out.

I gasped and quickly washed a flood of invisibility over me.

My dad wandered cautiously into the room. His eyebrows were wrinkled with confusion and his body was set, ready to strike.

At first, I was shocked. The man that stood there didn't look like my dad at all. His blonde curls had grown out and were a tangled mess in top of his head. He had stubble gracing his chin and black circles underneath his eyes. He had also lost a lot of weight.

It's like somebody died, I thought. Then, I remembered. I did.

He huffed and crossed the room.

As he leaned down to pick up the picture he mumbled about "the stupid, old house."

Tears collected in his eyes and spilled over onto his cheeks. He shook the remnants of glass from the photo and pressed it against his chest.

After a few painful moments, he stood up and wiped his eyes. Then, he left the house again.

I leaned against the wall with crossed arms as I scanned the room. I could see my footprints, still barely outlined; meaning it hadn't been very long since I'd been here last.

 I shuddered at the memory. I clearly remembered the pain that struck me so hard. They left me behind.

The door opened again and my dad walked back in. He had a load of cleaning supplies piled in his arms. He set them down at the edge if the room and started sweeping the floors.

I smiled to myself and watched him. He always was the best dad, I thought.

I suddenly remembered one time when he took Stuart and me to the movies. We went to a ten a.m. showing of Transformers while my mom was at work.

"Dad? What are we having for breakfast?" I asked as we waited in line for snacks.

"What do you mean?"

"We haven't had breakfast, yet," Stuart concluded.