Her Role

Secrets

I was searching for maybe the hundred time through my dads bookshelf trying to find something, anything that would give me a clue to what happened to him. When I spotted a book higher up on the shelf. Cramming my head I could barely make out the title but it seemed different to me nonetheless. It was almost shining in the light. Grabbing a stool I pushed myself up until I was eye level to the book. "Natural medicine in the world" the title said. Hum I thought that might be of some use I don't know why I have never spotted that book before. Deciding to look throw it I grabbed it and tugged trying to get it off the shelf. Only for it to lift up and the rest of the bookcase to open up revealing a secret passage. I fell back surprised hitting my head on the floor. Getting up a little dazed I walked towards the passage. As I walked lights turned on illuminating everything around me. I turned back around  and watched as the bookcase closed containing me in there, I could only go forwards. As I walked farther and farther I noticed a bright light ahead, picking up speed I was soon right near it. At first my vision failed me but as my eyes adjusted I could see more and more. I was in what looked like some sort of office/lab. There was a desk pushed to the side and in the middle of the room a table with parts all over it. Walking up to the desk I noticed papers strewed all over the place but what grabbed my attention the most was the big machine sitting on the table. It was flat but huge. I couldn't tell what it was until I picked up the plans. In huge font at the top of the page said "Time Traveling Device." I fell back in shock. My father was trying to build something to let him time travel. What? but that's impossible! My mind thought. But the proof right in front of me said otherwise. Picking up the machine. I looked at the instructions my dad had written out. Curious I started to read and soon found myself following them. Adding a part here and there screwing in nuts and bolts until I got to the last page. With the last adjustment it was done. Placing it down, I looked down at drawing my fingers around it. I admired my work for a few minutes. I knew my father had built most of it but I still felt proud I had helped. Turning away from the machine. I walked back in the direction I had come from. When I got to the wall were the bookshelf was on the other side, my hand traced over it until it landed on a part of the brick that felt different, applying a little pressure the brick moved in and the wall opened up. I stepped back inside my dad's office space and behind me the wall closed making it look like nothing had been there at all, but I knew better. I had found a place my dad had kept secret from us and I was going to learn all I could about this strange new room. But for now I left only looking slightly behind me at the bookshelf as I made my way to my bedroom. In the hallway I was stopped by my mom.
"There you are" she exclaimed "I was looking for you earlier but couldn't find you."
"I'm sorry" I replied "I went to the park."
"Well don't run off without telling me next time. You had me worried sick."
"I won't."
I was annoyed with myself to say the least, since my father had left, my mom had been a lot more fragile, one of her biggest fears was I was going to leave her like my dad had and that's what it must have felt like today. Scooping her up in my arms I added, "Don't worry mom I will always be here for you." A few tears flew down her cheeks and she smiled at me embracing me too.
The next few days were spent with me avoiding my fathers library at all cost. I felt a pull in that direction and was nervous to find out what that meant, until the day I could no longer ignore it.
I was tossing and turning unable to sleep. To soon morning arrived and I truggingly got out of bed. I slinked downstairs and was met with my mom eating breakfast. "Hi honey" she exclaimed.
"Hi" I grumbled back grabbing my breakfast.
"What the matter"
"I'm exhausted"
"Didn't sleep well"
"Yeah"
"Well you have nothing going on today. I was called into work so I'll be gone, but honey if you're tired you can go take a nap. I'll be home at about lunch time."
With that she gave me a kiss on the cheek and started to grab her stuff. I said goodbye as she left the driveway and slugged into my bed falling instantly asleep.