Invisible

1

Keep running, the only thing I think of. I have to keep running. As fast as I can. I feel every muscle in my legs, which I didn't even know I had them. My feet hurt and my lungs burn when I breathe in and out. But I have to keep running. If I stop, I die. But I notice that my legs are getting tired. Each step becomes more difficult. Don't give up, I think. But my legs stop and I fall on the ground. Few seconds, then I have to start running again.

I start to hear heavy footsteps behind me.

I have to start running again, but I failed to stand up. I look behind me, too late. He's already there and he's approaching quickly. Running doesn't make sense anymore. When he's closer, I realize that I still can't see what it is exactly. And yet I am so afraid of it. I try to crawl away but then I feel a hand around my ankle. I'm dying, I know. I turn around so that I can see his face. But everything is black. I can't see anything anymore...

I wake awake. My sheets wet from sweating. It was only a nightmare, I realize. Fortunate.

I'm still lying down to catch my breath.

I hear myself breathing. Only my own breathing. Normally I would hear the cars riding in the street. They always drive too fast here. And my dad would be busy with I-don't-know-what. I would hear chatter and rumbling. But it is dead silent.

I throw the sheets of me and I sit down on the side of my bed. I put clothes on , jeans and a my favorite sweater.

I walk to my door and want to open it. But it doesn't work. No matter how hard I push, he won't open. "Pap ", I call. He probably took all of the boxes out of the guestroom again to find something he thinks he can use and placed it in front of my door. But I get no answer. "Pap, I'd love to be able to get out my room". I try to open the door once more.

He opens. Strange. Cold air comes in immediately and a scent that I'm not used to. It smells like nature and a kind of mustyness.

The door swings further open and if I had something in my hands, I would have dropped it for sure. I do not know what happened here.

It seems like I have landed in an abandoned house.

There are still small pieces of wallpaper hanging on the wall. The frame that hung on the wall is on the ground. Glass spread over the floor. A thick layer of dust everywhere. Parts of the floor and walls are missing.

I gently step further, dodging the holes in the floor. The other rooms are unrecognizable. Only because of the few furniture and frames lying on the floor, I am sure I am still in my own house. Dad's room is also comletly destroyed. I don't get it. Only my room was still okay, as if nothing happened. "Pap, where are you? Everything okay? ", I call. No answer. I am now in front of the stairs. There are several steps missing. Gently I put my one foot on the first step and push. Crack. The step falls down. Next try. How I got down is still a mystery. I think it took me half a day. Okay I'm exaggerating, but you get me.

But everything there was destroyed too. My father nowhere to confess. Surely he would never leave me. What happened here? I step further to the front of the house. A part of the wall is missing. I look outside. I hadn't paid attention yet but I also don't recognise anything anymore.