Hidden In Plain Sight

Flip Flops

"It's weird. Pain and guilt always stay, but for some reason, people always leave." 

'I swear to god, Shaun Manning, I will kill you.' I threatened, waving a black and white flip flop at the small, grey haired boy.

Shaun looked at me, pity etched onto his features. 'Helena, this isn't healthy for you or your mother.'

I smacked him on the back of the head with the flip flop out of annoyance. 'It's fine, Shaun. We're clearing his room out this weekend anyway.'

Shaun gave me a pointed look. 'You mean you're clearing out his room.'

I sighed. 'My dad's working this weekend and there's no way my mom could help from down there.' I said, pointing down the stairs where my mother made her new home at the kitchen table. She had been less active lately and hadn't said anything to either of us when we burst through the front door like a pair of elephants.

'What kind of business trip?' Shaun asked, giving me that knowing look of his. 'He should be here to help you. At least for emotional support.'

I shook my head. 'It'd be tougher on him. He hasn't moved a piece of furniture in years.'

Shaun snickered. 'Yeah, sure. Just remember that you can call any of us if you need some help.'

I waved him off and stepped closer to the door across from mine. 'I know, I know.'

'Can I at least take a look of the inside? It's been a few years since I've gone in there.' Shaun whined, trying his best to imitate Amber's signature "puppy dog eyes".

I shrugged. 'Maybe later.'

Shaun raised an eyebrow. 'Have you been in there lately?'

I shrugged causing Shaun to frown. 'When was the last time you've been in his room?'

I shrugged. In all honesty, I don't remember when was the last time I had entered my brother's room. I bit my tongue. Shaun quickly realized what this had meant. He walked towards the door and tugged and turned on the handle. It didn't budge.

'It's locked.' Shaun declared, turning from the door to look at me. 'Did you know this or have you just ignored the room's existence?'

'I didn't know.' I whispered.

Shaun walked over to the door beside it and tried the same thing. It opened a crack. Shaun glanced at me one last time before entering the deserted room. Shaun coughed and gasped, dust entering his lungs. The only thing that occupied the room was dirt and empty space. Light seeped in from the small window that was positioned high on the far wall, right above a faded sheet of fabric, covering something I had no interest in. Shaun turned in a full circle, taking in the abandoned space.

'Is this...Cal's room?' Shaun asked, turning his head to look up at the large cracks forming on the ceiling. 'You've just left it like that?'

I nodded, immediately remembering what happened the last time I was here. I shoved my hands in my coat pockets. 'What was I supposed to do? No one was using the room anymore.'

Shaun furrowed his eyebrows. 'Yeah, but the room looks...' he hesitated. 'Dead.'

I hummed in agreement. 'That's what happens when people go away.'