CHAPTER FOURTEEN
My body rested in a field of flowers as the dark green grass tickled my bare feet. The sky was a beautiful blue, not a cloud to be seen. Just the bright, yellow sun warming my skin from above. My green eyes shined in the light of mid-day, and for once I felt settled, calm and relaxed. I could breathe smoothly. I wiggled my fingers in the dewed grass, taking in the sounds around me. Bird's chirping, a soft breeze. No one spoke, for I was alone in the field without a care in the world. I closed my eyes softly, quietly singing a song that seemed to harmonize with the bird's tune. There was a shift in the surround sounds. Nothing but silence encircled me. I didn't dare open my eyes at first but I did only to a voice I recognized.
"I've always loved when you sing." This voice said.
Suddenly on my feet, I stared at the man before me. It was him. That same evil glare, the same stone face I'd come to hate. The air grew cold and the sky turned dark at his words. I froze. As he walked closer I could feel a pain in my side which soon ached into an unbearable discomfort. A scream escaped my lips, but still he came closer. And closer...
The sound of my beeping alarm clock awoke me with a shock and I sat straight up in my bed, still haunted from his face. My breathing finally slowed after a few moments, coming to the realization that I was alone in my bedroom. The digit numbers displayed on the nightstand beside me read, 8:15. Time to get ready.
I skipped into the bathroom with a pair of black jeans and a sweater, hopped quickly into the shower and waited for the nightmare to stop repeating in my head.
I looked at myself in the mirror, covered in a towel. I'd forgotten to take the makeup off of my face from the day before, so mascara left black marks under my eyes. I rubbed vigorously to remove it and applied a few new strokes with some eyeliner. When that was finished, I brushed and styled my wet orange hair back into a French braid which took me a few minutes to do. Finally I dressed myself into the outfit I chose. Salty came rubbing up against my ankles as if she was asking me not to leave. I pat her head and reassured her that I'd be home in a few days.
Thanksgiving. I would be going back to New Hampshire for the weekend to visit my family and have a big feast. It was tradition to meet at my grandmothers house every year for the occasion of Thanksgiving. My heart was filled with joy, but my mind with a fear of going back to a place where such bad things had happened to me. Plus being surrounded by all the food. The calories. This would not be good for me.
Walking into the kitchen, I was greeted by my brother, dressed in a nice navy blue button up shirt that I loved on him. His black hair had been gelled back, and he was rolling up his sleeves. Our grandparents liked when we dressed fancy. Soon after, my mother and father walked down the stairs, their arms locked. My mother had curled her hair which was also black like Mark's, a jean jacket covering her shoulders. And lastly, my dad who had most the characteristics I did, wore a thick, green, long sleeved shirt.
"Everyone ready?" Mom asked.
Each of us responded with a muffled yes, and Mark headed for the door. His eyes widened as he opened it to Jack who was just about to knock. He must have come to say goodbye.
"Oh. Hello." He said awkwardly after a short pause.
"Hi, Jack!" My mother greeted him. She had become fond of him, but my father on the other hand, was cautious. "We're just leaving."
Jack smiled. "I just wanted to say bye." He glanced at me.
"Well, come on in!" She insisted. "We'll wait out in the car."
My father raised his eyebrows. "We will?"
"Yes, Jim. We will." She shuffled him and Mark out of the house, leaving Jack and I alone.
