The Secrets We Carry

Chapter One | Through The Looking Glass

Adam

I reach over to shut off my alarm clock, 7am.
Throwing off my covers, I get up and head to the bathroom.

In the hall I can hear Olive downstairs starting breakfast, my sister has always been an early riser.
I'm more of a night owl; mornings really do suck.

Closing the bathroom door, I slowly start undressing careful in my movements to not jostle my ribs.
I suck in a sharp breath and squeeze my eyes closed as I raise my left arm.

Taking a moment before stepping into the shower and let the cool water bring me to life.

As it streams down my head and back I picture it removing all my scars and all my pain for a new day.
I place my hand on the wall in front of me and lean forward allowing it to cascade down my body, dreading having to use soap next knowing it will bring a fresh sting to my back.

Shutting off the water I grab a towel and dry myself off.
Using the towel I wipe some of the condensation from the mirror.
The reflection of the eyes I see look like they belong to someone much older. Someone that has seen and been through more in years than the youthful face they sit on.

"Hey, your breakfast is ready." Olive calls through the door, breaking me away from the mirror.

"Thanks Liv! I'll be down in 10."

I hear her walk back downstairs and I open the door to head back into my room, but not before making sure the hallway is clear.

As I shut the door in my room and walk towards the dresser I again catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.
This time it's not my eyes that bring in my focus but the body in the glass that has me staring.

Old coating of purple and blue cover my left ribs and hip, touching it I wince, but it's healing since there seems to be a minor amount of yellow coming through.

Thanks dad.

I finish getting dressed in jeans and black long sleeve shirt before I take a look around and head downstairs.

"Morning Adam, I made you a fruit smoothie with protein and your eggs are probably cold by now."

Smiling, Olive hands me my smoothie.

"Why are you always so awesome?" I teasingly grin at her as I dip my toast into my eggs.

"Just born that way!"

I can't help but laugh as she bats her eyelashes with huge exaggeration before walking out of the kitchen.

Olivia or Liv/ Olive as I call her, has always been a ray of sunshine, since the day my mom brought her home from the hospital 16 years ago.

I remember how anxious I was to meet her. My two year old body shook with excitement as I crawled up on the couch beside my mother to get a good look at my new baby sister.

She had the biggest green eyes I'd ever seen, like two emeralds glowing in the sun, as she quietly observed me.
I had reached out to touch her cheek feeling how soft it is as my mom slowly rocked her.

"She's bootifull." I had told my mom as I took Liv's little hand in mine.

"Yes, she is, she has your eyes." My mother was looking down at both of us. "You're going to be the best big brother."

I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face as I nodded my head excitedly, agreeing with my mother's statement.

"Want to hold her?" The question seemed like an impossible task.  She was so small and I didn't want to drop her.