Drowning

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟝: 𝕀 𝕗𝕖𝕝𝕥 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕙𝕠𝕞𝕖

James. 

His piercing brown eyes, glaring at us. What did we get ourselves into?

"You coming, James?" Jackson asked,  he was in the doorway to the basement. 

"Yeah, I just forgot to get my water." 

Jackson walks down to the basement. His footsteps loud and after every step, the stairs creaked. Giving me chills. 

James waited until everyone was to the basement before he grabbed my forearm. 

"Go upstairs now. No questions, no coming downstairs. Go to bed now before the boys realize you guys were down here."

"What-", Harper was about to ask before James grabbed her arm as well and pushed us towards to the stairs.

"Go now."

We just stared at him, confused. Scared.

"What the hell is going o-"

The sound of heavy footsteps coming up from the basement stopped me from continuing my sentence. 

"Go!", James rushed up. He was angry. We ran upstairs, making sure we made no noise.

"Sorry, I got caught up. I am coming down right now." James said from downstairs.

We ran back to my room. 

"Who was that? Why were they talking about us? I thought no one was supposed to be home? Why were they here? Why were they dressed like that?"

I kept going on and on till I realized that Harper wasn't even listening to me.

"Harper. What just happened?"

"I-I have no clue. That has never happened before and I've never seen them before."

I grunted. We both fell onto my bed. 

"I suddenly not hungry anymore," Harper said. 

I let out a little laugh. 

"Well, today has been interesting."

"And, it's only your first night."

We look at each other. We both laughed. 

"Oh god." We stared at the ceiling for a while. The boys made their way to their rooms. They whispered to each other and closed their doors. 

"I have an idea. But, you have to trust me."

Before I could answer, she got up and walked to the window. She opened the window that was facing a tree. 

"Get up."

"What are you doing, Harper? It's late." I got up and went to her. She started to climb out the window onto the tree.

"What the hell? Harper, you are going to get yourself killed."

"Hush, I've done this plenty of times."

She climbs up the tree and walked onto the roof.

"Are you coming or not?"

You have to be kidding me. 

"If I die, tell mom that I love her."

She laughed. I climb onto the tree and started to slowly climb up. I eventually got to the roof. I sat next to her.

"You are crazy." Harper was laying on the roof, facing the sky.

"Why are we even up here?"

"Just lay down and you'll see."

I laid down next to her. 

I was in awe.

The stars bright, spread out through the sky. The moon looked like it was out of a movie. Perfectly curved. 

"It's beautiful."

We sat there, in silence. Thinking about life. There was a light breeze. My arms were freezing, but the night was too perfect to go back inside.

"I always wondered if I was going to see you again." Harper's voice was delicate like a snowflake. Soft, gentle. 

"I was stuck here, no matter how many times I tried to get away."

"Tried to get away?", I asked.

"I ran away a few times. Usually after a fight. I tried to call you or mom. I constantly asked- begged our brothers and dad to allow me to see you guys. They always said that I was better off without you. I acted out. Just to spite them, to prove that I needed you two in my life. It didn't do any good. I didn't give up. I used to go up to the attic and find boxes that had pictures and little things from when we were young. Dad used to yell at me when he caught me going through the stuff. Leaving mom and you behind really screwed him up. He couldn't settle down. That's why he is never home."

There was a pause. As if she was trying to hold back her tears.

"I was so happy when mom called dad. Asking you to stay here. He announced it the night before he was leaving for yet another work trip. The boys weren't as excited as I was. I got your room ready and I made sure that everything was ready for you. I am happy that you are here. I need you. I couldn't be stuck here while my twin was so far away."

I guess it's my turn to talk.

"Before I left, I wasn't exactly thrilled to come. Actually, I begged mom to let me stay. Of course, she refused and said that moving with you guys would be better. I refused to believe that. But now, I am glad that I am back home. It would be better if mom and dad were here, but we can't get everything we want I guess. I missed you, Harper. I really did. The boys not so much. I have my reasons to not like them. They took you away from me. They left me with mom. They didn't even think about taking me with them. They didn't even say goodbye."

A tear fell from my eye. I barely realized that I was crying.

"I am glad that I am home." That was the last thing I said before I started to drift off.

913 Words

6/29/2020