Originality
By Barbara Takara Gillette
It was ten o'clock when I pulled into the driveway to a dark house. Either no one was home or every one was asleep, though it doesn't seem like any one is home. I always hated coming home to a dark house; something about the dark really petrified me. Turning the headlights off, I put the car in park and got out the car. It didn't help living in the middle of no where with an old Victorian house that no one lived in for twenty years right next door for a neighbor. I ran to the door fumbling for the house key.
As soon as I got in the door, it slammed behind me making me give out a small shriek. I turned on every light in the house so I could see behind every corner. Talk about paranoia. I got a glass of water from the kitchen before I went to bed. A loud crack of thunder shook the empty house. It caught me off guard and I tripped into the living room. I saw a note on the coffee table. I grabbed it and noticed the hand writing. It was from my cousin Meadow.
Bells,
Alessandria & I are going out tonight; I don't know when we'll be home tomorrow so I just wanted to let ya know.
Love, Meadow
I crumpled the paper and through it away. Another boom shook the house and I ran up stairs like a little kid. Flipping the switch I pulled off my shirt and pushed off my pants. A pair of purple velvet pants and a black tank top will suite for my pajamas. I pulled down the covers on my bed and turned on the table side light. Turning off the main light and turning on the TV I glanced out my window to find the lights on in the vacant house. This strikes me kind of odd because they weren't on when I got home. Grabbing the phone I peered closer at the house and saw a tall person standing at the window staring back at me. I flew behind the wall and dialed 911. The operator answered with an irritated tone.
"Ashburnham Police Department what's the emergency?"
"This is Isabella Edwards at 859 Sand Beach Drive some one broke into the house next door."
"Are you sure they broke into the house?"
"Yes they did, it's been vacant for years and the lights were off when I got home and now their on and tall man is staring out the window."
"Ma'am, it doesn't sound like some one actually broke into the house."
"Are you calling me a liar? No, Some one has broken into the house! You don't understand." I burst into tears with emotion. I know some one has broken in, it's been for sale but no one has come to see it…
"We'll send out a cruiser to drive by and check on you and the house, what is the exact address of the house next to you?"
"Thank you, its 857 Sand Beach Drive."
"Thank You." She hung up. What type of service was that? It was absolutely ridiculous, who tells me that it's not a break in when they don't even know where I live? I was so scared and nervous. I didn't dare look back out the window petrified to see if he was still staring. Twenty-three years old and scared of the dark and being alone. I paced my room back and forth until the police came. Seconds ticked by on the wall clock, this seemed like hours of course. This exact moment felt like one of those lame horror movies. I finally sat and just cried. That's all I felt like I could do. I picked up the phone and tried to dial Meadows number but it rang. I waited for the caller I.D. to come up but it only came up as Unknown. My hands trembling I pressed the talk button and answered.
"Hello?" My voice weaker then ever.
"Bells? Hey girl just calling to make sure you got my note."
"Oh, thank god its you! Yes I got your note, some one broke into the house next door. I looked out the window and they were staring back at me. I called the police and reported that someone broke into the vacant house next door." I burst into tears.
"Oh no honey they didn't break in! They started moving in just after dark. I should've told you. Apparently they just bought the house suddenly, why their moving in after dark" there was a pause and then she started again. "I have no idea but your okay, I spoke with the owner he's an older man with two young sons about our age."
"I feel so stupid, it doesn't matter who they are because one of them were staring at me!"
"Bells, stop worrying. You'll be okay. You're probably safer with them there. Alessandra and I will be home in the morning. We're in Boston and we're going to get a motel because of the drive is to long. So girly relax we love you and you'll be fine. No more calling the police."
"Yes, Meadow. Jeese you're like the mother I never had. I love you too, have fun."
"Bye!"
"Bye."
I hung up the phone and turned off the light and crawled into bed. I had to just lay there for about an hour and half before I fell asleep. When it comes to falling asleep I enjoy the monotonous ticking of my clock. My mind drifted into a state of ridiculous thoughts and fantasy.
There's always something about the place your mind goes when you're half asleep but still some what conscious. It's so peaceful and makes no sense at all but for some reason you don't even realize it until you're up and running for the day. At that time though you succumb to every desire or persuasion you come across and I wish life was like that in the conscious world.
It's almost as if it was a dream, but one that was so real that I desperately wanted to believe it was real. I was in a village, a modern one, filled with white Christmas lights, lining all the porches and roofs of the rustic houses. I was sitting in what seemed like a courtyard with the houses backs protecting it. Marking the center was a beautiful water fountain; a mermaid sitting on a wave was blowing a kiss. Instead of a kiss being blown, water delicately flowed from her mouth and down her curvaceous body and tail. My eyes followed the water flow all the way down to where it pooled. Copper shimmered all around the mermaid as if it was her reward for being so beautiful. A sudden fear over came my body.
My mother, I needed to find my mother. I didn't know where she was or where she went. To keep me from panicking I stared at the mermaid grasping a cross she had given me the last time I saw her. I prayed that I would find her again. I saw a door, well actually there were a few doors but this one had a sign above it. It was a lobster and the door had a circle window in it. I was too short to see through the window but when I opened the door my dad stood in front of another door.
"Dad, where's Mom? I can't find her." I could tell I was a little girl because as I grew up I looked my dad in the eye.
"She's sick honey. She is in the bathroom, we'll leave soon." His voice echoed eerily through out the small room. Sick, this was more of a memory then a dream after all. My mother was pregnant, but a miscarriage was in her near future.
"I want to see her, it's been so long" I begged
"No. She's sick, she can't see you."
"I don't care if she is sick. I miss her. I love her still."
"You made that choice."
"Please…"
"No!"
Tears stained my face. I walked back out side and sat by the mermaid and just cried. Something in the sky caught my eye. A shooting star, I made my wish, one that I cannot say. Then it won't come true. When I looked back down a tall man stood in front of me.
Green eyes stunned me to the point of no movement. Jet black hair fell in his face. He reached out and caressed my face and whispered something I could not understand. His other thumb wiped tears off my face and everything faded slowly into darkness where thoughts never dared to enter.
* * * * * * * * * *
I was unpleasantly awoken by a loud boom. When I managed to open my eyes a flash lit up my room. It illuminated a silhouette standing by my window. I frantically searched for the switch on my lamp. By the time I found it the silhouette was gone. I was on the verge of tears. Definitely not the bravest girl you'll ever meet. I looked over at the clock on the wall it read 3:48 a.m. I still had eight hours before Meadow and Alessandra came home. What was I going to do?
I sat up and reached under my bed for my journal. Writing always helped me calm down. I also got up and turned on my stereo and put on my favorite C.D, a German band, not exactly pleasant but enough to keep me occupied. I peaked out my window and now all the lights were on in the house next door. I'm not fond of three men living next door, especially when there are three women living here. My cousin is beautiful but she's also a lesbian so she has nothing to worry about. I on the other hand I was cursed with dark red hair and awkward green eyes. Thin isn't exactly what people call me either, I'm not necessarily fat but I'm no size 2. Actually try five sizes bigger. I was blessed with a big butt and hips and a little waist.
Guys we're always something I've had a hard time with. They either are obsessed or avoid me like the plague. It's actually kind of annoying because I just want some one normal for once or well ever. Meadow and Alessandra have each other and the only man that's even come close to being some one I could have a future with died. Luck also isn't my forte.
Tomorrow is Saturday the 19th of June. Rose and I are supposed to go swimming tomorrow. In my journal I have everything from songs, poems, short stories and of course my plan old problems. This thing is my life and I couldn't live with out it. As I sat there in my bed I began to write about the neighbors next door and how the police never even came to check in on me or them. It had been about a half hour later when the power went out. My heart jumped when my C.D. suddenly shut off. I grabbed the phone and locked my door why I don't know because all the other doors we're locked. I put my journal on the floor next to my bed and tried to go back to sleep. Lightening kept filling my room every minute or so but the thunder has passed on. A low rumble once in a while but it's definitely moved on. I stared at my window that was covered by my blind, wondering what our "new neighbors" we're still doing up. Those thoughts drifted into nothingness as my eyes grew heavier and heavier.
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