Hello everyone,
Looking forward to any help you can give in making this piece better.
Chapter 1
Darkness surrounded me; the floor creaked beneath my feet. I was here again. “Rommel, where are you?” her voice called, its sickening sweetness sending shivers through my body. A light flickered, giving me a glimpse of what surrounded me. But I couldn’t be here, I thought. I couldn’t be home. I felt the familiar clamp of her fingers around my throat, her nails burying themselves in the soft flesh of my neck. The light flickered, allowing me to see her face, adorned with the grin she always had when tearing into me. “Now why you running from me? Mommy only wants to give you a hug.” The light flickered again, revealing my sister’s frozen frame behind my mother’s hand. The fear painted on her face matched my own. “Let’s play together like a good family should.” I swung my arm out towards her face, connecting with…
Crash! The sound of my alarm clock careening into the wall of my room pulled me from my nightmare. I groaned at the loss of my now destroyed alarm clock, and that once again she haunted me.
I pulled off my covers, swinging my feet to the floor. The scent of my guardian’s bakes wafted through my door. Beep beep. The cleaning bot scurried out of its hiding place in the wardrobe, making light work of the remains of my clock. "Good morning brother!" Jenny yelled bursting into my room like a ray of sunlight. She tackled me back onto my bed, her unkempt hair brushing my face. "Good morning,” I replied, removing her from my body.
"I thought you'd be happier given what today is."
I sighed. "I still have to get through today. Maybe after that, I might celebrate."
"You worry too much. “She struck me on the chin. I cracked a thin smile.
"That's what I want to see. Now let's go eat special breakfast."
She scampered off the bed and through the door, her hand beckoning me to follow her. I complied.
I squinted at the first sign of sunlight, the bright hallway a stark contrast to my cavern of a bedroom. “Good morning,” Nakita chimed, sliding the plate of bacon to the centre of the table.
“Good morning.” I sat at the end of the table across from Graham. He was already halfway through his breakfast plate; his mouth too full for morning pleasantries. I assembled my plate in short order, trying my best to eat and leave before anyone mentioned anything about today’s significance.
“So,” Graham said. “Can you actually make it through today?” His tone made me groan.
“I guess we’ll find out this evening.” I stuffed the rest of my breakfast into my mouth before leaving the table.
“It’s the last day, just try to avoid any trouble,” Nakita shouted as I entered the bathroom.
I wanted to avoid all trouble. I thought. I didn’t want to go to school today. But they refused. They spouted something about not running away from your burdens; I lost track after Graham started talking about the good old days. He never missed a chance to remind us young folk of how different, and worse we were compared to his shining generation. I just wanted to get through the day. Leaving the summer to plan for how I’d survive another year. I showered and dressed quickly, piling into the family car before my sister could finish her hair. She plopped into the seat next to me, her afro swaying in the morning breeze.
Traffic was at its usual standstill, the highway pavers laying out the new lanes that would be finished by month end. Looking over the edge of my tablet, I noticed a familiar face standing at the side of the highway. “Graham!" I said. “Can we stop? I think that’s one of my students from my class by the broken down car."
He turned, looking at the curb to our left. It appeared that the car had some problem with its hovering ability as it rested lopsided in the layby. “Good morning,” Nakita chimed, rolling down her window, “Do you guys need some help?”
“Oh, we’re fine,” The middle-aged woman responded. “We’ve called for assistance.”
“Allison,” I whispered from the back. She turned, her shoulder length locks whipping across her face.
“Rommel?” She said.
“We can give your daughter a ride to school if you like,” Nakita spoke before I could respond.
“Sure,” Allison’s mother replied. “Call us when you get to school.”
Allison nodded, grabbing her bag and tablet from the back seat of the car. She raced to my side of the car, forcing me into the middle.
“Good Morning everyone,” She said smiling. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.” My guardians said in unison. “Rommel, why didn’t you tell me that you had a friend at school?”
I remained silent. I said nothing because they’d want them over. They’d want to speak to them every chance they got; to find out if I was fitting in. Another chain of responsibility around my neck. Being absolutely honest with myself, she was the closest thing to a friend that I had ever had.
“He’s probably embarrassed to speak about me right?” She jabbed my ribs with her elbow, a cheeky grin creeping across her face. I broke a thin smile.
My silence continued for the duration of the car ride, Nakita and Graham using this rare chance to mine any information they could from Allison. She handled herself well, giving them information which appeared insightful, but was worthless. We exited the car, my guardians mouthing the same warning they had for the entire school year: Stay out of trouble.
