Chapter 131


    Getting out of the shower, I wrap a towel around my dripping body. My hair sticks to my back as I grab


    the clothes I set to the side to change into. A hot shower after a long day is always refreshing. At first, it


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    was weird using a different shower, but I quickly let it go and decided to keep an open mind.


    I dry off and slip on my clean clothes before taking the towel and drying my hair to the best of my


    abilities. It stillys damp on my shoulders but I know that is as dry as it will get. Surprisingly I found my


    clothes unpacked already as if some invisible fairy did it all magically while I was gone.


    When I finish up in the bathroom I open the door but immediately close it when I notice Eric in the


    bedroom. Thankfully he doesn''t notice as I peek through the thin crack of space left. Suddenly he takes


    off his shirt and I look away, closing the doorpletely. My lips run dry and I sit on the edge of the


    bathtub. Looking down at my arms I see at the shallow cuts and scrapes, needing to wrap them up


    again. I didn''t want him to see them.


    "Isabe?" I hear him call and I quickly open the door, revealing his now clothed chest.


    "Sorry, I''m done," I slip past him with my arms crossed but he manages to stop me. Carefully he lifts up


    my wounded arm and looks at it. "It doesn''t hurt too bad anymore, I just have to..."


    "Jesus Isabe, how did you manage to do this?" He peers down at me.


    "Well, my arms were wrapped around the trunk because the branch I was on cracked, so I just kept


    slipping down," I exin.


    He sighs and runs his hand through his dark hair. "Please, no more tree climbing."


    "If it will help you sleep at night then okay, no more tree climbing."


    After telling him that I''m going downstairs to get food, I head into the kitchen alone. Turning on the light,


    I see it''s already dark outside.


    I stare at the fridge, the cabs, and drawers with hesitation, not knowing what to do. Should I just


    open whatever up and see if there''s food inside? Obviously there will be in the fridge, so I peek in there


    first. Overall I see a lot of food, which is good. I swallow and look at the kitchen entrance to make sure


    Eric is not watching me look like a fool, though I''m sure he is in the shower.


    First I grab the orange juice then shut the fridge to find a ss. One by one, I peek into the cab until


    I find one full of ssware. I grab a cup and carefully ce it on the counter. Using other peoples


    things brings me a lot of stress. What if I drop it? What if I spill it? What if it shatters on the floor?


    After pouring the ss I put the orange juice back into the fridge and take a sip. Remembering where


    Caroline found the first aid kit, I go to the bathroom and look under the counter. Thankfully it is there so


    I take it back to the kitchen.


    I simply take the tube of Neosporin and gently ce a bit on therger cuts before grabbing the


    wrapping. Slowly I wrap it around my arm after holding the end in ce with my chin. I do the same on


    the other arm and hand before closing up the kit and bringing it back to the bathroom. Hopefully by


    morning most of the little ones will be gone.


    Looking up into the mirror, my face falls. I look very tired, but I guess that''s what happens when you are


    tired.


    Back in the kitchen, I grab an apple and lean against the counter, looking for time to think. I wonder


    how Kendra is doing— I wonder if she can sleep. The sounds of her sobs still invade my mind.


    The moonlight casts an eerie glow in the kitchen, as I shut off the lights to stare up at the moon.


    Sometimes when I''m upset I stare up at the moon and think about what space is like, the vast


    nothingness. The thoughts distract me from my tiny problems. I gaze up at the moon now, yet I am not


    upset, I am lonely. I shouldn''t be, Eric is right upstairs. Maybe I am missing the feeling of being


    surrounded by people I know? I like to think that we are no longerplete strangers, yet I feel alone.


    Biting into the apple again, I look down.


    "Sitting in the dark?"


    I nce behind me to see him standing there. "Something like that," I say.


    Hees closer. "Is there a reason why?"


    "The moonlight," I motion up at the full, bright moon hanging in the sky, "it makes everything beautiful."


    He looks at me. "It does."


    I shy away and turn from the windows, facing the other way. "Where should I sleep? I feel like I haven''t


    slept in forever and it''s beginning to drive me a bit insane."


    "Wherever you want," he turns also.


    "So if I want to sleep outside like a dog I can?"


    "Wherever you want, in moderation."


    I smile and look away. "Your father, does he live with your mom?"


    "Yes."


    "How long have they been together?" I ask, curious. In the picture, they look so happy, so in love.


    He sighs. "Maybe twenty-five years. Why are you so interested in them?"


    "Not so much them, as I am you. I just want to know about your family."


    "Okay, tell me about your family. I met your sister and mother, what about your father?" He asks and


    my shoulders fall.


    "He died a while ago, I was younger and I''ve epted it now. But I want to meet your father."


    He nods slowly. "Tomorrow, we can go over." I smile as he watches me closely. "I wish I could see life


    through your eyes. You only seem to see the good in things."


    I gaze up at the sky— the vast expanse of darkness that engulfs and swallows up the forest. A canopy


    of stars clutter the space, some shining brightly while others stay dull. The forest always looks different


    at night, as if the trees are reced with ominous versions of themselves to scare children away. "If I


    don''t, then I know I''ll begin to hate life. I can''t let myself be depressed and miserable. As long as I


    see the good in life, I''ll feel good in life." I exin. "People have to stop wasting time trying to change


    everything, and just ept the world for how it is."


    My gaze stays fixed on the moon as Eric looks up at it too. "Every word that leaves your lips... Nothing


    has made more sense to me."


    Looking at him, our eyes connect and my heart slowly begins to beat harder and harder. His hand falls


    gently against my cheek and my lungs rise, filling to the brim with crisp air. The warmth from his touch


    seeps into my skin and the entire sensation rxes my being. Gently, he brushes the stray, damp hairs


    from my face. We both gaze deeper into each other''s eyes; not a word spoken by either of us. I am


    losing myself in the hypnotic trance of his stare, then he leans down, his lips press softly against my


    forehead. Before he lets gopletely he whispers against my skin, "it''s gettingte, you should get


    some sleep."


    My toes curl and my fingers scrunch up into fists. Why must he do this to me? How does he do this to


    me?


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