Change

Chapter Eight

                I don’t think I’ve ever been more certain of anything in my life. Really, the fact that I face now is something that I’m so sure of that I’m now unsure of everything else I’ve ever thought.

                This is the softest bed I’ve ever slept in.

                I know it might sound like a strange thing to be thinking about at 3 in the morning, but now, as I lie here, staring at the ceiling, it’s the only thing on my mind. The blankets seem to be made of clouds, as if Jeremiah somehow got some from the sky and made them into a blanket. The pillows are the perfect balance between firm and soft, and the room is the perfect temperature, which I’m guessing must be quite the feat in Antarctica.

                The clock now ways 3:14, but I can’t seem to fall asleep. Even the best bed in the world isn’t helping the fact that I’m away from home, and my family. I never told them where I was going when I chased after that person that morning in my pajamas, but even if they freaked out and called the police, I doubt that they would look in Antarctica. I’ve officially given up on seeing my family again. On seeing my mom’s smile, or my dad’s stubble when he forgets to shave, or Polly’s messy blonde hair when she puts it into a bun and it starts to fall out.

                Now, I’ve never been really close to my family, but Tasha is the complete opposite. Her family means the world to her, so I can only imagine how she feels right now.

                I guess I won’t have to imagine for much longer, because I soon hear a light knock on my door, followed by Tasha’s familiar figure tip-toeing over to the bed.

                “Can’t sleep?” I ask her.

                She nods and crawls into the bed. She doesn’t have to say anything. I can see the hurt and loneliness in her eyes. I give her a hug and we sit there for a while, Tasha quietly sobbing in my arms, before Jeremiah pokes his head into the room, a concerned look dancing on his features.

                “Are you two alright?” He questions, his voice lined with worry and nervousness.

                “Just homesick” I reply, pointing to Tasha with my eyes.

                He nods and opens the door a little wider, silently asking to come into the room, and when I nod, he walks in and stands about a metre away from the bed. Tasha’s stopped crying by now, and she and I sit beside each other on the bed. No one says anything for a while, but Tasha just has to break the silence, not being as comfortable with it as I am, so she asks a question.

                “Hey, weren’t the other people that live here supposed to come today at dinner?”

                “The sensor turned out to be a bigger problem than they originally thought, so they’re spending the night there. But don’t worry; we have shelters at all the sensors, just in case something like this happens. They’ll be here by lunch today.” Jeremiah responds.