Coming Home

Chapter Two | Miss and Missing

            The morning light was entering freely through the window at the corner of my room. My body was too heavy to be brought up to sit up. So I decided I lay in bed until the energy comes to me. It's too early to go to school anyway. I curl up in my bed, hugging my pillow. I look over my shoulder, the other side of my bed, untouched and made. Then I remember about yesterday.

                 The more I think about it, it's like he never left this room. His last words hung in the air. His voice, silently comforting me while I was lonely — like what he always did before he left. His scent was stuck on my old clothes, which I still keep in my closet or I often wear to bed. 

                   Even though they were washed away, and probably you couldn't smell it anymore, but I could feel it. It was once there, there's just a barrier that blocks you from everything. And the memories are still here in this room. I just didn't take the time to remember them; I just didn't take the time to remember the past, or maybe I just didn't want to.

                  I get up on my feet when my mother knocks on my door telling me to get ready. Before taking a shower, I ate breakfast. I brush my teeth quickly and change into a yellow shirt along with blue jeans. 

                    My room was the last, in a hallway. To my right, is Chris' room, and to my left is where the guest room is located — where Jace is staying in right now. I walk towards his room silently, making sure no one could hear. I press my ear to his door, as if eavesdropping but I hear nothing. He must be sleeping.

                I rush downstairs, and find Jace in our half-closed-kitchen, seated on a stool, speaking to Mom. His back is facing me and his hair is messy from behind. He's wearing a white v-neck top and black colored jeans. 

        "You could stay as long as you want, Jace. You're like family to us." said Mom.

             "Thank you, Mrs. Harper." Jace replies simply. My Mom spots me standing on the stairs behind them. She gestures me to come down, maintaining the smile on her face.

        "Ruby, is it fine if I get you from school later?" she asks as she moves towards me and grabs my wrists.

        "I think we're heading for an invitation after school." She checks her watch and lets go of her grasp.

                   "Mrs. Harper, I've gotta go." Jace says. He stands up from the stool and shoves one hand on his pocket. "I've got to get started, I have a lot of things to do."

                       My mother lets out a small bounce, like she's excited to watch an Opera show in town. "Oh yes, you go along. You must have got a lot of thing to do." She says, forgetting that I was the same room as her until she noticed me, again, standing beside her.

                    "Oh, and Ruby has school." She pats both our backs and tells us to go, and do whatever it is we need to need to attend to. My mother rushes off, but Jace and I stay on our exact spots. Unsure of our actions, and what to do. I check my watch, and I think the school bus is outside right now, waiting for me. Wait no, not think, I know that the school bus is outside right at this very moment, waiting for me. 

                      I'm not sure who decided to move towards the door first, but mine and Jace's shoulder bumped. My arm directly grips my shoulder. My senses are either working perfectly fine or it's just overly reacting because I could slightly feel pain on my shoulder. Why over reacting? Because when you bump into someone, you shouldn't be feeling, even a bit, of pain. But maybe because my body is sensitive in the morning. I shouldn't be surprised.