Olivia Stone

Chapter One: Alone

I sit in the dark staring at the bright full moon hoping she is staring at it too. I began to quake at the thought of her. I sat in despair and hoped someone would walk in and tell me everything will be okay. I wanted someone to give me a hug and ask me if I am okay. I sat and wanted someone to make some kind of acknowledgement to me. I kept waiting and wishing for something, but nothing happened. As the sun rose, I stood up and walked through the hallway listening for any noise around me. I walked as quiet as a mouse hoping Annie was still asleep. The rest of the children were sound asleep and would be for another good hour. The kitchen was vacant except for Martin. He was laying near the furnace purring like a race cars motor. I walked towards him hoping he would be a good conversationalist. Before I could even sit down he ran away praying he would avoid our chat session. I opened up the fridge hoping my ham and cheese sandwich hadn't been discarded yet. It had managed to stay in the same place for over a week. I snatched it up and walked into the living room.

Two years ago my mom boarded a flight from California to England. At the time I was just eight years old and was at summer camp in England. She was on her way to pick me up when it happened. Her plane had a malfunction and crashed on her way out to see me. I got the news a few days after the crash and was sent to Minnesota to mourn with my relatives. I never had met them before that day but they were the only people who would take me in. I stayed there for a month before any major decisions were made. I hoped that I could return to California soon because Minnesota weather was dreadful. I tried not to think about my mom but it was hard not to because every conversation included her. After a whole month of below freezing weather a decision was made. I was going to be sent to a foster home within a week. I was to pack my bags within 48 hours and leave on the next flight out from Minnesota. I was headed to Chicago. My relatives heard of a women who fostered children who had lost a loved one. They thought it would be better for me but that was their excuse for sending me away. I had no choice but to listen to them.

As I sat devouring my sandwich I watched Martin clean himself in the corner. He took his time and didn't mind me watching. I went to the trash can and threw away my napkin. I walked back to my bedroom and tried not to wake up Joanna. She came a few months after me and has shared my room ever since. I sat waiting for her eyelids to open so we could go downstairs. The boys hadn't woken yet but they would any minute. I grabbed my book from off the floor and started to read. Reading always made me feel better but today wasn't the same. Every minute felt like an hour and I couldn't seem to let another minute pass. As I sat in silence Annie walked in. She sat on the edge of my bed and started to whisper. Ever since the day I came here she has always been so kind to me, but ever since he died she lost her spirit and never got it back. She tells me stories of the day that she walked down the aisle with him, and when he lost his passport on their honeymoon, and other stories, and when she talks about those memories she gets a twinkle in her eye and starts to be herself again but then she realizes that he is gone and that he isn't coming back.

I sat up and looked at her. She looked back at me with these sorrowful eyes that were so deep and so wrecked. She stood up and pointed toward the hallway as if to say meet me out there. I slowly pulled back my covers and took one foot out at a time being as careful as I could to not make a noise, I walked out of my room and into the living room. She sat on the couch and said, "What's got your mind honey? You kept pacing the hallways last night and only slept for a bit, are you thinking about her?" I digested her words and then exclaimed "To be honest I have dreams that my mom and I live together in a big house and in the middle of the dream my dad comes home from work and we all play tag together like when I was little," Annie sat twiddling her fingers thinking about how to respond. She finally said, "I know how that feels, I have dreams about John and I, but then I wake up and know it is all just a dream." I then shrugged and walked into the kitchen hoping the conversation would end. It didn't. She continued by exclaiming, "Just know that she isn't gone forever. She could be anywhere... Next time, instead of sitting alone, come into my room and just talk to me." I nodded and said thank you to her. As if on cue the boys walked in.

On my sixth birthday my dad took me to my favorite restaurant for lunch. He then told me that he got me a new bike for my birthday. Once lunch was finished he took me home and I rode on my new bike. I remember that day like it was yesterday. But three weeks later he was involved in a severe car crash in which he died. But it wasn't instantly. He first went into a coma and then never came out of it. I guess it was better than never seeing him again. We got three weeks with him before he was gone. When my dad passed it was like a part of me was gone. He was my hero and I was his angel. I was depressed for a month after I found out. I never felt such heartbreak. My mom was so devastated she wouldn't talk to anybody but me after the passing. She slowly became more and more adapted to her new life without my father but it was hard. Ever since he passed my mom had never been the same. She became very stoic and I would hear her at night sobbing about my father. I was in deep thought when the boys began to talk. They were very excited about their new trucks they got for their birthday. I walked to my room to see if Joanna was awake yet. She wasn't but Stephanie and Laura were. They are both twelve and love boys, boys, boys. They always are telling Annie that everyone has phones at their school and that they need one. Annie doesn't buy it. They were in their beds talking about some boy from their school.

Today was Tuesday and starting on Monday we come back from Spring Break. Annie decided to go to the store and put Stephanie and Laura in charge so I went to my place. Ever since I was moved into this house I have felt like I was in a museum, I was never alone, I am always being watched. A few weeks after my arrival I found this place. I was "exploring" the different floors when I landed upon it. It had a big door and a small keyhole. I tried to open it and it swung open. I assumed the keyhole was for looks, so I walked in. It was a small room, a very small room. It had a round window with stained glass. The floors were wood and it had colonies of dust bunnies. The smell was intriguing. It smelt like the beach. Just like how it smelt when I used to go to with my father when I was young. But my favorite part was the simplicity of it all. It was a quiet, boring room, but it was mine, and no one was going to take that away from me. I went to that room every day, but everyday was different. Sometimes I read, sometimes I took naps, and sometimes I just sat in silence, but no matter what, it was great because no one would ever know what I was doing, because I was all alone.