Taken

Chapter 3

Mother is back to her usual emotionless self by breakfast.

            She doesn't say anything. She doesn't even look at me; instead she trains her gaze at the wall across from her. Her food sits on her plate untouched.

            As I am taking a bite of my toast, a thought occurs to me. I haven't seen Mother eat or drink anything for two years, so how does she keep herself nourished?

            I glance over at her again.

            Why are you acting like this?  I think to myself, knowing that she can't hear me, but I can't seem to help myself from thinking it. Why are you acting like a spoiled child? Nina's gone and there is nothing we can do about it, so why are you shutting yourself down and blocking us out? You're just hurting the ones around you.

            I wish to voice my thoughts. To stand up and grab her shoulders, shaking her to try and knock some sense into her as I yell the words I so desperately wish to―

            No, it must have been my imagination. Did I really just see Mother's hand twitch and her eyes flicker to mine? There's no way she could have; she can't even hear us speak let alone what we are thinking.

            I must be going crazy.

            I take another bite of my toast and a sip of my orange juice, sending sideways glances at my mother to see if she locks her gaze with mine again. She doesn't.

            After wiping my mouth, I set the napkin on top of my emptied plate and stand up. "Goodbye Mother, Charlie, I'll see you after school," I inform them with a nod as I grab my bag and make my way out the door.

            I carry my bike down the porch steps before climbing on, taking in a deep breath of the clean, rain-scented air. It is fresh and soothing, causing a small smile to tug at the corners of my lips.

            The gravel driveway has a few puddles here and there, the bright green grass gleaming with droplets of rain. A soft breeze blows through, adding a slight chill to the humid air. I wrap my dark blue blazer tighter around me to block the wind before pedaling down the driveway and heading off to a long and mind numbing day at school.

.                          .                          .

The house is silent and still when I get home. Mother must be running late from picking Charlie up.

            I grab an apple from the basket on the kitchen counter and take a bite as I head up the stairs to my room. I run through all of my classes in my head, trying to remember what homework I have when I pass Nina's door.

            I pause and stare at it as I chew on the bite I took from my apple, contemplating on what I should do. Mother said not to open the door, yet she isn't here, and it's not like she'd notice anything, right? What is one more act of disobedience anyway?