Darkness Will Come to Light [1]

XIV. The Game of Life

I need to invest in a bike, Mel thought to herself with a sigh as she hiked her bag higher on her shoulder and turned in the direction of Forks High. School was only a ten-minute walk, but with as many days as it rained or snowed, a quicker way of transportation would make life a little brighter. Yes, yes, there was a school bus. Mel happened to be a procrastinator and, well, she loved sleep too much to wake up any earlier.

Mel in her snow boots trudged down the driveway. Even with a knitted scarf around her neck and a fuzzy wolf-eared hat on her head, she was cold. The wind-chill was barely above freezing, so no delay was called to wait until the air warmed to a more reasonable temperature.

Her legs were spotted with enough bruises that it was hard to distinguish the girl from a Dalmatian. Thankfully, with the weather getting colder, she could cover any marks on her legs with jeans during the day and yoga pants in gym class. To avoid prying eyes, she changed in a bathroom stall.

Coach was adamant about sticking to the running unit until winter break. Mel was not the only one to think that was ridiculous. By Phys. Ed., a four-inch layer of snow coated the ground.

"I know everyone is eager to continue with cardio, but today we will have a change in pace. Who's up for some indoor CrossFit?" For once, no one made one peep of a complaint.

~*~

No dreams plagued Melaina's sleep.

She had awoken earlier than usual for a Sunday and decided to spend quality time in the kitchen. The bright yellow-painted room with ugly blue cabinets had been Elizabeth's favorite place in the house. Her radiating smile as she baked fancy pastries seemed to brighten the pee-colored walls into a warm Chrysanthemum color. Mel cherished the half-rusted appliances and well-loved furniture because it all reminded her of her mother.

The smell of batter and chocolate soon filled the air of the Jackson house. Mel hummed quietly to herself as she cooked. She nibbled on a chocolate chip pancake in between batches.

She set a fresh stack of plain pancakes on a plate and placed it on the table at the head of the table where Jeremy would sit. Mel poured him a cup of milk with ice cubes. She found that combination to be disgusting, but apparently, he enjoyed watery milk. His place already had silverware, so she added syrup and butter before turning off the steaming griddle.

Jeremy took his seat without a greeting or a word of thanks. That was no surprise to Mel. He chewed as he typed on his phone. Mel wiped down the counter and filled the dishwasher.

Rhythmically, Jeremy began clinking ice around in his milk. The sound was equal to nails on a chalkboard or nails running across a carpet. He screeched his fork across his plate of pancakes, and Mel shuddered as it raised goosebumps on her arms.

Jeremy was being passive aggressive that morning. Mel finished cleaning the bowls from making breakfast and searched the cabinets for some aspirin; a stress headache was looming.

Her stepdad ignored her, which she would gladly take any day over his yelling. His cellphone rang, suddenly filling the silent room with the sound of an old-fashioned telephone, and Mel took it as her cue to leave. She slipped out of the kitchen and climbed the staircase to her room.

~*~

Wind wailed through the winter-bare trees. Mel tugged her jacket closer to her body and fought to keep her feet on the ground. The wind was a force to be reckoned with, and Melaina, at four-foot-eleven, had nothing on one of nature's pushiest elements.

She carried on, determined to make it to and from the cemetery before nightfall. She had watched enough episodes of her beloved Vampire Diaries to know what kind of creatures lurked in the shadows of a graveyard at night. Mel was not keen on meeting any ghosts or bloodthirsty vampires.

Thanks, but no thanks, Damon.

The old iron gate creaked back and forth as it swung freely on its hinges. Mel slipped through the gate into Forks Cemetery and followed a path to the familiar plot of land under an evergreen tree.

"Hi, mom," Mel said to her mother's resting place. "I miss you more and more every day." The wind carried her voice away. "I hope you're enjoying endless chocolates in Heaven."

With a gloved hand, Mel brushed the snow off her mother's headstone. She read the final words etched in stone to herself, as if she could ever forget.

"Goodness, you hated to be in the snow, yet you loved seeing it," she remembered fondly. "Always ready for a winter wonderland--as long as you could spend it indoors with a roaring fire and a mug of cocoa." Mel brushed a stray tear that ran down her cold cheek. "Those were the good times, before you got sick..." She trailed off.

More snowflakes sprinkled down. "I wonder if it snows up there. Maybe it's more like little falling clouds?" Mel mused. A shiver wracked her body as the wind picked up.

"Anyways, I wanted to stop by and make sure that you're getting the kind of chocolates that you love. So just in case the only chocolate up there is white chocolate, I brought you a box of dark chocolate cherry cordials. I didn't steal one out of the box this time, I promise." Mel smiled, but it vanished all too quickly.

"I love you." She pressed the red and black present against her lips and leaned down to place it by the engraved stone. "I will be with you again one day. Wait for me, okay? You promised me another round of The Game of Life. I'm holding you to that promise, mama."