Cracked

Chapter One

I woke up with the sun gleaming into my eyes through the cracks of my blinds, beckoning me to get up and start my day. I looked around my room, watching the birds fly out of their nests, doing something productive with their short lives. doing something. that's something I'd probably never get to do, or even want to. I'm turning eight-teen next week and I haven't even planned my future yet, what I want to be. most kids my age would be scrambling onto their feet to explore, or study to become something there're proud of, or someone to help the world be what we think it should be. I don't know why I'm not like that, I guess I never thought I would make it this far, really.

the sun started to bother me, it kept shining its bright yellow tint into my eyes. it hurt, but I just sighed and gave in. I sat up and looked around the mess of a room I had; clothes were scattered around the floor. I never really bothered to clean them up. my mom would always yell at me to tidy up, my excuse was always, ' I'll do it later ma'

my dad was the same, always bossing me around. I can't wait to get out of this damned house but on the other hand, I can't even afford to move out. it's not like I hate my parents, I'm just not the type to be shoved around. I stood up off my unmade bed and let my feet sink onto the cold wood tile floor. I let out a silent wince before ruffling my hair with a tired yawn. I glanced at my alarm clock. 8:37 it read. I debated going back to bed since I really never wake up this early, but I ignored my body's-tired yearnings and put on an old, grey, ranger shirt my father got me last year when he took me to his damned game. they didn't even win. I also slipped on a pair of bluish baggy shorts. I'm not sure you could even call them blue from how much damaged they received over the past few years.

I started walking outside my trashed room. it's like I walked through a portal when I left my 'cave' as my mother calls it. the hallway was clean with a wild honey colored paint spread neatly across the walls. I could smell my mother cooking a meal from downstairs. knowing her, it's probably hash browns and scrambled eggs with toasted maple bacon as a side. I could hear my father ranting down there about some guy at work being bad. or maybe his boss. I never understand what he always goes on about, but my mother didnt seem to mind it too much.

I made my way to the restroom and sighed, splashing my face with cold water before drying it off with the towel gently folded onto its rack and I looked up at myself. my greenish eyes looked dead tired. I haven't gotten a lot of sleep lately due to my parents arguing. it's usually my dad who starts it, then my mom cries and he have to comfort her. my siblings are probably asleep still, surprisingly. I thought at least shay, my younger brother, would be up. I have to act like a dad around him sometimes since my own father worked too much. I really didnt understand why he was home. probably another traffic jam again. he usually stays home if my uncle says theres one, he'll just stay home anyways.

I remember he used to take me and my mom out to this old diner when I was younger. only when he had his 'skip days'. I used to bounce and jump when we went there because he would tell me and my mother the same story every time. I could almost hear his voice on a record to describe how many times I've heard that story. he was around fifteen, and he used to ride his bike to el Zocalo when he was still in Mexico, and how he met my mother at some party. I guess I'm just over him being all bally about it and stopped caring. it could also be that I'm an emo damned teen, but eh.

I let out a gentle yawn and fixed my messy mane before heading down to the kitchen. My little brother was excitedly playing with his cars, and I just smiled. I guess I was wrong on the sleep guess, but it made me happy to see him so ecstatic. He's the sweetest, really. I love him to death. He's one of the only things in this house that keep me sane anymore. Well, except for Pablo, our cat. I got struck out of my train of thought as my mother glanced over at me," good morning Sal " she grinned, going back to cooking. I was right, hash browns, scrambles eggs, and toast.