It felt like I was floating, I could touch the white clouds around me. It was the mist peace I'd ever felt. Then like a tornado I was jerked from my dream, quiet roughly as my head hit itself on the window of the car door. I let out a quiet groan as I rubbed away the sleep that slightly clouded my vision. I looked around the car in an angry silence; the only sound coming from me was the low hiss of my oxygen tank.
"How far until we get there?" I grumbled, sleep still heavily present in my voice.
"Not much longer, we just got to the Detroit city limits," my dad replied as he took a right turn to get off the interstate.
I let loose a sigh as I hit my head on the back of the seat. I didn't want to be here; I didn't want to pack up my belongings and leave my childhood life behind. My parents couldn't afford my treatment in Georgia, not to mention that it was really working in the first place. When they heard about better treatment options in Detroit they bought an apartment as fast as they could and now we're here. I know I should be happy with the chance to get these plastic tubes out of my nose, but I've had them since I was eleven, it just feels wrong to get them taken off now.
The car slowing drew me out go my thoughts as we pulled up to a larger apartment complex. It was a dated property with no elevators and only five stories.
"I know you hate stairs, but we could only get an apartment on the top floor," my mother stated as she looked at me with an apologetic smile.
I only nodded my head and squeaked out a simple response, "It's fine, I'll get used to it."
They know I've always had trouble with stairs, I used to be able to climb them easily, but nowadays it takes me a while to really catch my breath after I climb a few flights.
I opened my car door as my parents began unloading a few things from the trunk,
"We'll get this hun, go on up and check out your room. It's the second one on the left," My mom yelled as as she started grabbing boxes.
I nodded as I slowly started my trek up the stairs. They know I can't carry any of that stuff, they just say those things to make me feel like I'm relatively normal. I understand that it was hard for them to watch their child lay in a hospital bed not knowing if she was going to make it, but that was years ago and I've gotten a lot better. I just wish they would let me do my own thing without narrating it in hidden messages. I know what I can and Can't do now.
The apartment was dim, the only light coming from the windows that currently lacked curtains. I slowly walked down the dark hallway, still trying to catch my breath from climbing four flights of stairs. The creaky door opened and I was welcomed by an empty room. The floor was a dark, almost black wood, while the walls were a lifeless gray. My boots quietly clicked against the wood as I approached a small bay window made from the same wood. I looked out of the curved window to see cars zooming past, being in the heart of downtown I never expected complete silence.
I let loose a silent sigh as my parents and the movers that had followed us began unloading mountains of boxes and furniture in my room. I just walked out and went into a small bathroom across the small hallway. I turned on the light the see a gray and turquoise tiled floor and backsplash behind the white sink and shower, which currently lacked a curtain. Where there wasn't tile there was that same lifeless gray paint. I walked over to the mirror and took a look. My green eyes stood out against mu pale complexion \, but the dark circles that stained the underside of my eyes revealed how worn out I truly was. My normal bouncy hair stuck to my head like a lifeless mop; I just sighed once again and walked back to my room.
my eyes widened when I saw just how full my room was now.
'Do I really have this much stuff,' I thought to myself as my dad entered my room with one last box.
"Go ahead and unpack your things, mom took the liberty of buying the small things you needed before we left," He stated as he sat the box down and started to close my door.
"Thanks dad!" I yelled out as the door whispered out a faint click. The first thing I did was get my backpack off my sore back, the weight of the oxygen tank will never lighten. I dug through the front pocket and pulled out a thirty foot tube. Working quickly I replaced my smaller tubing with the larger, every moment getting harder and harder to breathe. Once it was secured and I was breathing normally once again, I began the task of deconstructing box mountain.
I let loose a tired heave as I stepped back to admire my work, a triumphant smile on my face. The floor was now partially covered by a gray and yellow shagged rug, the walls were now littered with black and white pictures of various ranches and farm animals I had come across during my life in Georgia. My small window seat was now covered with black, yellow, and gray throw pillows and my clothes were put away in my black dresser. My gray nightstand now held my oxygen tanks and tubes. With my hands now on my hips I nodded in approval. I gathered my pajamas and went to the bathroom to take a long needed shower.
I emerged from the steamy room with my soft pajamas now replacing my dress; towel drying my hair, I walked to the bedroom where my mom was watching tv on the bed. Matching green eyes met mine as I gave her a sheepish smile and held out a small tube of tattoo cream. Before moving to Detroit I had gotten one last tattoo from my best friend, a pair of realistic angel wings that traveled across my arms to look like I was spreading them when I raised them.
"Sure honey," my mom said, responding to my silent request.
The cream was cold as it first touched the bare skin of my back, making me squeal and eliciting a laugh from my mother.
"It's cold," she stated with a tone of laughter.
"Gee, momma, couldn't have told me before you poured it all over my back," I deadpanned back to her.
A yawn cut through the silence as the movie came to an end.
"I'm gonna hit they hay, love you momma," I stated as I began the short trek back to my room.
I heard a faint goodnight as I shut my door. With a calm, tired smile. I turned off my lights, but instead of laying down I made my way to the window. I sat on the fluffy cover and pulled my knees close to my chest. I looked out the glass and saw the city now lit up with neon lights. The sound of cars zooming past rang dully in my ears, but it was the sudden sound of sirens that perked my interest and I turned to see what was happening. My eyes went wide and jaw went slack at the sight before me; A little yellow car stopped on the main street in a face off with a giant robot. Then in a blink of an eye the once yellow car was another giant robot, albeit smaller than the other.
He soon started to fight the other robot and very quickly emerged victorious. I smiled in amusement as he started chanting. "I am the star player. Nothing can beat the sting!" He soon did a small dance and I couldn't keep quiet anymore, I soon busted out in laughter. This seemed to catch the bot's attention as he turned towards me, I quickly quieted my giggles. Once those blue eyes caught mine, it felt like I couldn't move. He just stared at me with mouth slightly a-gap, but that expression soon changed to a smirk. My face quickly flushed pink. He sent a wink my way before quickly transforming into that tiny car and racing deeper into the city.
An alarm signaling that my breathing was too low knocked me from my trance. My face felt like it was on fire; he not only caught me watching but also caught me looking less than ready to entertain an audience.
"Tomorrow is so going to be an exploration day," I muttered to myself as I closed my white curtains, I'd seen enough for one night.
I quickly sat my oxygen tank on my nightstand and crawled in the warm covers of my bed. Setting an alarm for early morning, I finally began drifting off to sleep.
