My family

I could tell that this day I wasn't sleeping any better than usual. Nevertheless I was again able to enjoy the shy pleasures of life and that would have to suffice for now. I arrived home and went to the kitchen.

I opened the pine door and found a truly frameable picture and yet the most common in this house. The morning sun entered the large window behind. Mother was standing behind the pine table, one hand setting two bowls and another spoons on the white cloth with small pictures of fruits. Her eyes lowered behind long natural lashes over her sharp carved cheeks, parenthesis to her ever curved up thick lips. My father stood taller behind her with his wide arms falling along her slender arms down until her waist where they bent funneling his hands on her stomach. She was not small but his sturdy built could frame her.

Her light brown hair with white highlights was coiled up which let her neck bare to his stubble hidden lips. His head hanged low between a kiss and a whisper to her hears, to which she reacted elbowing his right arm as soon she heard the door open. She blushed and moved out from his shell. She turned around the table, with her long summer dress's back to the me and set one of the bowls and one of the spoons down.

-``I wish that college wouldn't have you change your schedule so much, we hardly see you anymore. Even Sonya is starting to complain.''

I found my parents having breakfast, which nowadays was very usual.

- "All because of those batmen and mermaids, their eyes are too sensitive to the light when they start to transform and even later they prefer the night. " - His face twisted making a grimace.

- "Don't say that, she will think you don't have any friends out of the pack."

The pack? I'll ask another time. I nodded to my mother and went for the fridge. A huge stake was waiting for me with mashed potatoes and a salad on the side.

-``Thanks mom.'' - It was always nice to find my food waiting, I was terribly hungry these days. Even though I had three meals in the college taking the time to cook when I arrived was really painful. I got the leftovers plate out, removed the plastic film and I inserted it into the microwave under a lid. I reached for the fridge once more while it made a rotating sound. I placed the simple tomato, cucumber and lettuce salad on the table and went back for a carrot. I pealed it and I was half the way nibbling the carrot when my father started laughing.

-``What?''

-``You just look as endearing as a pup. It is nice to gnaw and chew on something isn't it?''

-``Well, ya.'' - Somehow it was all starting to seem more natural. Before, his comment would have seriously triggered me. However I now could find it funny too and enjoy the comparison.

- ``Progress my dear, you didn't bite back.''

-``Ya, keep pushing and someday I will.'' - I barked, or attempted to and we all laughed.

-``You dogs, you.'' - my mother attempted to be cool. With her light flower dress ankle high she might have pulled it off in the 60s.

The three of us together, laughing at... let's call it breakfast time. I thought it wouldn't happen again. Maybe someday I should teach her that there is nothing cool about an aged person using long forgotten cool words.

I longed for our getaways. Whenever I felt sad my mother would treat me to a large mocaccino - a table spoon of condensed milk added a rum spiked expresso topped with Chantilly and powder chocolate - or a special chocaccino - muffin and an ice cream ball drowned in hot chocolate topped with cream. If the pain included some self-esteem crisis we would also hit the jeans store and get a whole new outfit, which depending on the depth of the wound would include shoes and belt. If the crisis was demanding of re-thinking life we would get a drastic hair cut. At times that meant going from a waist long hair to a chin high hair.

But as they left to work a void filled my heart and I was alone. It had been long since I confided in my mother over a dramatically indulging beverage. I went to my room and phoned Sonya. That always worked. We talked for a while, I even informed her on our conversation, but she had to go too... and then I really was alone. I washed myself and got to bed. I lied still and tried to focus on not thinking of the splendid sun that was shining outside my window, hidden by the tight blinders. Sleeping felt like a waste of a weather such as this. It was a warm Autumn morning and I could only have a glimpse of it. I was so tired that if I managed to rest I would gladly pay the price, but I knew my sleep would be restless. I had some comfort that night and felt easier. I didn't even stress about those eyes yet. But my sleep was ravished once more by that stupid nightmare, by those cold bleach eyes. And all my ease was gone with the day, waking again in the twilight for a new school day.