Where My Heart Is

I saw my father, young and determined, working at the crack of dawn in the brickyard, while my mother stayed home to childproof their small apartment. Using the potent mixture of caffeine and chemicals contained in Mountain Dew, he was able to resist the urge to doze off during his daily classes. I saw myself running around the large oak tree that dwarfed our first house, and couldn’t help but smile as I thought about my mom, pregnant with my sister, walking me to the library to play with the puppets and pick up books about my favorite dinosaurs. I saw the terrifying night that the oak tree was stuck by lightning, and heard my mothers voice over the phone at school, eagerly telling me about my new baby brother. My stream of consciousness was broken as we entered the scorching area where they bake the bricks, but I quickly zoned out again as my grandpa began to explain the technical aspects of brickmaking. This time, the memories took place in a new house, as our cozy home had turned claustrophobic with the addition of a fifth member. Quiet walks to the library were replaced with chaotic days at the pool. The cards began to pick up speed, as I got deeper into my life. The dark years of middle school, when my hair covered my eyes and I

Stomping my feet on the ground to keep my blood flowing, I folded my arms to fight the air stinging my face. I just wanted this day, like any other day, to be over with as quick as possible. The hood of my jacket covered my eyes, and when I looked up, it came to my surprise that five kids had circled around me, with huge grins on their faces, bearing their teeth at me like a pack of wolves to a helpless rabbit. I wanted to disappear and be someone else, anyone else. I wanted to be that fat kid on the bench eating potato chips without a care in the world, or to be in the shoes of that one girl in the corner reading some book for homework, but not here, not in these old worn out sneakers.

My mind was going one thousand miles per hour, those words haunting my head. Hot tears flowed down my face as the words sunk in. I slumped in my seat feeling exhausted and too cold for this warm house. My father’s arms reached for me, trying to comfort me. He wouldn’t understand the mental loss that was turning into physical pain. My chest heaved for air, trying to get this drowning feeling out of these thoughts that envelope me bringing a soft cloak of anxiety. “Not again, please.”

Crumpled newspapers scattered the table like the bones of dead bodies after war. Windows wiped down of memories huddled between oak frames, facing a street with cosy cottages. Single embroidered carpets hugged the floor, covering the marble tiles in delicate silk. A whisper of wind floated in through cracks of the panes of glass, whispering it's songs of misery throughout the house. I breathed in gulps of air, allowing the icy coolness to fill my lungs, and the morning frost creep out. My glistening blue eyes presented purple bags, and my sleek hair was a tangled cobweb. My feet dragged along the stone floor like the walking of the undead. I’d been up all night, searching and seeking for answers.

Terrifying shrieks filled the air as dark blood trickled down his body. He lay on the road, worn down, the blood staining his clothes, creating a stream down the road. He thought of his life, why he hadn’t realized what horrible acts he had committed. He thought why he had to be a fireman. He thought why was there no good in this world. He lay there waiting for his final seconds to quickly pass. “Farewell,

I climbed out, and looked around. Most of the drawers, cupboards and doors were either open or smashed. My parents had vanished, they were nowhere to be seen. I walked to, what used to be, the front door. I looked outside and was horrified to see that half of the houses were in flames or had burnt down completely. I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know what to say, I didn’t know what to think. I don’t know why, but I started to run. I ran as fast as I could I wasn’t going to stop. I was going to the city limits, I was going to leave ‘The Main’. I jumped the fence, and was engulfed by trees and plants. I walked around, I didn’t know what to do; should I go back? Should I hand myself in? When I was deep in thought a hand covered my mouth and I fell to the

I sat up as my eyes started to fill with tears. I clenched my arm trying to forget the pain I was currently feeling. I was trying to catch my breath but my heart felt like it was pounding one million beats per second. The grass was drowning in the water rushing from my eyes. All I could think of was pain.

I took a deep breath before the layout rapidly fell to the ground and the room became silent. All I could do is cry. It felt like crying was the only way I would feel pain. My heart sunk as everything in the room faded and my vision blurred. My parents, coach Wilson and Annabelle came rushing over as tears were stinging my eyes with pain. After about 5 minutes I heard sirens All I wanted was a redo at the

I started to sweat, I filled up with anger. She told! No one knew about this. I could do unusual things . . . no one else could do. As Maddy tried to leave, I made up an excuse to take her back. I pushed her into the closet - locked it - and I hoped that she would just forget about everything, and just go away. I heard her screaming, “Arthur! Let me out!” I didn't. Then she did something. I didn't see it though . . . I was turning around . . . walking away. The door knocked down - fell on me - leaving me speechless.

Crumpled newspapers were scattered across the table like the tail of a peacock. Windows wiped down of memories were huddled in between oak frames, facing a street with cosy cottages. Single embroidered carpets hugged the floor, covering the marble tiles in delicate silk. A calm wind floated in through cracks of the panes of glass, whispering throughout the house. I breathed in gulps of air, allowing the icy coolness fill my lungs, and the morning frost creep out. My glistening blue eyes presented purple bags, and my normally sleek hair was a tangled cobweb. I’d been up all night, searching and seeking for answers. Yet answers had been as hard to find as a  black cat in a coal cellar.‘One year’ I announced, trying to force a joyful tone, but

After everyone in the house was fed and bathed to the very best of our ability, I set out my work uniform and climbed into my bed. Since I was the one that had arrived the most recent, I only have to share a room with one other person, who was alone before I came along. Even though I was nowhere near home with a bunch of strangers who welcomed me into their home, this was the safest I’d ever felt. Even though I’m in some of the shadiest areas of town. I sat awake wondering what I did to deserve

The sun was setting leaving the sky full of colours with the light cool breeze allowing the blossoms to hover around leaving shadows among the ground. The stream was flowing calmly as he looked at himself in the dark blue water. He had smudges of dirt around the edges of his face with his messy blond hair. He turned around as something hit him on his back. His parents and his brother were smiling in the distance and waiting for him with their arms out ready to embrace him. He stood there staring at them wide-eyed with his jaw slowly dropping without realization, as if a dream came true. He started running towards them but each step he took the more they seemed to dissolve into the air until there was nothing left.

I sat judging everyone that came in. Who were the people? Were they happy? I would have looked outside but I couldn’t bare seeing the overly happy newlyweds who were blocking my view of the window and prattling on about how wonderful their day went yesterday and how marvelous today was going to be. For them, it was just another beautiful (rainy and dreary) Tuesday morning. They were too wrapped up with themselves to even notice anything or anyone else. I sat there long enough to wait until everybody left and until the rain dripped to an end. Even then, I didn’t feel like switching to a better seat. I wondered what I was going to tell my professor the next day, why I didn’t come to class. I didn’t know. I’d never had to explain that to him. I bet that he had paused a few extra seconds to look around the room to look for me before he marked me absent. I wondered why I was in the coffee shop in the first place.

My day begins again with a drone of the same ringtone of the alarm. Getting up to open the window forgetting about the same old raven bird that stares at me with its whole black eyes sending you into a black spiral. The sense of nostalgia hits, rain leaves its own scent like the scent of an ex-lover’s. After all eternity doesn’t wait for the past to catch up, you just keep on going with your life as I have. Making my way to the kitchen I avoid all the papers on the floor scattered like a tornado threw up and shredded its life. My hands twitches to grab the phone eager to check for the ghost messages and calls. Putting down my arm as soons as it raises “don’t do it”. I turn in circles to find someone but in its leave was nothing. “ I know” I whispered to no one. The hallway was filled with darkness except for one room whose light was slowly dimming. Darting past the shadowed hands reaching for me I went into the room. Searching for that dark grey raincoat that was hung up on a hanger in the half empty closet.

“Grab your stuff and get out,” he yelled, pointing at the door. His face was growing redder and redder by the second. His cheeks flushed. I’d had seen him mad before, but nothing like this. I couldn’t lie my way out of this one. “Did you hear me?” He picked up the large garbage bag full of my stuff and tossed it at the front door. I stood there for a moment. When he opened the front door I knew he was serious. I walked outside, looking behind me as the door slammed shut.