Goodbye to the Sunny Days: Chapter 2

Image+from+Pixels

Image from Pixels

Anya Read, Reporter, creative writer

I felt like passing out on the spot. It almost seemed like Deja Vu. Something so crazy that I couldn’t explain, even if I tried. “Are you okay Valerie? You looked like you’d seen a ghost.” Amanica asked. “I’m fine, just got a bit dizzy from being out in the sun. I was just wondering if it would be okay if I walked home with you?” I started, trying to slow my pounding heart down. “I just have to text my friends that I’m leaving.” Amanica gave me a toothy grin. “That would be amazing! I hate walking home by myself.” I pulled out my phone to send a quick text to my friends that I was heading home before stuffing it back into the back pocket of my shorts. I made a mental note to apologize to them on Monday for leaving them so early.

The walk seemed like it took forever but in a good way. I learned that Amanica’s favorite color is violet, she loves Chinese take-out, she has a younger brother named Aidan, and that her parents are doctors from Jamaica. Reaching my house, I gave her a quick wave before racing inside. Slamming the door, I kicked off my worn-out tennis shoes before charging upstairs like a maniac. My parents were on a business trip to Hawaii, and they wouldn’t be back till Tuesday so it was the perfect time to raid their rated R movie collection. Here I come Deadpool! I cheered silently in my head before slipping into my parents’ room.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had been in my parent’s room. It seemed so different from when I was a kid. My mother’s dresses were lying on the hardwood floor, thrown around from frantic packing. An empty black suitcase was tipped over near the door. One of my dad’s ties was lying on top of their TV. I carefully jumped over clothing and other random objects before opening my parents’ DVD cabinet. I trailed my finger over the spines of the movies. 

“You know mom and dad wouldn’t like you in their room. I told them they should have barricaded the door before they left.” 

I jumped, recognizing the voice immediately. “Pesky older sisters. She thinks she’s so much better because she’s older. It’s only a four year age difference!” I grumbled under my breath, slamming the cabinet door shut. “What do you want Allison?” I asked turning around to face her. My sister was attempting to pull her long brown hair into a ponytail. She rolled her eyes before speaking. “ For you to get out of there dumbo. Come on, I’ll make you some popcorn, I just rented a movie on Amazon that I think you would like.” Mumbling a curse word or two, I made my way down the stairs, practically stomping to the living room. “It better be a good movie!” I yelled, hoping she could hear me from upstairs. 

Flopping down on my family’s white couch I curled into a fuzzy blanket while Allison finished microwaving the popcorn. Shoving the bag into my hands, she slipped under the blanket before turning on the television. “Why do you have to sit with me? Can’t you sit on the recliner or the floor?” I growled. “Do you want to watch this movie or not Valerie, I’m not going to put up with your attitude.” She hissed. “Fine, but it better be good.” I moved closer to the end of the couch while Allison selected the movie. Six Sense? Isn’t this movie a million years old? She has the worst taste in movies!

By the end of the movie, Allison had already fallen asleep and my eyes were heavy. It was a pretty good movie but I would never admit that to her face. The blanket had fallen off the couch, leaning down to pick it up, I gently draped it over Allison, careful not to wake her. I pushed a strand of hair out of her face, accidentally touching her face in the process. The same blinding white that I saw at the coast appeared in front of me again. Except this was different, I was swirling through the air then I was suddenly dropped back onto the beach but this wasn’t the same beach, everything seemed like glass. It felt like the image could crack any second. I heard muffled noises of yelling and laughing. It felt like everything was underwater. I could see my sister, she was swimming in the sea, in the deep end, until she wasn’t. Allison had disappeared, bubbles were popping up in the water. Her hand was stretched outwards towards the cracked sky. The bubbles had disappeared and my sister’s hand went limp. “Allison! Alli!” I screamed, but no one could hear me. I dug my fingers into my head, this isn’t real this couldn’t be real!

As fast as it started, it ended. I was back on the couch. Allison is sleeping right next to me. I ground my hand against my face, trying to stop the flow of tears that were coming out of my eyes. Then I had a horrifying thought. If the boy in Six Sense can see dead people, what if I can see how people die?