The Teslow house was quiet, naturally, as it was two in the morning. Keely sighed. Her stomach growled.
She decided to go downstairs and force herself to eat something. She skillfully avoided the creaking stairs, having memorized them not from the restless nights of late, but more from the times she would stalk down to meet Phil for late-night tomfoolery.
After grabbing a banana from the fruit bowl on the counter, she wandered into the living room and gazed out the bay window. A squirrel scurried across the front yard and stopped at the foot of a tree, then looked around alertly before darting up the tree.
Lucky squirrel. All you have to worry about is food and shelter.
Before she realized what she was doing, she took out her phone and called Tia.
"Uhhhlo?" a groggy voice on the other line asked. Keely stared at the clock with her mouth halfway open, realizing just how late it was.
"...heeeeeeey, Tia...." What in the heck am I doing?, she wondered.
"....Keely? What time is it?"
"...2:12?"
A sigh came from the other end. "What's wrong?"
"Wrong? Nothing's wrong. Just... felt like calling you." I guess...
"It better be good."
Keely's head drooped forward. "Um... I don't– I just can't sleep is all."
"Why not?"
Because I don't want to wake up tomorrow.
"Because I... I'm not tired."
"You know, if you just get into bed, even if you're not tired now, you'll start getting tired."
"How do you know?"
"Because I'm exhausted. And in bed. But still talking to you."
"Oh... sorry... I'll let you get back to sleep."
"No, no, if something's bothering you, please tell me. Please? It must be something or you wouldn't have called at this hour."
"You're mad at me. I don't want to keep you up. It can wait."
"..."
"Tia! It's fine. Go back to sleep."
"..."
"Please don't be mad? It's not even important. Don't worry about it."
"If you're sure."
Keely smiled. "Goodnight, Tia."
"'Night."
You idiot.
She threw out the empty banana peel and headed back upstairs, this time much less carefully.
Well I guess it's not like she was fit to listen at this hour. She wouldn't have focused. All the more reason for it. I will make myself heard.
But is this the way?...
I will be noticed again.
If he didn't have to leave...
She looked at herself in the mirror, and saw her face reflected in the pale moonlight shining through the window. Her cheeks didn't have the rosy glow Phil had always talked about, her eyes looked-
...frightened, really. Like a scared little girl... like the scared little girl she was when Mandy held her in her arms at age six, explaining why her daddy wasn't coming back again...
She sighed and laid down on her bed.
I will be noticed. I will be heard. I will leave a mark, even if it's only because I bleed.
Kind of comforting, really. Funny. I didn't really expect that.
...
Whaddaya know? I am getting tired. Maybe she was right...
She threw her blankets over her and smirked knowingly to herself.
