A/N: Thanks a BILLION to my reviewers:
ScarlettSparrow
vampirekiss1994
crystal-number1
Angelius Cullen
Alice Penn
Without your concern I probably wouldn't have the chapter up yet.
Sleep did claim me. And I dreamt...
Four caskets were lowered beneath the pale spring grass. I sat in a chair, my ribs still healing so carefully I wasn't allowed to walk or stand for long periods. My grief was locked behind iron will and denial as I watched; silent and emotionless. But as I glanced at Jacob's coffin, barely two feet long, my will shattered and the flood gates opened. A grief filled scream tore from my throat, raw from seemingly endless days of crying. My hair fell over my face as I bent my head and hugged my aching sides. My grandmother, the only blood I had left, wrapped her frail, shaking arms around me in an attempt at comfort. The scream was my only outburst, but I continued to sob.
"Sweetie. It's time to go," my grandmother's voice brought me back from the black depths I had been grieving within.
My gaze lifted and I saw the crowd of friends and distant relatives had dispersed. I rose slowly to my feet; my arms still clutched around my middle, my grandmother's left arm hugging my shoulders as we made our way to her rental car.
The plane trip hadn't seemed very long. I left my home in Michigan to live with my grandmother in southwestern Oregon. I followed her to the back of her small house to my new room. The upstairs only having one bedroom, I was left living in the guest room on the main level. After passing the other doors leading to the bathroom, a sewing room, and my grandfather's old office; we made it to the end of the old hallway and I followed her through the open door.
The pale pink walls that had once been my mother's greeted me. I set my suitcases next to the bed. My grandmother gave me a hug and left me to deal with the change alone; exactly what I'd wanted.
The white bedspread detailed with pale roses covered the soft single bed. The closet across the room was small, but I was never one for shopping so I didn't have a lot to begin with. The single window was accented with deep rose colored curtains that flowed down on either side. A white dresser held up a large mirror, a small stool sat beneath it. Mom must have done her make up there. I was getting uncomfortable, a small rock forming in my stomach, and I was beginning to feel the jet lag; I decided to take a nap, I didn't bother to remove anything but my shoes. And soon I was gone; the deep sleep a welcome retreat from the pain of reality.
I awoke to the pale light coming through my old styled window. Dawn was barely breaking; and the sunrise was beautiful. Reds and pinks dominated the horizon. I sat and watched the color change, without thought, for a good half hour.
A knock disrupted my dreamlike drifting. I turned my upper body to watch the door open; my legs still lying against the side of my bed and facing the window. My grandmother's head poked in, she smiled as she saw me awake.
"Morning Sweetie," her pale green eyes probing me for information on what I was feeling.
"Morning Grandma," I gave a her soft smile; a poor attempt to reassure her I was okay. It seemed to work, she walked into the room without any obvious worry.
"I have to go to work early today, I need to talk to Mary about a patient. I'll be home around five, okay Sweetheart?"
"Of course Grandma," the soft smile still in place.
"There's cereal in the cupboard, and you can call the clinic if you need anything, okay?"
"Okay," the smile was becoming more forced, "I'll see you this evening then."
"All right," she kissed the top of my head, "bye Sweetie."
"Bye Grandma."
My grandmother's job as one of the local dentist's assistants always seemed more demanding than I thought she could handle. I guess she was stronger than her frail appearance let on.
My gaze drifted to the calendar on the wall; it was the third week of August. I had stayed with my grandmother for over two months; doing nothing but reading, watching television, walking along the beach a few miles over, and healing. School was next week; I'd be starting my Senior year in a small high school whose students had been developing their groups of friends since Kindergarten. I couldn't wait.
I decided to take a walk to the beach; I never tired of it. Seeing the waves rolling in and crashing against the rocks; the sounds amazed me, and the smell of the salt air calmed me like a blanket on a shivering body.
Deciding upon dark jeans, black flip flops, and a nondescript white T shirt; I looked at the mirror to gage my appearance. My loose chocolate curls hit the middle of my back, light layers framing my face. My dark brown eyes still seemed different to me; the sorrow they held not yet entirely familiar.
The walk to the beach was short, my mind was flighty and unable to settle on anything. As I reached the sand, I rolled up the hem of my jeans half way up my calf; and took off my flip flops, dangling them from my right hand. The waves were still cold; the water sighing as it pulled back and forth. I closed my eyes and lifted my face to take in what sun I could; the clouds an uncharacteristic cumulus today. My breaths were deep and even; my chest slowly un-constricting from the tension it had carried since last May. The sound of sifting sand didn't break my reverie.
Only when I heard a soft, "Hi," did I open my eyes and turn.
Just a filler chapter, but I hope to update chapter three by tomorrow night. Please review, with or without criticism, it's what keeps me going. Thanks!