01-Leaving

“Don’t talk to me!” I shouted my voice cracking, tears of anger rolled down my face,

“Aldis,” My mother sighed making her voice soft and gentle to help me see her point of view,

“I said don’t talk to me mother!” I screamed my voice seething with hatred. Our German Shepherd Bobby ran under the table and whined at the noise. Outside lightning flashed lighting up everything with a blue light and thunder rumbled not long after it, heavy rain hit the roof thudding and echoing through the roof. Bobby howled louder every time the thunder rumbled across the sky,

“Shut up!” I scalded him “You’ll wake the kids,” He whimpered looked down at his paws, the sad eyes made me want to run up to him and pat him despite being angry at my mother,

“You’ve already woken us up sister,” a sour voice said behind me, guilt ridden I turned around. Silhouetted in the doorway to the front door was a tall young man, his dark blue eyes were the same colour as the lightning in the storm outside and his dark brown hair was frizzy and pointing in all different directions.

“Go back to bed Lucas,” I said to him kindly over the storm, the thunder seemed to have calmed for the moment and there were no flashes of blue light but the rain kept up like a bongo drum on the roof,

“No,” he replied firmly, “What’s this fight about anyway?” I swallowed this was going to be hard,

“I’m…” I trailed off,

“I’m leaving,” I said in a rush, “and mother doesn’t want me to go,”

“Would you call me mum?” she said exasperated, I ignored her,

“Can you tell our sister I love her?” I asked Lucas, he nodded,

“Don’t ignore me!” my mother screeched like a wounded seagull, I ignored her and walked over to my brother, he was so tall now I had to look up to see him,

“Lukie, I’m sorry but…”

“I know sis it’ll be okay,” he interrupted with a wave of his hand, I nodded gratefully that he’d saved me from an explanation,

“I’ll visit you when she’s not around okay. I promise.” I told him,

“Is April awake?” I asked he nodded,

“I’d better tell her too,” I sighed,

“While you’re doing that I’ll get you your bag,” surprise flashed across my face but before I could ask he was gone. My mother kept yelling in the room behind me but I paid her no attention as I walked down the hall, I looked at the family photos there were some of all of us, apart from my dad, he was the only person you wouldn’t find in our hallway. I sighed and stopped looking at the photo’s they were just more incentive for me to stay. The first room was April’s; I took a deep breath I had to stay strong for her sake, and opened the door.

“Hey,” I said false joy in my tone. A green night light bathed the room in a gentle glow messy washing lined the floor, along with dolls and other toys, in one corner was a chest of drawers and on the opposite wall was a single bed with a small figure lying on top of it. I walked over to her blinking back tears and gave her a hug.

“Why are you going Ally?” April couldn’t pronounce both mine and Lucas’ names properly so when we where talking amongst ourselves we used the nicknames April had given us.

“Scoot over,” I told her gently, she wriggled over to the side of her bed away from me and I sat down.

“There comes a time when you need to leave where you feel most comfortable,” I told her gently,

“But why?” she asked curious,

“You’ll find out why when you’re older Pril,” I said,

“Well I want to be old now,” April huffed; I tapped my index finger on her nose.

“You want to stay as young as you can,” I smiled and lost my control slightly, a fat tear rolled down my cheek, I lifted my hand to brush it away but before I could April noticed it,

“Ally sad?” she asked,

“Ally is happy.” I told her smiling, “She is happy to have a beautiful girl like you for her sister,”

“Ally is happy. Means Pril is happy too,” she smiled and tapped my nose,

“Good, but it’s bedtime for Pril now,” I said softly,

“Will Ally visit Pril?” April asked,

“Ally will,” I promised,

“Good…” she trailed off and within a few seconds was breathing deeply, I was always surprised at how fast April could get to sleep, and I envied her for it.

“Goodnight April,” I whispered and kissed her forehead. I got off the bed gently and drew the covers up to her chin.

“I love you,”