Secrets Behind the Door
694 Words
The morning sun streamed through my bedroom window, its golden light relentless and unforgiving. I groaned, shielding my eyes, and immediately regretted leaving the curtains wide open the night before. The exhaustion from the Henrys' party still clung to me like a heavy cloak, but the demands of the ranch waited for no man. I rose, washed the sleep from my face, and headed to the kitchen where the comforting scent of breakfast was already waiting. My mother was busy at the stove, while my father was already geared up, his boots laced and his hat pulled low.
"You're late rising, Eric," my father noted, his voice steady as ever. He didn't say it with malice, but with the quiet expectation of a man who lived by the clock of the land.
"I'll be right behind you, Dad. Just let me grab a quick bite," I replied. He nodded, picked up his gloves, and headed out toward the barn without another word. My father was a man of action, and his silent discipline was something I had always admired and tried to emulate.
As I was finishing my meal, a sharp, familiar knock echoed from the front door. I pulled it open, and there stood Llana. She looked refreshed, her presence instantly brightening the room in a way the morning sun never could. "Hey, Llana," I mumbled, still feeling a bit half-awake.
My mother, hearing her voice, called out from the kitchen, "Llana! Come in, dear. We’re having breakfast in shifts today. Why don’t you join us?" My family had always treated her like one of our own; they knew my heart, even if I never spoke the words.
Llana giggled, a sound that always made my pulse quicken. "Perhaps another day, Mrs. Holmes," she said with a radiant smile. She turned her attention to me, her expression softening. "You left so suddenly last night, Eric. I was looking for you after your big speech."
"I was just weary," I explained, trying to hide the lingering discontent. "The crowd was getting a bit much for me."
"I felt the same," she admitted. "I don’t last long in crowded places either. But Jack was enjoying himself so much, I stayed with him until the very end." The mention of Jack felt like a familiar pang in my chest, but I kept my face neutral. As I stepped outside to head toward the farm, she followed me into the crisp air. "Our neighborhood is truly pleasant, isn't it?" I remarked, looking around at the hills.
"Exactly. A simple life is the best life," she replied. Then, she paused and looked at me intently. "Eric, even though we’ve known each other since childhood, I sometimes feel like I hardly know the real you."
"There might be more to discover," I said with a small smile, "but I really have to get to the ranch now."
Llana reached out and stopped me. "Wait, I haven't even told you why I came over." I paused, curious. "What is it?"
"Since Jack won't be available this weekend, I was thinking... why don't you take the birthday girl out instead?" she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"On your birthday? I'd be honored, Llana. Why not!" I exclaimed, genuinely surprised.
"How do you even know when my birthday is?" she asked, looking amazed.
"I've listened to the noise of your celebrations every single year," I replied, a bit of the truth slipping out. "Even though I never once received an invitation." She looked slightly flustered and muttered something I couldn't catch. I checked my watch hurriedly. "I really must go now. Anything else?"
"Until then, bye-bye!" she grinned playfully. I waved without looking back and started walking toward the farm. But a strange instinct made me stop and glance back over my shoulder. Llana wasn't leaving. She took a quick look around, and then, thinking I wasn't watching, she quietly re-entered my house. My heart skipped a beat. Why was she going back inside to talk to my mother in private? A sudden sense of unease settled in my stomach. What secrets were they keeping from me behind those closed doors?
- Writer
