My Secret I Never Knew

Just Breathe

Candice walked 10 houses down to her best friend’s home, she inhaled the air deeply then laid on the grass in the front lawn. She laid there, eyes closed, being bathe in the son. This is something she would do since she was a child, ESPECIALLY when her mind was overwhelmed. This seemed to calm her, center her s why not even if it did seem strange. 

The neighborhood was a lower class neighborhood but you couldn’t tell that by just looking at it, the community took pride in it’s appearance. She lived less than an hour away from the city of Chicago, so she was use to a big city but her small town was her heart. The way the stars glittered in the sky at night and danced with the moon was breathtaking, she loved it. The people here have lived here since birth and the homes were passed down from generation to generation dating back well over 100years, but the upkeep was amazing homes remodeled each time a new generation would claim them. Not everyone had a great job or even worked for that matter, but the ones that did would assist those that did not. Anyone unable to find work around town or in the city would just help around the neighborhood, in the community garden, housekeeping, landscaping, or being a nanny. It was a beautiful system, curious at times but beautiful.

“One day you’re going to lay in that grass right on top of some dog s**t child.” Mrs. Lee said from the doorway smiling.

“I look before I lay, weeeeellllll most of the time. Hey how did you know I was out here?” Candice responded looking over her head at the beautiful woman. Mrs. Lee had a beautiful caramel complexion and the figure of a super model. She had a beautiful mark on her left cheek and today’s hair colored looked to be a shade of blue and styled into a blunt cut. Candice always called this woman Clairvoyant, well not to her parents anymore since the over reacted and threw a fit over it. They went so far as to say that she could never associate with the Lees again if they want to fill her head with such things. She had to clarify to her parents that the thought was hers and hers alone, eventually they calmed down.

“ I just always know, just like I know you’re here to speak with me. Seeing as you know my daughter is out at the moment. Come in and tell me what’s troubling you love.”

Candice got up dusted her clothes off then proceeded into what she considered a second home, they went straight into the kitchen. Can grabbed the clean veggies from the sink along with a knife, cutting board, and bowl. She then proceeded to the table and began dicing, this was their routine, their process and it worked like clockwork.

CANDICE POV

While we prepared food and heavenly smells engulfed the kitchen I told Mrs. Lee of my dream, well cliff notes version. I felt disturbed and so uneasy talking about it, what is wrong with me to have that in my brain. So vivid so often, I can’t be normal.

“Sweet child you have the purest heart of anyone I know. As well as a deep love of those sci-fi movies” Mrs. Lee said with a giggle while rolling her eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with you, you’ve always had an active imagination and a power presence. You’re fine” she said with a slight smile but as I examined her face I noticed she wanted to say more but wasn’t. Her eyes seemed as if she was fighting with herself about something but I didn’t want to push her.

We sat, talked, ate then I realized it was almost 1pm and I needed to go to the Monroe’s. We said our goodbyes and I left, walking 5 blocks to the Monroe’s.

I was listening to Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys as I approached the hideously yellow and blue colored house with the red door. The Monroes were interesting people, well the parents were friends with my parents so they were bad people but their taste in certain things was let’s just say questionable. I was only coming here because their daughter, Tierra, needed to be tutored and unfortunately my AP Biology teacher thought I was best for the job. I use to be friends with Tierra until my 11th birthday party, I had a slumber party and she had decided that she wanted to show us a magic trick. Neesh told her no and my other BFF Nicole threatened to punch her in the face if she didn’t just stick to the game we were currently playing. Tierra ignored the pleas and did his trick with a quarter floating in the air, big deal I already knew of that trick and how the magnets were used to create the illusion. I rolled my eyes and then out of no where her body started glowing green and wind was blowing everywhere, I had to admit that freaked me out perfectly. Hearing my screams my parents immediately rushed to my room, Tierra was sent home and my parents explained the illusion with the use of fans an mirrors to me so I was able to calm down and continue with my party. It seems like everyday since then she’s expressed her hatred for me in more ways than one.

I knocked on the red door after removing my earbuds and turning off my music, it didn’t take long for the door to open. Tierra stood in the doorway glaring at me. She had half of her hair braided straight back and the other half loosely curled reaching her shoulder blade. She had her mother’s beautiful emerald green Asian eyes, aaaannndd that’s about all she got from her mom. I feel like her hair was a mixture from both parents. This girl had her father’s hard jaw line, his quarterback broad shoulders, even her ebony complexion was her father’s. This girl looked like she was her father’s clone except her eyes, dude has some strong genes.

“Bout time Superstar, I thought I’d be home alone all day waiting on you, I do have a life you know.” Her voice is so annoying 

“I’m on time genius, let’s get started.” I replied to her pushing pass her and going into the living room to setup everything. Just as we were about to begin there was a loud crash from upstairs 

“What’s that?” I asked my voice laced with concern but her face was neutral as she said nothing probably her cat as if a cat could make a sound that mildly shakes the house. I looked at her then decided to push pass her and run upstairs, she probably was expecting to stay in the living room and whoever was upstairs would come down and I would be the victim of another prank. Or was she expecting me to go up still making me the victim, oh well too late now. I ran down the hallway towards her room and pulled the door open. All of a sudden a bright green light charged towards me throwing me into the wall behind me so hard I heard and felt the wall break. 

“Just Breathe human”, I heard a husky voice say before darkness cradled me.