A World Unknown

chapter 12 Why didn't you come back

As I opened my eyes, I couldn't help but think how quiet it was. Looking around my room, I noticed the night light was on. My head was a little hazy still, making the room spin when I sat up. Despite being a little tired, I didn't want to sleep too late and be up all night when my belly let out a monstrous growl. I wondered why everyone was so quiet. Picking up my phone to see the time, I realized it was 3 a.m. How did I sleep so long? Why didn't anyone wake me up? I knew if I got up, I wouldn't be going back to sleep, and I'd just have to stay quiet until everyone got up, then I'd be so tired again later on. I lay back down and rolled over, swiping my phone open to see what was on f*******:. I love seeing all my friends back home sharing pictures. It makes me miss them, but I'm also glad to see they are doing well. My best friend had enlisted in the Navy and was leaving for boot camp the same time I moved, so I was thinking about taking a trip to go see her. I love traveling, and why not? She is based in Florida, and my income taxes will be coming in a couple more months. Staring at my phone is just going to make me less tired, so I guess I'm going to try and sleep again. I locked my phone and plugged it back in, and while I lay here, I noticed I drifted back to sleep.

Sometime later, I woke to a loud crack, jolting me to sit up and also causing Anna to start crying. It sounded like a car hit our building or maybe a tree fell on it. I jumped up to scoop Anna up when another crack sounded closer to the house. Anna instantly stopped crying once I had her picked up, so I decided to go see if my parents heard the noise too.

As I opened my door, I almost walked straight into Dad, who was coming out of his door, which was wide open. "What was that?" I asked, watching him walk to the front door. Before he stepped out, he turned and said he didn’t know, but to give Anna to Mom and come outside with him.

“You're kidding, right? What time is it? I don't like the dark, Dad.”

“Oh, it's 6:15. The sun's coming up; it's not that dark out. I run Anna into mom and rush out behind him. When we get out there, I'm surprised to see nothing. "Dad, what the hell was that noise? Everything looks fine." "I don't know, babydoo. I thought someone hit the garage." "That's what I thought too." "Or maybe a tree fell," I tell him. We both walk back inside to see mom making Anna a bottle and Anna watching cartoons on the TV. "Hey, why didn't anyone wake me up last night?" "Babydoo, we tried. You were out. You rambled something about it being in the freezer and that you'd be ready in 10, so I just left you asleep. Figured you needed the rest." "Oh, haha, thanks, Mom. I feel a lot better," I told her.

After breakfast, I started to wonder if Sj even noticed that I didn't stop and see him yesterday. He didn't have a phone, so I couldn't expect him to text me. I wanted to go see April and her daughter Tots so I could have something fun for Anna to do. I started wondering if Sj even noticed I didn't stop to see him yesterday. He didn't have a phone, so I couldn't expect him to text me. I wanted to go see April and her daughter Tots so I could have something fun for Anna to do. I know she is a baby, but it makes me feel better when she gets to do something other than play by herself or stay home with Nana and Papa.

"Hey Mom, I'm going to take Anna to visit with April down on the corner," I hollered out to Mom, who was outside reading her book. "Ok, babydoo, be careful."

"Ok, Mom, love you!" I yelled as I packed up Anna's diaper bag and slipped my shoes on. Strapping Anna in, I thought about going to see SJ first. Thinking in my head, I was contradicting myself about whether I should go or not. I was just kind of afraid maybe he wouldn't be as excited to see me as I would be to see him. I'll just go to April's instead.

Down the road, I headed, singing along to my music. As I turned onto the main road, I noticed a big black truck coming up behind me. They had their blinker on to turn, but after I pulled out, they quickly switched it off. I thought I recognized the truck as SJ's, but then again maybe it wasn’t. I didn’t think he had any other reason to come into my holler, I thought. Shrugging it off with it still behind me, I pulled into April's driveway. Looking back at the truck as I got out, I noticed that handsome face smiling, as if he was admiring his truck all cleaned up. Shaking my head, I got Anna out of her car seat. But before I could walk back to him, he meets me halfway, wrapping his arms around me and tilting my head up to kiss his big lips. I swear everything about this man is big. His height isn't the only thing that makes him so huge. His hands are as big as my face, and his feet are longer than a foot ruler. Pulling away from his lips, he manages to turn my cheeks to a dark red shade as everyone stands on the porch watching us. Jacob taunts us to get a room and to bring Anna to them before any clothes fly off. Sjs's body gets stiff as he moves to stand beside me; I can tell he wants to say something, but with the crowd throwing jokes at us, he just shuts down and looks at me. I can feel his anxiety radiating off him. saying it for the onlookers to hear. I tell him that I can come to his house if it would make him more comfortable. I could feel his mood shift slightly as he shakes his head yes and tells me he'll be there waiting on me. As he turns to walk to his truck, I let him know I want to visit with April for just a few minutes before I head over. I can sense the sadness in his voice as he tells me, 'That'll be home.' I turn to walk to the trailer when April comes out and tells me she is getting ready to leave, and that I can come back when they are back from town in a couple of hours. Shaking my head, I tell her I'll see her later and take Anna to the car to strap her in. 'Well, that was a short visit,' I say as I climb into my car and leave to go to SJS."