I shook with anticipation; my hands trembled around the front doorknob. I took in the change of fresh air to ease my shaken body from the adrenaline coursing through my veins before the door to our two-story brick house opened. The solid wooden door, painted in navy blue to match the shutters, slowly crept its way open to reveal the entire foyer before knocking against the table behind it. “…Hello?” I waited for a reply, wondering if the grey SUV outside our house just happened to be our neighbor’s new vehicle or if it was the answer to my hidden suspicion that had been lingering for quite some time. When silence answered my reply, I didn’t hesitate after the door closed to check upstairs as I slid off my boots. I glanced at our family pictures that seemed to change over time with each step I took closer to the top. The very last step revealed that Stella and I were pictured together with Mom around us. To a fool, it seemed picture perfect, but to us, we filled the missing gaps that shouldn’t have been there. I felt the pent-up anger show itself when I passed by my bedroom on the right.

My bedroom wasn’t anything special as I closed the pale white door every day before heading off to the University. Stella’s bedroom, on the other hand, was right next to mine and always remained open for everyone who passed by to view. No guest could deny that it was her room with her love of pink, glitter, and Britney Spears posters. Our bathroom was the only room that resembled both of us, but the walls were decorated in a way that I disliked. “…yes, I…” I turned my head towards the farthest bedroom, where a voice echoed through the hall. I reached for the collar of my polo shirt, pulling at the top to let in some air. Suddenly dry-mouthed, the air didn’t help my overworked lungs from the rapid beating through my chest. The door was slightly open, moving with every breeze from the air conditioning, despite the heat. I knew only a few more steps would land me right at the bedroom door, but instead, I stood there at the entrance of Stella’s doorway.

My body kept itself there despite my ears hearing the bedroom door open. I took in a breath of shock in preparation… “Lawerence?” Dad exited the room, dressed in his work attire, but it looked messy and unkept. I was taken aback at the sight as he glanced at his watch, “Why are you here so early? Your classes don’t end until three o’clock?” His voice peaked higher than usual. I shook my head in denial as he took off his black, sleek coat and leaned forward, unlacing his slightly dirty, polished shoes.

            I wiggled my fingers around, the sweat accumulating between the crevasses, “I should be asking you the same question… why aren’t you at work?” He paused in his movement, processing my words before opening his mouth only to close it. He met my gaze from ground level; his pupils moved furiously and inspected every wrinkle on my face. I cleared the cluster of dryness out of my throat, “…And why are your clothes all stained and… torn?” A long pause lingered in the air between us.

“Why are you asking me these questions Lawerence?” he shook his head at me as if I came to him with a ridiculous proposition.

“I’m not stupid, Dad… I know what’s going on,” he shifted his body while unlacing his shoes. I couldn’t take my eyes off him from across the hallway. My hands trembled at the pace of my heartbeat. “Why are you doing this to us?”

He cleared his throat, “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” He replied calmly as he stood up. I bit the corners of my lip, pinching at my skin. He fidgeted with his sleeves, dusted off part of the stains on his slacks, and attempted to smooth out the wrinkles in his collar. “Now if you excus-!”

“You know what I’m talking about!” He furrowed his eyebrows with a head tilt. I huffed at him with an eye roll, “It-It’s obvious what’s going on. I mean, seriously, dirt all over your pants. Your shirt is torn, TORN, and even your dirty shoes! You’re cheating on mom.”

            His demeanor changed in an instant. “Okay. Now you’re wasting both your time and mine,” a stern voice left his mouth.

“What-so you’re not going to answer!?”

“No! I’m not cheating on your mom!”

“Then explain why-!”

“Enough!!” His voice felt as if it was echoing through the walls. I turned away from him just as I saw the front doorknob wiggle to the sound of keys. “That’s your mother… I suggest you act normal,” Dad whispered. I wanted to rebut, but held myself back when mom started up the stairs dressed in her usual bright, yellow dress she loved to wear.

“Oh, hello darling, how were classes today?” Mom asked with a playful smile. Dad escaped into their bedroom again, before Mom saw him. I let out a sigh, wondering what to say. She waited for me to give her a reply she deserved as I attempted to get with the program.

“Oh, yeah, sorry-classes were good,” She was about to speak when the sound of subtle water reached our ears from the opposite side of the wall. “I… guess dad’s taking a shower,” I said in the form of a question. “Uh, so, today was weird; Professor Wilson had us pair up to practice our Spanish before the exam next week,” I found something to hopefully take the edge off this strange atmosphere circling us. “I was paired up with Mallory…” I started to chuckle to myself, thinking back on our interaction. Mom leaned against the wall in full focus on my storytelling abilities. “I kept trying to ask her questions, tried practicing the words, and even complimented her on her hair, but she never once spoke a word to me.” I fidgeted with my thumbs, picking the skin.

“Interesting…” Mom nodded to her own thought.

“Here’s the thing, though, she talks to all the girls. Even when Professor Wilson asked how we were doing, she wouldn’t say a word to him!” My heart oddly felt calmer once I knew I wasn’t hallucinating the situation.

She chuckled under her breath, “Maybe she’s too nervous to talk?” Mom tried to give feedback, but the look of confusion answered any question she had. She leaned against the walls, feeling cold to the touch and rough with its paint edges.

I shook my head, “No, because she talked to the girls! …Maybe I’ll ask Mr. Beckingham one day if we run into each other,” I pondered on the thought.

“Mr. Beckingham? Our neighbor?”

“Yeah-Mallory Beckingham,” Mom frowned her eyebrows, “What?” She caught my curiosity.

“Mr. Beckingham’s never had children,” Mom finally answered. “Are you sure she’s our neighbor’s daughter?”

“Yes, I saw him pick her up after class today… at least I thought that was his truck?” I turned to my bedroom door, wanting to check for myself if that was really what I saw. “Maybe I missed something then-I don’t know… we can discuss this later. I do know that there are groceries in the car waiting to be taken to the kitchen. Will you come help me?” Mom said, heading back downstairs to her car parked in the driveway. I dashed to my bedroom, dogging the scattered clothes on the floor to peer outside the window. Mr. Beckingham’s house had been in perfect view of my window, with its white paneling and dark colored green shutters to complement the place. I sat there waiting for something to catch my eye. His truck had been parked in the driveway, the same one from earlier, with its rusty red Ford with chips of paint revealing the metal underneath. After some time of waiting around, I decided I should head downstairs, but only when I went to reach for the window seal was I able to see Mallory in the kitchen window. I gasped in surprise; she had been cleaning dishes and watching the TV station. The sound of a door opening caught my attention from Mallory to Mr. Beckingham, going outside into the backyard with a small wooden box and a shovel. I squinted my eyes, trying to read what was written on the box.

A strange aura appeared over him as he began to dig a hole, not too deep but enough to place this wooden box inside. I wiped my eyes to check if I had been hallucinating, and maybe I was because right as he was about to bury the box, he leaned down and opened the top. I gasped in shock, “Huh!?” I covered my mouth just as the sound came out, but it was too late. His head turned right at me; our eyes met for a split second, and I knew something was wrong…

To be continued…