ALEXANDRIA BORDEN
NARRATIVE
Dreamland I peered at my brother through the crack in the door. It was 6 pm, and he was knocked out. Cold. All I could see was his curly pale hair sticking out from under his sea foam sheets. The stairs creaked, and I spun around. My mother was standing at the top of the steps. Her long ash blonde hair covered her worried face. “Blair, shh” she whispered, “Don’t wake Noah; he needs his sleep.” “Okay mom. Whatever you say, I’ll be in my room.” I tiptoed away from his solitude. Noah was always in his room, always. I could never fathom why he was always there; homeschooling wasn’t helping with it. I sauntered over to my white Victorian vanity, and swiped a makeup wipe across my freckled face. I then braided my lengthy brown hair, and put on my pajamas. I overheard a sudden sound in my brother’s room. I leapt up and scurried to his little island. He was awake and slouched over his computer. “Hey Noah.” “Hi, Blair. How are you?” he asked, still looking at his computer. “Good. Are you okay?” “Yeah, I guess I’m fine. Yeah, I’m fine.” “Good. Do you wanna hang out a little in my room before I go do my homework?” “No thanks.” “Ok then, I love you. Night night.” He flashed an annoyed smile at me in response. I slinked back to my room and took a seat at my desk. I started on my homework, but got distracted thinking about Noah. I loved Noah so much, and I wanted what was best for him. I wanted him to leave his room, maybe even go to school and make friends. I just hoped he was okay. I woke up Saturday morning and went into Noah’s room. “Noah? Hey. Do you wanna do something today? Maybe not in your room.” “No thanks. I’m good.” He gave me a glare. I thought for a moment about all the times he had missed, all the things he could of experienced. He might of actually enjoyed life if he tried. My thoughts came barreling out, “Why can’t you just leave your room? Why can’t you act normally? Why can’t you just go to school like everyone else? I know there’s something wrong with you or whatever, but can’t you just try and do something for once?” I realized what I had just done, and immediately regretted it. “Noah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.” My gaze fixed on Noah snatching up his computer and holding it over his head. With a powerful force, he hurled it at me. Time froze as I ducked my head and watched the machine smash into the wall. It hit right where my head would have been. The silver laptop snapped in half, and the glass shattered around my body. “Noah,” I whispered.
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