Child of the Night

Chapter 2: Adventure

Adventure is worthwhile. - Aesop

My dad told me we moved to Nowheresville because it's a small community. A nice place to start a new life. He thought it would be better for me, help me cope with my mom's death. But honestly, I think it was more for him than me.

So, we ended up in a small dead end town because that's what he said would be good for us. But it doesn't matter where I am because the light will always confine me to the walls of my caged fortress.

I'll never stroll the grounds of a college campus under the sun's rays or tour a bustling city on a warm summer day. Tubing on the river or visiting a theme park during daylight hours will never be part of my life. But under the light of the moon, within the freedom of darkness, the essence of my soul thrives and flourishes. He doesn't understand I can't live in the light, but I wish he did.

I thirst for freedom from the walls that confine me because I know there's a whole other world to be explored out there in the darkness.

My condition frightens him, and I understand why. But it's all I've ever known, so it seems normal to me.

Why can't he see that I need more out of life than four walls? I can't live in a bubble forever, sheltered from the world, not when I know there's more to life than what I've experienced.

Rounding the corner of Holston Avenue and Pier Drive, my brown cotton hoodie slides forward. The fleece fabric covers my forehead, sliding past my brows.

The only signs of life are a few bullbats flying around a handful of streetlights. Bowing my head, to avoid direct contact with the artificial lights, my feet keep pedaling at a steady pace.

Morph glances over his shoulder, making sure I'm still behind him. He picks up his pace because he knows we're heading to Chase Pond, my one true refuge.

At the entrance of the pond, I haul my bike off the road and chain it to a metal rod that's attached to the fence surrounding the city park.

"A locked gate." That's odd - strange indeed. "But it won't stop us, will it, boy?"

Morph crawls under the cold steel bars and groans.

Shifting his weight from paw-to-paw, he waits for me to climb over.

On the other side, we walk down to the bank.

The rhythmic movement of the water lapping against the wooden legs of the dock makes a sloshing noise that whooshes in my ears.

Under the light of the moon, the clamor of the pond comes to life like a well-orchestrated movement of a symphony playing Mahler's Fifth.

Closing my eyes, I breathe in the sounds of the night. Why can't all of life be this peaceful and free?

The intonation of a splash sputters to my left, and I open my eyes.

Morph prowls along the bank, chasing shadows in the dark. He treads into the shallow water at the edge. His meow and chirp are buoyant and carefree.

"Come on, boy." A crisp breeze cools my skin, chilling me to the bone. "It's way too cold for a swim."

Taking long strides, my sneakers crunch the brown grass. Closing the distance between us, I scratch behind his alert ears.

He rubs his head against my leg, nipping the outside of my hand

Cocking his head sideways, his ears tuck back. "Mirrp," he chirps then trots off, sniffing the night air.

"Don't go too far." Stripping off the outer layer of clothing I'm wearing, jogging pants and a zipper hoodie, my skin chills.

My breath is visible when exhaling. It might be cold in my shorts and T-shirt now, but that won't last long.

Unlocking my phone, I scroll through the menu, finding my jogging tunes. Sliding the blue and red ear buds into place, I crank up the classical sounds of Telemann, Dvorak, and Beethoven and tuck the device inside my sports bra. Picking up my discarded clothing, I drape them over the railing at the entrance of the dock and retie my shoes.

Telemann's Fantasia in B- flat major croons in my ears. The carefree and lighthearted violin piece lifts my spirits.

Morph's head pops up over some tall weeds.

"Yeah, I see ya, buddy." Stepping onto the worn dirt path, I take off jogging the two-mile trail.

He runs up beside me, pacing my steps.

It's nice to let go and extend my stride. The tension and stress of the day slowly melt away with each slap of my shoes on the solid ground.

My father doesn't understand I can't be his little girl forever. I need to stretch my wings and see where the winds of time will take me.

A light mist falls on the last leg of my run.

The dock entrance comes into view. The pounding of my heart slows, and my body cools. Plodding up to my discarded clothing, I pick up my pants and wiggle them on over my shoes.

Without unzipping my hoodie, I slide it over my head. It warms my damp body. I free the buds from my ears, then retrieve my phone. Unlocking the screen, I scroll through the menu, turn off the music playing, and I slip it into the front pocket of my jacket.

Sliding a small bottle of water out of my hoodie, my cell phone falls to the ground with a thud.

Morph scurries up and sniffs the device.

The screen is unscathed. It's a few minutes after midnight. My father won't be up for another six hours.

After slipping the phone back into my pocket, I twist the cap off of the plastic water container. The clear liquid is cool and quenches my thirst.

Morph stands on his hind legs, pawing at my arms.

"Okay. Okay. I know you're thirsty." Snickering, I tip the bottle until a small stream emerges.

Morph laps the water mid-stream.

With all the water surrounding us, I've never figured out why he has to drink mine. When he's finished, I cap the bottle and toss it into a black barrel trashcan.