3. Ava
507 Words
3
AVA
The house was lit up when I got home, but that wasn’t uncommon.
I walked through, turning off everything. Grandmum’s oxygen machine was buzzing in the background, but I still went in and made sure everything was working properly. She was settled in her bed, folded up like a ball, and turned to the side. She was so tiny, but that was a family trait. All the women were petite. All of us had blond hair too. Grandmum’s was white by now. Mom’s was dark blond, and I was a mix between with honey-light blond hair. I saw a tip of Grandmum’s hair sticking outside of the blanket, but otherwise she was fully covered. I stood in the doorway, watching out of habit to make sure her chest rose. Once I saw the steady rhythm of her deep sleep, I turned her light off too.
It was her habit to leave it on. She once told me she kept it on because she never knew when Grandpap was coming home, and the habit had stuck. She couldn’t sleep unless the light was on. Growing older, learning more, I was figuring she kept it on in case he tried to sneak in after they separated. He never gave her a divorce. That was one thing he held over her head, and how my grandmum grew up, she didn’t fight him. She was just happy he never brought his shotgun to finish her off.
Women shouldn’t have to live like that, but some did. Grandmum did.
I left her room and checked on my mom next.
She’d taken to the same habit as Grandmum. Her light was on, and she was sleeping in almost the same position as her mama. The main difference, her wheelchair was positioned next to her bed, and she didn’t have an oxygen machine. Instead, though, she had a fan propped up for noise.
I turned her light off and moved through the living room. That light too.
Doors were locked. I checked them two more times before I headed upstairs.
None of the lights were on up here, but neither my mom nor Grandmum came up here. It was the reason it was mine. I got the whole floor, but I only used the large bedroom on the end.
I cleaned up and got ready for bed.
Once I settled in, my window was open because temps were fine at night, I rolled to my side. I faced the door and the one window I had propped open. That was it. I couldn’t handle sleeping with noise. If someone broke in, it was up to me to protect everyone. That was my role in the family.
I took a deep breath, feeling sleep starting to spread through me, but right before I drifted off, I flashed back to Zeke.
“You’re too hot to be single, Ava. That’s what I think.”
I drifted off with a grin on my face.
I didn’t believe him, but it felt nice to hear.
- Writer
