One Way to Die

Nothing is heard all around my best friend’s mansion except for the non stop clicking and clacking of the keyboard where I’m typing up part of my book, Alive and Breathing, when an instant invisible light bulb appears above my head.

“I’ve got it” I murmur to myself, I immediately grab a blank piece of paper and pencil, beginning to write down invitations. I’m inviting at least twenty people including the butler and head maid here. As I’m writing one of the last invitations Zay comes waltzing in, I scramble all of them together including the unfinished one to hide it. “Why hello Zay, what are you doing up this late? It’s...” I look down at my watch to see it’s ten o’clock at night. “Ten o’clock your toddler could be up at any time going to cry until you come, you need as much sleep as you can get” I say seriously.

“I was just about to ask you the same thing, but yeah I should be going to sleep my little girl could be up at anytime getting her pillow whacking me in the head or crying till we get up to get her” Zay replies rolling his eyes tiredly, coming over to read my new chapter but takes a curious glance at the stack of paper I wrote the invitations on but they’re flipped over so he can’t read them. “What are those?” he asks quizzically.

“Just some of my book ideas that I’m sending out tomorrow” I toss the lie around so easily like I’ve said it a million times.

“May I see them?” he asks kindly.

“No, they’re a surprise even to you.” I say with a small smirk. At that he takes a deep disappointing sigh and struts out the door like he owns it which he does. I pick up the papers and hit them against the desk to align them. I take the top off and continue to finish it as I was before Zay came in. I get up from my seat in Zay’s office to take hold of a stack of envelopes to set my soon to be folded invitations inside. I walk back to the desk but stay standing as I put music on, and pick up the first invitation, folding it up neatly and set it nicely into the envelope. About twenty minutes later I finished each and every invitation adding the names of whom it goes to in cursive. I grab my backpack and carefully place the invitations inside making sure they’re secure. Next I grasp my computer, make sure everything’s off and shut down the computer placing it inside the compartment designed for computers within my backpack.

I head to my special room here since I come here often at times. My fancy dress shoes I had to wear for a meeting today are pittering and pattering against the stairs as a few steps squeak and groan as I put some of my weight on them. I make it up two flights of stairs to open a door with a creak setting down my backpack on the chair by the door plopping down on the bed feeling the tiredness surging through my body. I turn over and stay like that for a few minutes, I sit up with a big sigh thinking about what to do next before going to bed. I slowly stand up, when I do I walk over to the closet where I keep some spare clothes in case I come for visits.

I choose a comfy T-shirt to cover the top half of my body and a pair of sweatpants to cover the bottom half of me. I turn on the lamp then move to the door to turn off the main lights to my room. I walk back and launch into bed draping the blankets over my shivering cold body. I debate reaching out my hand to turn off the lamp, but my internal battle resides in turning off the lamp so I can sleep better and not be bothered by the light it gives off. I fling my arm right back under the covers, turning over in the process. I close my eyes thinking about tomorrow being another day, a new adventure that can’t wait to be started.

My eyes fly open as my alarm goes off blaring, waking me up from my slumber. I take in my surroundings memories from last night’s ideas coming back. I look at myself to see I’m bundled up in a ball with the covers covering me keeping me from the cold cruel air. I once again have an internal battle between staying in bed or getting up to start a new today. Of course the battle of staying in bed for the day loses and I’m up in adam in no time getting up to do my morning stretch hearing cracks and pops of my stiff muscles.

“Time to start the day I guess” I mumble to myself a little annoyed. I rush to grab some clothes and transfer to the bathroom from my bedroom. After that nice reassuring warm shower I take hold of my backpack and head downstairs to get something to eat then make a plan of my route to take the invitations to their owners. As I race down the stairs to the smell of heaven itself I almost face plant when reaching the last step of the third staircase I’ve taken today. Luckily head butler Herald was there to help me.

“Careful Fable we both know how clumsy you are especially with stairs” he says as he gives a little wink and chuckle reminding me of what happened last time. Just the thought of what happened the last time had me wince.

“Yeah...we definitely don’t need to be having another trip to the hospital all because of one step” I say as I shake my head.

“We definitely don’t. Now I see you’re in a hurry we shall talk the next time you fall down a step which will probably be in a few minutes or so” he chuckles out. I groan in annoyance but also can’t hold in a small giggle. I rush to the kitchen to see my Goddaughter Prestela.

“PRESTELAAAAA” I scream at the top of my lungs. This is always how we greet each other.

“FABLEEEEEEEEEE” she screams even louder. At that I can’t help but giggle. She runs over while I move to a crouch. She leeps into my arms and I rise fast from the crouch to spin her around adding in a big bear hug to the mix.

“Morning kiddo, Morning Zay, Morning Xiomena” I say acknowledging Xiomena and Zay. After that small sentimental scene I carry Prestela back over to the table, setting her on the chair next to me. She gets up and sits on my lap instead so I just let her do what she wants.

“Good morning Fable” Zay and Xiomena respond to my morning at the same time. “How’s the book going?” Xiomena asks as she takes a sip of her apple juice.

“It’s going pretty well, thanks for asking,” I respond politely. The head maid Madam Clair takes that moment as the perfect time to give us our food. “Why thank you Miss Clair” I take a quick sip of my orange juice then ask, “Will you be joining us for breakfast this morning or have you already eaten?”

“Thank you for another generous offer but for the third or fourth time this morning I’m going to have to politely decline but again thank you for the offer Fable” she responds with a kind smile.

“You’re always welcome to the table” I reply with a smile to what she said knowing that Zay and Xiomena agree and have told her millions of times. She’s always declined the kindest way she could. Madam sets the most appetizing plate of breakfast food right in front of me that I could ever have. Of course I thanked her for the amazing food.

“So, what’s the book about?” Xiomena asks.

“Well, it’s about this girl in this big family who doesn’t know that they are supernaturals and she’s also one. She goes on this whole journey that proves she’s the chosen one. It’s a magical world that needs saving but there’s twists and turns but it’s mostly her that needs saving more than anyone else.” I summarize a bit for her.

“Oh wow” She responds amazed.

“I can read it to Prestela on the next visit I have. How does that sound kiddo?” I ask.

“YAY book” She yells out in excitement while clapping her hands. We all give a little chuckle and giggle at her excitement for another one of my books. I start eating while helping little Prestela eat too. The table is silent with her parents talking on their side of the table.

“Prestela, how would you like it if we read a few chapters of my book now after we’re done eating before I have to do some things today?” I ask. Her bright green eyes shoot to me and widen in even more excitement. She starts eating a few notches faster than she was before so we can go read those chapters. I also start eating a bit faster. Before we both know it we’re done. “Alright Prestela hop on my leg and hold on tight we gotta put these away then go to the couch.” I tell her. Not even a second after I stand up. She’s like a wrecking ball holding me down but I manage to pull her small weight on my leg. As we walk to the kitchen sink to clean our dishes and put them away I hear laughter behind us already knowing what they’re laughing at us. I shake my head and laugh a bit myself.

“Hurry Fable I wanna listen to the story!” She exclaims in eagerness.

“Ok ok, I’m going.” I giggle a little as I respond. I quickly but carefully clean the dishes and put them away. I walk over or shall I say walk with one foot and drag the other over to the living room couch and pass the front door grasping my backpack on my way over.

“C’monnnnnnnnn hurrrryyyyy Fableeeeee.” She whines in anticipation. At that I move a bit faster.

“I’m going I’m going.” I laugh out loud. I peel her off my leg when we make it to the couch but didn’t have to do much because she practically rocketed off my leg. I chuckle as I plop down beside her. She climbs onto my lap as soon as I make contact with the couch.

I take out my computer since I haven’t printed them out just yet. As I pull it up and start to read she snuggles into me getting more comfortable with a small victorious smile covering her light brown face. Her smile makes me smile as I read those few chapters. The little three year old, Prestela, has fallen asleep when I finished reading. I checked the time to see it’s nine in the morning.

“I should be getting going right about now.” I whisper as quietly as possible trying not to wake Prestela. I slowly and carefully get up, adjusting Prestela in my arms to carry her upstairs to her room. I discreetly make my way up the stairs making sure that my clumsy self doesn’t fall again. We don’t need that with Prestela in my arms. I walk up two flights before stopping for a few seconds to readjust her so I don’t drop her as my arms are getting a bit tired from her weight.

Another two flights I go up are creaking and squeaking just like the rest but are a bit louder than the others from the old stairs. I turn to the left and go to the sixth door on the right side of the hallway. I open the door and walk through it making sure I don’t bonk her head on the wall or the door frame as I do so. I walk in further going to her toddler bed or how she calls it her “big girl bed”. I pull back the blanket and set her cautiously, sending a quick prayer not wanting her to wake up as I’m setting her in bed.

I tuck her in so she’s all nice and cozy. I step back and smile as I walk away. I take one last look before turning off the lights, then waltz out the door to do some errands I have planned to do. As I did earlier I race down the stairs looking at the time, also making sure I don’t trip like my clumsy self usually does. I clutch my bag and computer, putting it in my backpack in the process.

I move to the kitchen snatching two muffins and a sparkling ice then head to the dining room while I shove those things in my bag after putting the muffins in a ziplock baggie. I grab a breakfast cookie shoving it in my mouth, but saying a bye before shoving it in there. I hear the quick goodbye from Xiomena and Zay.

“Wait, did you put Prestela to bed?” She quizzes.

“Don’t worry I did, she’s tucked in and everything. I have some errands to run so I won’t be back for a little while. Bye.” I reply smoothly still while munching on my cookie.

“Ok thank you Fable, bye.” She responds. Also not forgetting to say byes to Madam Clair and Herald. I open the door and close it behind me sprinting to my car.

“Alright my first stop is to..Cedric Wills Jones.” I announce it to myself. Cedric is one of the many kids I love to babysit and take care of when his parents don’t want him home alone with all the crimes in their area. He’s fifteen, five foot nine which is taller than my five foot two frame, he gives me a free meal at Subway when he’s working there, he’s such an amazing and kind kid making the best of his life helping the world. I start my car while thinking about who he is again and again.

I drive to his house dropping off the letter in the mailbox, knowing he isn’t home right now. I look at the next invitation reading the name Jacob in cursive just how Cedric’s was and how everyone else has it. Jacob is one of my old friends from high school. He’s twenty two, he is a technology employee at one of the best technology stores in Michigan. He’s also very good at software and coding. Even able to hack into things I’ve heard, I’m not sure if that’s actually true or not.

I smile to myself remembering how I found out; I was almost laughing. He’s very secretive and hides his face with a skull mask. I remind myself of that while rolling my eyes. He’s pretty tall. He won’t tell me exactly how tall but I guess at least six foot.

I’m not going to lie, he can be kind of scary but mostly when he tries to be, well more to me. I drive over to his one floor house in the neighborhood we used to live in together which was right next to a very busy road. I put it in his mailbox knowing that he’s at a job right now and not home just like how Cedric wasn’t. My next stop is at least thirty minutes away to another kid I used to babysit but I don’t anymore.

His name is Seven Wood. He is always looking at the positive rather than the negative. He’s probably practicing his race car driving at the moment cause that’s his job and what he loves to do. That kid can go on for hours just about Nascar racing. I don’t judge.

He’s also seventeen. I think it’s interesting that he’s so into it and can talk about it so much just like he does with his crush Crystal whom I also got to babysit but we’ll talk about her later. He’s taller than me. What a shocker at that, he has black messy hair that drives me crazy when he wouldn’t let me trim it a bit or even style it for him when he was younger. He’s the one that kept me writing and not giving up with his “do the best you can” attitude he has.

I glance out the window to see the race track and see Seven himself racing around the track. I pull over and discreetly give it to one of the referees to give it to him. I thank them and take my leave so I don’t stay there longer than necessary. I make it back to my car, put it in reverse and start leaving before he sees me since I didn’t sign my name on any of the invitations. Don’t start doubting me, I did it on purpose to be just that mysterious cause this will be a fun vacation for them.

The next envelope’s name is Winter Cia. Again another babysitting job I would normally have. Let’s just say I babysat and currently babysit a lot of kids. She’s sixteen, and one of the most easiest babysitting jobs I’ve had. She’s patient, calm, and laid back.

She loves being a graphic designer and that’s all she wanted to be when she was younger. She has black hair and striking blue clear eyes. She’s easy to be around when it needs to be quiet or just need someone to hang out with or in my case babysit. Well when I used to babysit her. Another thirty to forty minutes pass as I arrive at her job.

I place it in her mailbox she has there. I see them get up for their lunch break which makes me bolt out of there making it back to my car. I look at my watch to see it’s twelve thirty in the afternoon. Just as I see the time my stomach makes an appearance. I don’t have much time to stop for food so instead I grab a muffin and the sparkling ice from my backpack.

Taking a bite as I look at the next envelope. Maria Bellevue, who is another friend from high school. We would study together and eat together. She made high school fun and so did my other friends but she made it interesting. She’s twenty seven but she’s only a few months older than me so we were in the same year. She’s witty and smart but can be how she says it is a female dog in heat. After reminding myself of that, I had to chuckle or giggle a little to myself on my way there. She has brown hair, brown eyes, kind of slim mostly in between body shape. She’s a lawyer that deals with murder cases so this will be a good break she absolutely no doubt needs.

I drop it off to her assistant after the forty minute drive. I tell her to not say it’s from me though. I waltz out of there and back to my car once again checking who’s the sixth person I’m taking the next one to. The next envelope carries the name of Jared Collins. He’s yet another kid I used to babysit.

He’s now seventeen and wants to be an activist. I still remember that day when I was babysitting him getting a call that broke my heart. I had to turn around and tell little seven year old Jared that his dad was killed. His expression that day nearly shattered me. From then on he wanted to be an activist so bad. Working his hardest to be one.

A bunch of us and by us I mean his friends and his babysitter also known as me call him JC. He can be determined and very stubborn and when I say very that’s an understatement. He’s a very kind and sweet boy but can be straight and serious when the time comes for him to be. He’s also six foot. He works at the community center so kids and other people don’t have to stay on the streets but have a place to call home.

He’s into philosophy and can be pretty smart. He has brown hair, faded brown eyes, and has light brown skin. I pull up to the community center and when I walk in it’s like the place has come alive with so many paintings that kids and others have drawn on the wall. The walls are painted white but have special hand prints from everyone that’s been here but put that up before they leave. My heart flutters at the sight.

I move slowly admiring the place heading to the work boxes which are also known as mail boxes for the workers here. I find his and place it inside. I once again admire the place as I make my way back to the door to leave. I turn the knob gradually resenting to leave but remind myself of everyone I have to get to. I step out to my car looking at the next person’s envelope.

Bilal Imran Adul-Masood and his twin brother Naaji Nabil Adul-Masood. I remember taking care of them when they were only babies and taking care of their sister whom I shall also talk about later. They’re only five years old now. They’re parents died when they were only one year olds. They didn’t even get to meet them. I got to meet them before they died a year later but it’s just sad how they don’t remember them. Bilal’s pretty quiet compared to his brother Naaji. Naaji is the opposite which is very talkative.

They both cuddle up to their sister at night and see her as their mother figure so they call her their mother. Whenever she leaves Bilal, he will go over to the corner curl up and cry until he falls asleep and it shatters my heart to see him like that. His brother acts like his older brother even though he’s the youngest. Naaji will find anyway to help his sister with anything like cooking or cleaning. They both have long black hair paired with gray eyes.

Bilal can easily get sick ranging from a fever or a cold. Nobody knows what’s wrong or how that happens but their sister and I have been trying to figure that out even though neither of us are professional doctors so we won’t really know a diagnosis. By now I’m in front of their house. I carefully place in the envelope that shares both of their names. Pulling away from the mailbox to my next destination which would be Trivago Killian.

She’s gone through a lot of stuff. She’s thirty six and I helped her when I was younger from a group of gang members that took control over her and did some illegal things, such as rape. She’s eight foot eleven. One of the tallest women in the world. She has a mental disorder now because of those gang members.

She’s from Austria and is married to a king pin but she calls him a penguin named Sterv. At the age of fourteen she was accepted into Harvard. I’ve had to help her with stuff ever since I’ve met her. I don’t mind cause then I get to help her and maybe make her life easier that way. I arrive to her house after about twenty minutes.

I walk to her mansion and push it through the mail slot going back to my car. I see the next person is Zay Hudson, Xiomena Hudson, and their daughter Prestela Hudson. I wanted to give them their invitations when I wasn’t there doing other errands so they don’t think it’s me until after we’re together and I’m hosting it. Zay is my best friend, yes he’s younger than me but so what age doesn’t matter or at least age that isn’t too far apart. Anyway, Zay and I went to high school together and so did Xiomena.

We all became great friends. Zay is twenty three and so is Xiomena. Zay is six foot five while Xiomena is five foot six. Zay has dark brown eyes that have a spark of the emotion/feeling that he has when he’s in that particular mood and Prestela is the same way except she has bright green eyes, but Xiomena has ice diamond eyes. He has chocolate brown skin while Prestela has light brown and Xiomena has light beige skin.

Zay has brown almost black hair, Xiomena has black straight hair, and Prestela has brown curly hair. Zay plays for the NBA Lakers while Xiomena is a sexy poetry writer. At least that’s what Zay says. Zay and Xiomena are married and Prestela is their three year old daughter. I quickly come up, drop it off there and I can’t forget about going around back to give Madam Clair and Herald their invitations.

All I really know about Clair and Herald is that Clair can be grumpy at times and she’s forty. While Herald is eighty six, has been for them for years, and that he’s very and I mean very very tall, seven foot tall. I quickly make it to the door after hiding my car, putting it through the mail slot and racing to the back to find Clair’s and Herald’s mailboxes. I slip those in and sprint back to my car. Driving away fast but not suspiciously fast so they don’t think I’m one of those stalkers.

Next stop is the library. I love the library and one of the kids named Jeffrey Lawrence does too. Every time I would take him to the library I would choose books with him to read before I put him to bed. Jeff is fourteen now and works with a librarian hoping to be one someday. He’s blonde with blue eyes adding a beige skin tone.

Not afraid to share what’s on his mind and his own personal opinion. He looks out for people that are important to him. He’s kind, trustworthy,and he does have somewhat of a short temper but overall he’s a really good kid. I arrive at the library putting it in his work box and I can’t forget about checking out a book either. I hurry out before he sees me and drive off to find Safinah Ali Abdul-Masood.

I’ve helped and tried to help more than I have with Safinah. I’ve shared some of my profits from the books I self published with her and tried to help with her twin brothers Bilal and Naaji. Her Aunt is dead set on trying to get her married at sixteen. Safinah is fifteen, like I’ve said with her brothers she’s like a mother figure to them ever since their parents have passed. She is also some of the few I have babysat.

She’s one of the smartest in tenth grade. She works her hardest to earn money and do things to keep things clean and have the kids and grandmother fed. She can’t make friends nor hang out, because of not having time to. Her mental health isn’t getting any better so I’ve been trying to help her with that all I can. She never wants to worry anyone else so when she needs help she doesn’t ask for it. She has long black hair, green eyes, and she’s five foot eight which is taller than me of course.

She works as a waitress in a diner that I try to go to a lot so I can tip her. She is very protective of her brothers. She is also very athletic and would love to do sports but she doesn’t have time to do the stuff she loves. I slip in to put the invitation in her work box but then also stop to grab some lunch while I’m at it, even though it is two twenty six in the afternoon. I set the invitation where it needs to be and grab some delicious soup.

I sit in my car for a few minutes eating soup as I look for someone that’s close by so I can quickly give it to them. Ananya and Kevin Patel are my next stop only about ten minutes away. I only eat about half of the soup and put it away when I drive out of the parking lot. Kevin and Ananya are both twenty nine. They used to babysit me at times and we went to high school together at some point.

Kevin and Ananya are newlyweds. Ananya is indian with black hair and gorgeous green eyes adding a height of five foot three. As Kevin is five foot five, very sexy or so that’s what his wife says, charcoal black hair, and tan caramelish skin tone. He works on wallstreet for a bunch of financial institutions in New York but he decided to come back to Michigan for a while. Ananya is a waitress at the moment just trying to bring in some extra cash in case it’s needed.

I pull up to their restaurant that they own and hand their invitation to their mailwoman as she is going up to give them their mail. I say my thank you’s and take my leave so again just like everyone else, I don’t want them to see me. I take the exit and my next stop is twenty minutes away to Zella Merrell. Another one of the kids I used to babysit. Zella is seventeen getting closer to eighteen.

She has long black hair that looks like coal made into hair. She has these devilish red eyes or so they seem red to me. If anything she looks like one of those creepy devils on your shoulder. She was still a good kid babysitting though. She has very and I mean very dark humor.

She never laughs nor smiles even when I would do everything in my power to make her smile or laugh. I’ve never seen her laugh or smile. She’s always serious no matter what. She’s always told me how she doesn’t have a relationship nor ever needs one cause there’s no reason to have one. She’s five foot nine and works at home.

I deliver the invitation and exit before she peeks out to see me through her window. Now I travel to where Crystal Harper is, glancing at the time to see it’s a little after three twenty. Crystal is sixteen years old and one of the ones I would babysit. I would always babysit Seven and Crystal together since they lived so close and they both needed me a lot with both their parents leaving to do business. As I have mentioned earlier that Seven Wood likes Crystal Harper, Crystal also has mutual feelings towards Seven.

Crystal is a Sophomore in high school. She can be rude at times but is also nice. She has light brown hair, glasses to fit her face, and she has a darker skin tone but is mixed with a light bronze skin tone. She’s very loving, self-controlled, aggressive, and laid back. She works at a diner which is where I’m dropping off her invitation.

I head inside slipping it in and leaving but not before grabbing a few desserts that they have featured there. I steer away and to my next destination which is a school. Cross Creek Charter Academy is what school I’m driving to next which is only about thirty minutes away. Chin Yo is the janitor there and the one whom I’m giving the invitation to. He used to babysit me for so long he became another father figure to me.

He’s forty five years old. He’s Asian that’s a little chubby with dark brown hair adding hazel eyes to the mix. He’s really kind and sweet but he’s had no luck with any kind of relationship. I sneak into the school without him noticing even though he is near the entrance and quickly move towards the office. I make sure to have the right envelope and double check that he can’t see me.

“Excuse me, can you please put this in Mr. Chin Yo’s mailbox?” I ask politely.

“Of course, what’s the name?” She responds.

“Oh I’m a friend of his. I was told to give him this invitation so I was delivering it to him.” I respond smoothly but hesitate inside doubting my horrible lying skills.

“Ok. Well I’ll put it in his mailbox for you.” She says, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Thank you, bye.”

“Bye” she replies back. I quickly head out making sure he didn’t see me once again and zoom out of the parking lot making sure that I’m not going too fast. My next objective is to take a visit to Mr. Aaron Major. He saved me from drowning in a river when I was twelve. Mr. Major is seventy years old.

He’s an indian police chief that I still go visit at least once a week. Every time I do visit him, I always bring him a special drink and food since he absolutely despises coffee and anything processed. He’s a master at hunting and when he saved me he showed me where the stars were that night since we couldn’t leave until morning, because it was getting too dark out to find our way back. He looks around his thirties because he only drinks water and nothing processed. He has long jet black hair that reaches his neck.

He wears this strange but awesome looking headband that is decorated with shoebill bird feathers. Which is one of the animals he loves to hunt. He’s really stubborn and loves talking about his homeland. That’s why when he starts talking about it he can’t stop and it happens all the time. His wife died when he was sixty five.

You can tell he misses her but doesn’t let it bring him down and instead it fuels him to do better in her name. He also solved Safinah’s case when her parents died. He found their murderer and justified them. I pull up to the police station and give it to Marcy the receptionist.

“It would be best if you don’t say that it’s from me if you would please just not say anything?” I ask pleadingly.

“Oh of course, Fable and it’s good to see you again.” She responds kindly with a small genuine smile.

“It’s good to see you too. I’ll see you on my next visit.” I reply saying our goodbyes to each other. As I do after every invitation delivery I sprint to my car trying to be unnoticed.

Once again I find my next destination which is an ice cream shop. That’s where Julianna Ramos works. I also used to babysit her and sometimes do things for her parents still just like the other kids her age that I would babysit. She’s fifteen, with black hair, tan caramel skin, and deep brown eyes. She can be kind, sweet, and honest.

Most people call her Juli for short. But she can also get overheated easily. Also adding that she’s a good listener but can get very horny. I know that she’s working at the moment so I go around back through the back door. I’m allowed to go through here since I fund some of this place to keep it a float when they can’t.

I find her boss in her office handing it to her, so she can give it to Julianna. Just like all the others I tell her not to say who it’s from. I give her my thanks and sneak discreetly back out the back door.

“Let’s see where else do we have to go…” I leave the sentence hanging, because when I look I don’t find any other envelopes for me to deliver. “No where else it seems.” I say taking a deep relieving exhale, happy that I’m finally finished. I look at the time to see where it landed me. “Shoot, it’s almost five o’clock.”

I take a raincheck on being relieved and now I’m worrying about hurrying back to Zay’s mansion so we can have dinner together again. I check the amount of time it’ll take to get back, it says about thirty minutes. I look for shortcuts and thankfully find two that I can take to only make it about twenty minutes. Hurrying back but not going over the speed limit, I make it back in time to get inside and go to the table. I park in the back since I don’t like people questioning why I’m here or mostly because I feel like I want to. I make my way inside, wiping off my shoes in the process. I can hear a faint, faint pitter pattering getting louder and louder the closer it gets. Once the source of the noise comes around the corner my smile immediately appears on my tired face. Just like this morning I crouch down getting ready for when the toddler sees it’s me and starts running. Just as I expected once she sees me she runs like death is chasing her.

“FAAAAAAABBBBBBBBLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEE” She screams in eagerness to give me a hug, and uses all her might and squeaky high pitched voice just to scream it.

“PRRREEEESSSTEEELLLLLAAAAAAA” I shout back in amusement. Just like this morning she runs into my arms and right as she does I scoop her up and spin her around. As I spin her around in my arms I throw her up a tiny bit. Her giggles fill the huge mansion she calls home. “Are you ready to eat little Missy?” I ask her with my forehead against hers.

“Yesh Fable” She replies with her little lisp.

“Let’s go eat then. It’s already..” I drag out the sentence looking at my watch. “Seven thirty?” I question out loud confused. I thought it was almost five o’clock which is what it said on my watch before I left to come here. I think to myself. “We better hurry eat so I can read you to sleep little Missy.” I tell her, tickling her a little bit, making another round of giggles fill the big mansion.

“YAY FOOB” She yells with her little lisp in excitement. I can’t help but chuckle a little bit. I try setting her down so she can run there but she doesn’t allow me to. I take a sigh of content as I carry her to the dinner table where Xiomena, Zay, Madam Clair, and Herald are sitting waiting for us with small talk. We hurriedly jog the rest of the way to the table.

I slide in my seat with Prestela still on my lap. We take a quick prayer before digging into the delicious food planned for tonight. We all say Amen then start serving each other and eating what we have on our plates. We all are making small talk here and there. I talk about my book somewhat and about reading more to Prestela for bedtime.

At that small mention of reading for her bedtime she perks up and starts eating a bit faster so she can get to bed earlier. I shake my head with a slight smile on my face in amusement to her love for books. After about twenty minutes of constant chatter and eating I carry Prestela upstairs along with my backpack. My feet click and clack up the stairs as it squeaks and groans under every step I take with my heavy foot. I cautiously open the door, careful not to hit her head on anything again just like how I was cautious this morning.

We settle down on her toddler bed or how I mentioned earlier that she calls it her “big girl bed”. I take out my computer to read five more chapters. As I’m reading I can hear and see her from my peripheral vision that she’s falling asleep. So I finish the chapter I’m on and kiss her on the head and tell her night. Like I did this morning I turn off her light and discreetly make my way out the door without a sound, also closing her door in the process.

I slowly walk down the three flights of stairs. When I reach the bottom I stop in realization. Wait a minute, what am I doing? I question myself in my head. I facepalm myself, because I not only forgot to grab my computer and backpack but I was going to take a shower in my room and also going to get ready for bed. Instead of doing that I forgot it in her bedroom and I headed down the three flights of stairs away from my bedroom.

“Ugh, I can’t believe I just did that.” I speak out loud, annoyed with myself. I walk all the way back up the three flights of stairs in a sagging way. I sneak back into Prestela’s room snatching my things making my way back out. I walk tiredly to my room which is a few doors down from Prestela’s.

I make my way inside, tossing my backpack and computer on the bed, heading straight towards the closet. I grab a black tank top with some red and black plaid pajama pants to go along with it. As I take my shower I think about all the trips I took to just give invitations to people for a camping trip I planned. After about ten minutes I get out, get dressed, and flick the lights off marching toward bed. I plop my backpack on the floor as I carefully set my computer on the bench at the end of my bed.

I lay down turning off the lamp as I bundle into the warmth of my blankets and cozy bed. I think about all my plans coming into place tomorrow. With all the thoughts filling my head I drift off to sleep somehow.