Unpredictable • cth

35

Ella-

It's 8:30 on a Tuesday morning, my body is achy and my eyes wired shut.I could feel the hot sun burning into my skin as I left my window open last night, the light shining through my closed eyelids causing me to hiss before turning my head away.

This was the first day in a very long time I have gotten a decent amount of sleep.

My eyes were still shut, my body trying to still steal some rest but the creaking of my bedroom door opening this early in the morning peaked my interest but not enough for me to open my eyes and check.

I felt my mattress droop down next to me, my body slowly falling into the edge of the whoever was seated next to me; who wasn't Ryder, that's all I knew.

My body turned so my face was flat against my pillow, not even glancing in the direction of the person now seated in my room. I wanted to sleep more, even though I've probably had at least 15 hours of sleep over the past two days.

"Ya know, the guy normally doesn't post more photos together than the girl does." I could recognize that voice anywhere.

Aunt Mali.

My head turns to look at her, one eye popping open in an upward direction so I can see her tanned skin glowing from the sun of my open window. A smile spread across her face as she looks down at me.

"He must really be serious Els." She giggled as she spoke, her hand coming down to my mess of a hair trying to soothe my curls out.

I sighed, my head still turned to the side as she raked her fingers through each set of curls, a fondness in her voice that reminded me much of Aunt Sierras when she spoke about the two of us.

I saw her insta stalking us yesterday when I finally woke up around noon. My father was off at Uncle Mikey's house along with my friends. She was shocked to see me as I shuffled my way into the kitchen as she rummaging through the millions of comments on Ryder's post from Sunday.

Her face was pure embarrassment, going redder than I've seen before. Her hands were quick to hide her phone and offer to take me to see my friends but in reality I needed to sleep and relax for once.

"Ya know it's not polite to stalk your nieces instagram." I groaned as my body flipped over in my bed, my movements being quick.

My eyes focused my ceiling fan that was moving at a high speed that sent winds of cool hair rushing over our bodies.

I've always enjoyed the feeling of beings cold. The cool air rushing over my body gave me a feeling of security, like I was wrapped in a blanket although it was the exact opposite. I would make the room as cold as possible just so I could bundle up in a large amount of blankets and comfy hoodies.

"Oh hush up." She rolled her eyes, scooting her body down so we were in the position, our eyes not moving away from the fan.

I allowed the silence to fill the space around us as the only sounds filling the room were our small breaths and the sound of my fan spinning. I knew she had to come in here for a reason, although she loves me she would never purposely wake me up, especially after the weeks I've had.

My head turned to the side to see her eyes shut as her baby hairs moved around the frame of her face due to the high speed of my fan. She looked peaceful and happy.

This was the closest she could get to home. We were the closest thing to Grandma Joy and Papa David that she could have without going all the way home. She may live in London and love it there but it's not her home.

She always told us that home is where the people she loves are and since I was able to understand her she told me that I was her home because she loved me.