Breaking Point
Alexandra Janet "AJ" Roberts opened her eyes to a brand new day. The alarm clock on the desk next to her bed beeped repeatedly. She sighed sadly, gently pushing the button to turn it off. She rubbed her eyes, knowing full well that last night hadn't been the best night of sleep she'd had lately. AJ sat up in bed and brought her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. There was that same golden silence she'd hear every morning. For once, she treasured and valued its worth.
Everything had been piling on top of her just lately and it was too much for her to handle. But she would still put on the brave face in front of her father and aunt. They couldn't notice the vast amount of guilt she'd placed upon herself for recent events, which had obviously spiralled out of her control. It didn't matter how out of the ordinary AJ may have seemed; she had come to learn she didn't have all the strength to save everybody. She allowed a tear to escape her recently built up shell. But nothing else slipped out.
Just ignore everything else. It's how I've survived so far.
With those thoughts permanently glued to her mind, AJ decided to make a move. The sun was just rising on the horizon, meaning it was still early. Even though her dad had encouraged her to start having lie-ins, it just didn't feel right to leave the running of the farm to him and her aunt. She opened the drawer to find her friendship bracelet inside. She kissed it, her eyes closed, and put it back in its rightful place. AJ was still hanging on to those three words, even though it had been weeks since it had happened ...
An hour later, AJ was ready and doing her chores. Right up until her aunt walked into the barn, she hadn't uttered a single word.
"You know, you've gotta be ready for picking Jake up soon," smiled Susan.
"Don't worry, I'll be ready," AJ merely nodded, as she picked up a single load of hay by herself. Susan was all too used to this, as were AJ and her father, Kieran. She was special, physically enhanced much more than the ordinary human. "And I don't want a single word to Jake. I don't want his visit to be all about me. It's been a year, Aunt Susan. I just want him to be happy that he's here."
She sighed, shaking her head. "Fine. My lips are sealed. But if he asks me questions, then I'll divert him to you."
"I guess that's only fair."
"Ready to go and pick Jake up?" said Kieran, making his appearance in the barn known. "We don't need to shift this load until tomorrow."
AJ nodded, only too happy to agree with him for the sake of not getting into a full-blown argument. "I'll see you later, Aunt Susan," she said, flashing a smile in her direction and joined Kieran outside to his Land Rover.
Alexandra Janet "AJ" Roberts opened her eyes to a brand new day. The alarm clock on the desk next to her bed beeped repeatedly. She sighed sadly, gently pushing the button to turn it off. She rubbed her eyes, knowing full well that last night hadn't been the best night of sleep she'd had lately. AJ sat up in bed and brought her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. There was that same golden silence she'd hear every morning. For once, she treasured and valued its worth.
Everything had been piling on top of her just lately and it was too much for her to handle. But she would still put on the brave face in front of her father and aunt. They couldn't notice the vast amount of guilt she'd placed upon herself for recent events, which had obviously spiralled out of her control. It didn't matter how out of the ordinary AJ may have seemed; she had come to learn she didn't have all the strength to save everybody. She allowed a tear to escape her recently built up shell. But nothing else slipped out.
Just ignore everything else. It's how I've survived so far.
With those thoughts permanently glued to her mind, AJ decided to make a move. The sun was just rising on the horizon, meaning it was still early. Even though her dad had encouraged her to start having lie-ins, it just didn't feel right to leave the running of the farm to him and her aunt. She opened the drawer to find her friendship bracelet inside. She kissed it, her eyes closed, and put it back in its rightful place. AJ was still hanging on to those three words, even though it had been weeks since it had happened ...
An hour later, AJ was ready and doing her chores. Right up until her aunt walked into the barn, she hadn't uttered a single word.
"You know, you've gotta be ready for picking Jake up soon," smiled Susan.
"Don't worry, I'll be ready," AJ merely nodded, as she picked up a single load of hay by herself. Susan was all too used to this, as were AJ and her father, Kieran. She was special, physically enhanced much more than the ordinary human. "And I don't want a single word to Jake. I don't want his visit to be all about me. It's been a year, Aunt Susan. I just want him to be happy that he's here."
She sighed, shaking her head. "Fine. My lips are sealed. But if he asks me questions, then I'll divert him to you."
"I guess that's only fair."
"Ready to go and pick Jake up?" said Kieran, making his appearance in the barn known. "We don't need to shift this load until tomorrow."
AJ nodded, only too happy to agree with him for the sake of not getting into a full-blown argument. "I'll see you later, Aunt Susan," she said, flashing a smile in her direction and joined Kieran outside to his Land Rover.
