Marisol

I sighed as I listened to my two brothers bicker over me once again. They continued their bickering until finally, Steven stalked off in the other direction. Watching him walk away for some reason reminded me of my mother. I could still it clearly in my mind as if she were still walking out.

Mom has an orange sweatshirt tied tightly around her waist. She is in the kitchen tapping her foot, obviously irritated. I am not sure why she is so angry this time. She looks beautiful in her white camisole that hugs her curves. She is wearing a pair of loose fitting jeans but it works for her figure. Mom has silver eyes like my brothers and I. She has hair like mine, straight and dark brunette, although hers is speckled with gray. She's as tall as me. People have always told us that we looked like twins. It used to be flattering until Mom started thinking she's old. I have never seen Mom look as irritated as she looks right now. I long to see her smile again. My parents have been arguing a lot lately and we all knew this day would come. But why must it come so soon? Mom leaves the kitchen, storming off to her room, passing by me as if I'm not even here. I follow her and when I enter the bedroom, I see her throwing her belongings into a suitcase. This scares me.
"Mom, where are you going?" I ask, fear making my voice unsteady.
She turns around surprised to see me standing there.
"Oh, Marisol, I'm just going on a vacation. I'll be back." she tells me with a smile that doesn't touch her eyes.
I nod as if I believe her and for now, I do because it's easier than facing the truth. I stand outside the room while she packs, waiting to hear the final zip of the suitcase and the wheels rolling against the hard wood floor.
"Marisol?" says a voice.
I turn to see Jonas standing there, concern on his face.
"Mom says she's going on vacation." I say, feeling tears in my eyes.
Jonas steps towards me and takes me into his brotherly arms and hugs me. I cry into his chest as I hear the final zip and clattering. My brother leads me into the living room just as our mom comes out of her room, walks down the hallway, opens the front door, and leaves.
I curl into Jonas and cry until I feel like my body will collapse.

"Marisol?"
I looked up to see Jonas standing beside me. Had I really just stopped walking? The group was just a little bit ahead of us but they too had stopped.
"Mari?" he said.
"I'm fine. Sorry. I just started thinking about some things." I told him.
I crossed my arms and looked down at the ground. I kicked a light gray pebble across the street and watched it roll slowly into the street drain.
Zack touched my shoulder for comfort but it only made me tense. He pulled his hand away. I thought it was because of my tension but he shook his hand as if I'd hurt him. I looked into his eyes.
What was that?
It shocked me. Zack had not spoken this out loud! It was like I had heard it in my head. Zack studied me with a puzzled expression spread across his face.
What's up with her?
Again, I heard this in my head. My breathing became unsteady and I started thinking that I was being driven into madness. I backed up from him until I was standing on Jonas' toes.
I looked down at my hands. The tips of my fingers were shimmering with silver sparks. My head began spinning and I felt dizzy.
What was wrong with me?