Crash

I woke up in the middle of the night with an instilled sense of fear. For what was tomorrow? What will it bring?

I looked at my bulletin board, with UCLA fliers pinned to it. I look around my room full of Bruins merchandise. I look at my calendar, with tomorrow morning circled over and over.

What will I do tomorrow? How will I survive? I am not responsible, I can’t live on my own.

I was so caught up in my own thoughts that I didn’t realize that my closet door was glowing until it blasted open as if someone kicked it down.

I gazed down the closet, for it was no longer there. Where my closet was, there were rolling green hills and a bright, sunny sky. I looked around, and decided to go inside.

I gazed around, looking at the frolicking animals, when I suddenly ran into my friend, John, but he looked 10 years older. He was just standing inside the middle of the field, but he had this uncomfortable expression on his face.

“Wait, tell me again what you are doing now?” asked John.

Suddenly, I felt my vocal cords vibrating, but I did not open my mouth. I instead heard my own disembodied voice grow a mind of its own.

“I am living with my parents, you know. Just relaxin’ and enjoying life,” said my voice.

“Oh, that’s . . . nice” and with the wind, he vanished.

I then saw my younger brother in his place, more successful than anyone could have ever thought. He looked happy with this ring on his finger. He was talking to this girl I had never seen before.

“Well we should do something, he is your brother!” said the girl.

“He had 20 years to make something of himself, but he chose to just quit college and stay home with mom. I honestly don’t think he is capable of bettering himself,” said my brother.

“Still, I feel bad for him.”

“Don’t, no matter how much money I give him, he will just waste it. He doesn’t want to do anything”

And suddenly, with the wind, they vanished, and my mother was in their place.

She had more wrinkles than I remember and eyes that expressed more sadness than anyone could muster. She didn’t talk, but instead chose to continue the chores around the house. Meanwhile, I heard the sounds of a video game in the background.

And with another thunderstrike, I awoke. I ran to mom and hugged her with the tightest grip. I looked at my packed clothes.

“So my big bro is headed off to college and leaving the nest?” said my younger brother.

“Yep,” I said, “and I can’t wait.”