Phyllis Owen serialised story

WHY?

By Jacqui-Beth McKenzie (Australia)

I love the light but the light doesn�t loveme. I want to go outside for a walk, by myself. But I�m not allowed to anymore. My parents don�t trust me. It�s not like I can�t find my way home or anything. Well, actually, I might not be able to. It�s a good point. Now all I do is sit, in my room. I never go outside anymore. There�s no point. My life is miserable. I feel as though I�m locked up in a cardboard box. But now I can�t hold it in. I have to go outside for a walk. I�m going to suffocate if I stay in here any longer.

�Dad, could I please go outside for a walk. I�m going to suffocate.�

�You can,� replied dad, continuing, �but you have to go with Danny.�

�Fine, whatever. Just as long as I can go outside into the fresh air,� I say underneath my breath. Geesss, I always have to go outside for a walk with Danny. I�m older than him but he still has to come and watch me. It should be more like me watching him. But I guess I can�t.

�Danny, can you take Luke out for a walk? He needs some air.� Shouted dad, hoping it will make it to Danny�s room.

�What?� replies Danny.

�I said can you take Luke out for a walk? He feels boxed up and needs some air,� says dad, repeating himself

�Oh, yes, of course I can take Luke for a walk,� Danny responds sarcastically.

�Danny?� Dad said in a tone, which meant, stop being sarcastic.

Great, so now I have to go for a walk with Danny. The most annoying person you could ever walk with. We are walking along the beach. My home, I guess you could call it a home that I�m never at, well, not anymore. Danny is being so annoying.

�WOW!� he says, � This place is so beautiful when the sun is setting�

�Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don�t care,� I say, annoyed. �Hey Danny? I was just wondering if we could go up to lookout Point?"

�Um� yeah, well I guess so,� replies Danny

All I can hear now are the waves crashing. I can�t see them. It�s too dark. Danny is spoiling the moment by talking. He is always doing that and it�s really annoying.

�Oh my god, I just love it when the sun is setting out here. Just up on the hills, it�s so beautiful,� yabbers Danny

Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah is all that comes to my head

�DANNY, WOULD YOU SHUT UP!� I yell, not really caring if there is anyone else up there. �WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP!�

�Well, I�m sorry Luke, but I just don�t know what it�s like being blind. All I�m trying to do is to help you,� responds Danny, embarrassed.

�WELL STOP IT. YOU�RE JUST MAKING IT WORSE,� I say as I start to run back. But then I stop, I sit down and I start to cry, tears of hatred. �I hate this world. Why did mum and I crash? Why did mum die and not me? Why did I get glass in my eyes? Why am I blind? Why was it me?"