Ember Lily {District 12}

Ember Lily {District 12} Aug 21, 2013 18:59:36 GMT -5

Post by Spectral on Aug 21, 2013 18:59:36 GMT -5

+EMBER LILY+

Quickly, I walked through the Seam. No matter how bad life got for us, I was forever thankful that it wasn't as horrific as it was for the people in the Seam. I pulled my tatty black coat around me and hurried towards the centre of the District; towards my home.

As I strolled up the well-worn path, my run down shack of a home came into view. It, by far, wasn't perfect but it was all I knew. I knew I had to be quiet when I got there. It was very late; the last thing I wanted to do was wake any of my family up. Actually, I hoped that no one was up in the first place. Me sneaking off in the middle of the night was a common occurrence in my household and by now most of my family were used to it. The thing is that I like to be on my own sometimes. And if walking the streets in the middle of the night is the only place that I can be alone then so be it.

Gently, I pushed open the door. I was disappointed to see my mom and older brother, Tylor, sat chatting around the small, aged dining table. They both stared at me, with a look that was a mixture between annoyance and amusement, as a tiptoed in. I shut the door behind me, perhaps a bit to hard and pulled off my coat.
"And what time do you call this?" My brother asked, grinning. I scowled at him and hung up my coat.
"I wouldn't know, I don't have a watch." I smiled at Tylor then sat down opposite him. "You weren't meant to stay up. You all know I sneak out like this."
"Correction, mom and dad knew, but I didn't. And besides, I couldn't sleep." Tylor replied.
"Well, I like walking and I'm not going stop no matter what you say." I snapped back, my temper rising suddenly like it always did.
"We aren't trying to." My mom said, calming me down. Then, seeing Tylor's angered expression, added. "Don't look at me like that Tylor, Em's not doing anyone any harm. We all know she's... free-spirited." I smiled, thankful that mom had taken my side.
"You could say free-spirited or you could say careless and inconsiderate of other people's sleeping patterns." Tylor taunted and just as he wanted, the anger welled inside me. It must have shown because he smiled. "Oh, and don't forget she's also carefree and easy-going. Although, a more accurate description would be lazy." He achieved what he was aiming for. I stood up suddenly, reaching my full height, around 5'8", and glared down at him. Tylor looked up like he was completely innocent of anything. I stormed off towards my bedroom, yelling as I went.
"At least I'm not a complete and utter idiot." I looked round and smirked at him, proud of myself for getting back at him.
"Oh and don't forget arrogant." He called, continuing his earlier insults. It was hard being around him. Tylor never could stop being mean. Mom says its because he's insecure but I think he finds it fun. Maybe I'm wrong. The truth is that he is probably describing me perfectly. I'm just not the kind of person who can accept their flaws being read out so easily.

I sat on my bed, gazing at my reflection in the only mirror in the house. It was a family heirloom. Dusty and cracked; but a heirloom all the same. I looked at the distorted face that stared back at me. The messy, light brown hair. The dull, green eyes that I shared with my whole family, large as it is, and found strangely pretty. I was skinny, I knew that. Too skinny but that was the story for everyone around here. All of us were only just scraping by.

Lying on the thin sheets that made up my bed, my thoughts flew to tomorrow. Another day at work. My dad and Tylor, who turned eighteen a year and a half ago, work down the mines all day. They don't make much money. Me, my mom and the rest of my sisters run a stall at the market. That doesn't make much either but its enough for the seven of us.

I have three younger sisters; May (fourteen years old), Serena (twelve years old) and Fern (nine years old). They were all kind-natured; putting me to shame. At least they aren't like Tylor. The problem is that Fern hasn't been well recently. If I listen carefully I can hear her wheezing breath from her bed behind this wall. She'll be fine. I'm sure of it. I don't know what we'd do without her. Ignoring those thoughts, I snuggled into my pillow. Slowly, I drifted off to sleep. To the sound of May's gentle snoring from the bed across the room and the more ominous wheezing from behind the wall.