The morning dew graced the long blades of the green lawn, causing the dim rays of sunlight to hit each individual bulb of water. The wisps of fog gracing the earth with its presence gave off a feel of melancholy. The scene felt like that of a movie and everywhere I looked became more and more engrossing. The rest of my family were most likely passed out still. It was a little too early for everyone else. I, on the other hand, didn’t sleep at all the previous night. Insomnia’s a bitch like that. I dug a small, elongated match box from my back pocket. Inside held a few hours of euphoria and bliss. Grabbing the smaller one, I placed it between my cracked lips, bringing a finger to the end. A small flame flickered to life at the tip. The burning herbs entered my lungs conquering every bit of clean oxygen stowed away. It didn’t take long for the mind-alerting chemical to take its effect.

For as long as I could remember there has always been this burning sensation caught in my chest, constantly. When the intoxicating effects occur, it dies down. Makes me feel more human. I never could understand how my parents could ignore the heat, it being so intense. I laid back on the porch swing, with my finger in front of my face. That small flame still dancing slightly. I watched it flick quickly a few times and then slowly turn to a small line of wispy smoke.

I could feel the elation leaving like a drainage of power itself. At the same time, I felt all the power I hated return in a sudden fury, almost as if it were furious for being pressed away. A few harsh coughs and I was up on my feet, moving to the front door. Inside I found my mother sitting at the large dining table where the family met every other night for dinner. Tonight, was one of those nights and I couldn’t possibly imagine a better night to have one. I have two cousins whose father recently passed from a sickness unknown to our kind. We make a mockery of regular human illnesses.

I moved passed my mother, making a bee line for the stairs. Our house was a two-story Victorian style house. Outside, the domicile is coated in a navy-blue paint and lined in white. The blue bricks stand out against the average looking neighborhood.

Halfway up the stairs I heard a familiar voice calling from higher ground. Glancing up, loose brown ringlets came into view; green eyes followed. I have a total of three cousins, this being one. Her mother took leave after her fourteenth birthday, leaving her to my family. Unfortunately for her we aren’t like her. She's more in touch with nature and I tend to burn it. Nonetheless, we make a great pair of friends.

“Jett... Emily called.” the brunette let out a long sigh, making her concerns aware to the room. She awaited my feet to reach the top, holding her phone in her right hand. She glanced up, making an awkward gesture to look at the screen. The call time said, roughly two hours. Technically, we aren’t meant to share our feelings with one another. I couldn’t muster up a sympathetic expression. Instead I shrugged and inhaled deeply. She gave me a knowing look, slightly disappointed, “she mainly talked about not wanting to come to dinner and how Ezra seem to be unaffected by the whole situation. I tried to tell her it would just take time but she didn’t seem too convinced...”

“Emily can’t always handle the truth... you have to be gentle...” I crossed my arms, and walked passed her. The brunette followed, determined to find some sort of compassion that might possibly be hiding somewhere inside, “Jett, shouldn't we be concerned for her well being?”

“Seren… there's nothing I, nor you, can do for her right now. We have rules for a reason…” now whether or not I was going to tell her how often I break those rules or not… eh. She leaned against the doorway, giving me a very disappointing mother look, “fine… but I know I'm right and that’s all that matters.” She turned sharply, causing her cloud of brown tangles to fly up and whip around. I couldn't help but shake my head a little as I dug through my dresser. I feel bad for Emily, really I do, so don't hate me just yet. There are far better reasons you just haven't learned of yet.