Unravel(21)

Last year, on the Fourth of July, they set off fireworks. They woke me up. Scared me. But when I ran to the window and saw all the pretty colors and lights, I couldn’t erase the smile on my face. Even with the large field between us, I swear I heard cheers and hollers from their house.

Later on the next day, I told my mom I saw the fireworks. She nodded and turned the page of her magazine. “That’s nice, Naomi.”

“I wish my birthday was on the Fourth of July,” I admitted. “Then those fireworks would be for me. It would be Naomi Day. A national holiday.”

My honesty earned a sharp look from her. She pursed her red lips. “Don’t be ridiculous. Your birthday is your birthday.”

I realized that she was right. July 19th was my birthday.

No national holiday.

No Naomi Day.

Just my birthday. I celebrated my ninth birthday with no fireworks.

But turning ten was a big deal. And instead of presents and a birthday cake with candles to blow out, the only thing I wanted was bright lights. I wanted to see them light up the sky and make everything seem brilliant. I wanted to hear more cheers and hollers and I would pretend that they were for me.

Tonight, I wanted to be as bright and brilliant as those fireworks. I wanted to be alive. I was going to do something I had thought about for the last few months.

I was waiting until my parents went to bed and then I would escape my room. The wait was torture. I stayed up past my bedtime, and kept myself busy by watching the clock every five minutes. When the time finally came, I quietly opened my door and tiptoed downstairs. Adrenaline coursed through my veins. Fear was there too. But excitement trumped my fears and made my hands shake with anticipation.

I shut the patio doors behind me and ran across the gravel, toward the barn and quickly led my horse out of its stall. Rumor was a beautiful Arabian with a shiny chestnut coat and a calm temperament that made the two of us bond.

I stroked his neck and casually talked to him. “We’re going on an adventure tonight, Rumor.” His ears pricked. I smiled. “It’s only to the neighbors’. I’m going up to this treehouse that no one else uses. Someone should use it, right?” I asked.

We stopped next to a broken tree stump. I used it as a boost and quickly jumped onto my saddle.

A sigh escaped me as I looked around at the dark landscape. I felt like I was the only person that existed. The world was mine and mine only. I could go anywhere I wanted. The dark sky, with a smattering of stars, was my map.

I felt like an adventurer.

A thrill seeker.

I pushed down my excitement for a second and focused on quietly escaping the boundaries of my family’s property. When I was a good distance away, I pressed my heels into Rumor’s side. A second later we took off.

It was exhilarating. Strands escaped my braid and blocked my view, but that only made me laugh. Rumor’s hooves thundered on the cold ground. Ba da bum. Ba da bum. Ba da bum. It was a beautiful sound.

Freedom.

All too quickly, I was on Halstead property. The house in front of me was similar to my own. Impossibly large. Enough space to fit a village inside.

I barely gave it a passing glance.

Easily, I jumped over the fence, and instead of cutting through the immaculate yard, I took the long route. My eyes were focused on that treehouse the whole time.

I stopped at a tree a few steps away from the treehouse and dropped down from the saddle, tying the reins around a sturdy branch. Before I stepped away I looked all around me, making sure the coast was clear.

All the lights were off in the house except for a television flashing in a second floor room. It made me pause for a second before I accepted that I was still in the clear.

Hurrying across the damp grass, I stopped in front of the large oak tree and stared at the wood slates nailed to the tree trunk. Nothing could take away the happiness I felt right at that moment. I was here. I was actually here, standing in front of his treehouse.

“What are you doing?”

Something close to a gasp and wheeze came out of my mouth. I turned around and flattened myself against the tree. My heart thundered as I stared at Lachlan.

He was taller than I remembered. His dirty brown hair needed a haircut. I couldn’t see his eyes. I could only make out the slope of his nose and outline of his lips that were in a thin line as he stared at me solemnly.

I was scared out of my mind. All my determination was for nothing and now I was caught. I would never get the chance to go up into that tree.

And Lachlan was quiet because… well, I had no idea why he was quiet. But every second something wasn’t said, the more terrified I became.

I cleared my throat. “Y-you don’t still use this, do you?” I croaked.

Frowning, he looked at the treehouse and back at me. “No. Not really.” He took a step forward and I dug my fingers into the tree bark. He stopped, only a few steps away, and gave me a curious look before he stuck out his hand.

“I’m Lachlan Halstead. Who are you?”

He could tell my parents I was trespassing. He could get me into huge trouble. That was enough to send me running back to Rumor. But my feet stayed rooted in place. I forgot that I had a voice or that I even had a name. I struggled to breathe for a second and just stared at him.

I forced my tongue to move and with my hand shaking, I reached out and shook his hand. “N-Naomi Carradine. I’m your neighbor,” I said with a squeaky voice.