2. Another Day, Another Dread.

“Luna, Luna, wake up, honey.” I heard my mom say as she gently shook my shoulders. I open my eyes and blinked, my mom was next to me in her soft blue robe. Her eyes were tired and her brown hair was a mess. “Was it that dream again?” she asked softly.

“Yeah,” I whispered. “Mom, are you sure I never had a twin?” I asked.

“Yes, Luna, I think I would’ve known if you did,” she chuckled.

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?” I sat up, narrowing my eyes at her.

“You don’t,” she grinned as if she held thousands of secrets I’d never know, “Now off to school, you don’t want to be late for your first day.” She walked over to the window and opened the blinds, letting blinding sunlight stream through.

“Ahhh! My eyes! I’ve gone bliiiind!” I shrieked, diving back under the covers and pulling a pillow over my head. “It’s the dreaded monster of light, banish it! Banish it I say!”

“Luna, I know you don’t like sunlight. But would it kill you to go out without pretending it’s an evil monster that’s going to devour us all?” she asked with a frown.

“Who’s pretending?” I grumbled and she ripped the covers off of me and ushered me to the dresser. “No. Way.” I stated, folding my arms and staring down at the frilly sunflower dress she’d set out for me. “No offense, mom…but your taste in clothes is worse than dying a slow and torturous death by having your limbs ripped off and getting dunked in a tank of salt and acid over and over again.”

“What’s wrong with the dress I picked out?” she stared blankly at me as I tossed the dress aside and rummaged through my drawers.

“For one,” I grunted, yanking at the skirt that caught in the drawer, “it has the word ‘sun’ in it. Midnight Blue, Blood Red, Black Abyss; those are good colors. Bright yellow? Never.” I gasped as the skirt came loose and I fell to the floor.

“Oh no! The skirt ripped,” she exclaimed as she examined the long tear down the side. “I think I may be able to fix it by tomorrow.” She started gnawing on her fingernail as she stared at it.

“Fix it? It’s better now.” I grabbed it back from her and tossed it onto the dresser, glancing at the clock. It read 6:15 a.m. “Mom, I’m almost sixteen, can’t you let me pick out my own clothes for once?” I asked, hands on hips.

“Alright,” she sighed, “I guess it’s about time I let you do things on your own. My little baby is growing up!” she sniffed, wrapping me a vice grip that she called a ‘hug’ and crying on my shoulder.

“Mom! Pull yourself together!” I said, wriggling out of her hold. “As far as we know, I won’t be leaving home for another 2 years and a day. Sheesh.” I trudged back over to the dresser, ripping fishnets and a Lolita corset top out. “Mom.” I said, turning around to stare at her.

“Yes dear?” she asked, innocently staring back.

“Give me my black lipstick,” I stuck out my hand and started tapping my foot.

“Fiiine.” She grumbled, grudgingly handing it over. “My baby’s gone to the dark side.” Sniffling, she left the room.

“I’ve been on the dark side!” I yelled after her. “Now where is it…” I mumbled, plopping onto the ground and digging under my bed. “Nope.” I said, getting back up and glancing at the clock, 6:34 a.m. “Ughh,” I groaned, dressing hurriedly and running down the stairs. “Hey mom!”

“I’m in the kitchen, Luna.” I heard her yell back as I tripped and fell halfway down the stairs. “Are you okay?!”

“Fine, mom.” I said, getting up and strolling the kitchen. “I don’t see why you’re so obsessed with yellow.” I shielded my eyes from the blinding color as I made my way over to a large wooden table.

“Because it’s a cheerful color and brightens your mood.” She smiled, dropping an empty plate and a pile of pancakes in front of me.

“Well it makes me more pessimistic.” I frowned, pulling two pancakes from the center of the pile and dragging them onto my plate. “Where’s the present I got for Orion?” I asked, poking at the pancakes, “And are these safe to eat? They’re blue.”

“They’re blue because I spilled food dye when I was mixing the batter. So yes, they’re safe to eat. And as far as the present…” she said gesturing at the closet, holding a cup of tea in the other hand. “You really need to find a way to remember where you leave things.” She drank some tea then and walked back over to the blue mix of glop.

“You should add blueberries, it would make it a little less weird.” I trotted over to the closet and pulled a small black box and my backpack out. “Well, I’m off.” I opened, the door and started jogging away.

“What about your pancakes?!” she yelled after me.

I flipped my phone open and dialed the home number. “Hello?” she picked up after two rings. “Not hungry.” I said then hung up.