Untitled--Liesl

She staggered into the dark house, cold and tired, but happier than she had been in a very, very long time. She had just come back from a night out with her best friends, shopping, going out to dinner, and then going to see a movie. Behind her, her best friend’s bright red car pulled out of the driveway and down the suburban Detroit street. Closing the door behind her, Aina flipped on the entryway lights. Only then did it hit her that something was off.

Her parents had said that they would be home, that they were just going to catch up on some work for their office. They were both… well… Aina didn’t exactly know. They were always busy, travelling or something, and when Aina tried to ask them questions about their work, they always suddenly became distracted and bustled off. Aina had eventually learned not to ask questions.

Tonight, all the lights in the house were off, except for the porch light, which she had left on when she left. The house was dark and silent.

“Mom? Dad? Where are you guys?” I walked up the dark stairs, switching all of the lights on as I went. I rounded the corner into their office, and a scene of devastation met my eyes.