I slowly sat up and rubbed my eyes. Staring ahead at the closet, the moon returned. The webbed cage was back. I stayed calm this time. I was waking up.
My head throbbed. Pushing the net aside, I crawled out of bed and to the door. I wanted to go outside. Slipping my fingers into the crack, I slid the door open. Cool air gushed in along with the chirp of the cicadas. I had been deaf to their song while I was dreaming.
As I stood up and stepped barefoot onto the wooden deck, another sensation gushed down to my belly. My limbs retracted closer to my body. Looking around, I saw a ghostly world. Fog appeared to leak out of the distant mountains, hiding them. The nearby fields remained crystal clear, and shimmered just as the webbed cage had. It was no longer raining, but the evidence remained.
I slipped on sandals and stepped into the grass. They wet my feet anyway. Each step I took squished aside mud from underneath. It was a satisfying feeling, even if it made it harder to walk. However, each squelch made my belly feel more and more uncomfortable. The night time dew wet my skin. Unable to hold it any longer, I changed direction and headed towards the house. I stopped at the big tree. Under its shade, I slipped down my pants and crouched down, relaxing.
Above me, the tree did not make a noise. Only the chirp of the cicadas accompanied my relief. I listened to them, wondering why they were still awake. The field disappeared as another cloud covered the moon, and its world merged with the tree’s refuge.
Even after I was done, I didn’t move. I didn’t want to. I considered falling asleep like this. Crouched, arms crossed on my knees, chin buried. The fresh outside air was much better than the house. Even if it was just as humid, the dew made up for it. All the moisture on my skin cooled me down. I could feel the heat leak out of me just like the mountain fog. However, I didn’t want anyone to find me like this in the morning. I eventually got back up and covered myself.
I continued to walk away and towards the forest. I stopped at the well and found the pail overflowing with water. I must have left it out in the rain last night. Dipping in my hands, I slowly rubbed them clean. I realized too late that I irritated my skin once again, and my mood turned foul. Shaking the water off, I blew at my hands to cool them, hoping to soothe some of the irritation this way.
I continued to walk around, aimlessly. As my arms swung through the moist air, I waved my hands a little to try and forget them. I again listened to the squelching of my foot steps and the chirps of the cicadas.
Something caught my eye as I wandered. Throughout the pale blue scenery, there was a streak of yellow. Bright with warmth. A block of light that flickered silently, casting shadows across the wooden deck of the house.
It was Father’s room. Only his room had a square window like that. The blinds were down, but that didn’t stop the light from leaking out. And without the moon, the glow stood out in the darkness. That window, deck, and the grass it casted on. Almost floating.
Why was father awake? How late at night was it? I gazed. My world changing. Never before did I realize Father stayed awake at night. What was he doing? Is he also having trouble sleeping? Or did he just leave a candle lit as he sleep?
I stepped closer to the house. As I did, a shadow flicked across the window. I froze. My face grew hot as I realized he may be awake after all. Did he realize I was outside? A chill swept through me once again. Across my arms and down my back. I took a step back and slowly turned away. Walking as quietly as I could through the wet mud, I made my way towards the forest.