Page 5 of In the Light of Day

“Uncle Tommy?”

“Tom, you can just call me Tom now. At midnight you will be eighteen and officially an adult. You should call me Tom.”

“Okay,” I whisper, confused by his actions, but I want to please him so I'll do my best to remember.Ladies aim to please.

My hands are sweaty and I struggle to get my bag from the back seat. Slipping from the strap twice before I grasp it tightly, not wanting to leave my things behind if everyone is planning on staying the night. A big slumber party will be the coolest way to end my birthday.

Slowly, I climb out of the car, making sure to keep touching it, keeping me safe from any monsters that lurk close by.

“Unc — Um, Tom?”

“Yeah, sweetie-pie?”

“Can you stay close? I'm still afraid of the dark.”

The creak of the trees gently swaying in the breeze is like a thing from nightmares and I look to the sky, trying to find the moon but am instead greeted by the haunting view of nothing. The tree trunks fade into black until it looks like they are climbing over one another to glare at me, laughing at how I am a pawn in their game as they hide the light of the moon. A shiver runs down my spine as I try to control my breathing, taking Uncle Tommy's hand when he reaches for me.

“From now on, Nova, I'll never have to be apart from you.”

Chapter 2 - Nova

Clenching onto the flashlight, I wait patiently for Uncle Tommy while he rummages in his bag. The darkness surrounds us like a blanket of terror and no matter what direction I look, all I see is nothing. Animals shuffle in the forest,or monsters, at this point I'm not sure, as my panic creeps closer and closer to the surface.

I couldn't tell you at what point in my life the dark scared me but for as long as I can remember it has. I used to fall asleep by the door to my bedroom as a child, the light filtering in through the crack underneath, giving me peace. Eventually, my mother got so sick of finding me on the floor, she reluctantly purchased a night light bedside lamp. The thought of the questions that would be asked if someone found me sleeping on the floor, outweighed any kindness she could have shown me in getting some sort of light that gave me comfort.

Image was everything, and the second I tarnished that image I knew there would be a punishment. Snide and belittling comments would rain down on me until I felt numb to the world.

I was worthless. An inconvenience. But to Uncle Tommy, I was special.

Not all scars are ones you can see and one day if Johnny Mathers and I have children, I will shower them with love and affection. I will protect my children in every way that I was not. Show them that family is not always blood and that sometimes we are sent special people like Uncle Tommy to help us.

“Ah-ha! I found it. I was starting to think I would have to use a t-shirt to try and blindfold you,” he says, grinning as I shine the light on him while he waves a piece of black cloth in the air. Stepping behind me, he gently strokes my hair and I can't help the shiver running down my spine, the second one this evening.

“Why do I need a blindfold? I thought I was meant to walk in and be surprised like how they do it in the movies?”

“Because it's a secret,” he laughs. “I worked hard to make this a surprise and I don’t want to spoil it. You wouldn’t want to ruin it, would you? It’s a special night.”

His hands continue to stroke my hair, pulling my platinum locks down my back. Holding the blindfold in front of my eyes, he ties it, completely removing one of my senses.

Everything is heightened.

The sounds of the forest, the slight taint to the air with Uncle Tommy's cologne, his coarse synthetic shirt pressed against my back. My breathing picks up and I stumble, reaching out to the darkness disorientated.

“Uncle Tommy,” I cry, “I’m scared!”

“Shhhh, I've got you.Tom’sgot you ... I won't let you go”

I feel too hot, a slight sweat forming from my rising panic.

"It's just you and me now.”

“Is it much longer to walk?” I say, trying to stop any sobs from escaping, knowing I’ll feel much better when I'm surrounded by people in the light of the party.

“Only a few minutes now. The door is just around the ridge.”

His hand clasps mine tightly as I try and navigate the forest floor, tall grass brushing against me until finally we stop, and the loud sound of a metal door creaks open. Stale air wafts in my face and only the sounds of Uncle Tommy’s rapid breathing can be heard.

For a short time, they disappear completely.

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