Dimmed Lights
By:Sofia Grewal
Dimmed Lights
The coffee shop is bustling with noise, the mall is packed with people, and vibrant-orange leaves fall graciously from the soon to be empty trees. Willowbrook seems like a simple town, but when the lights dim and the shadows disappear from view, the truth reveals itself. Ember, the sister of the well known football player, Justin, who had lost his life in broad daylight after a fatal accident, was often up late through the night. Night brought her comfort. As the wind blew through her room, and the windows creaked, Ember felt a sense of comfort. She was only seven when her brother tragically passed, but the imprint from the event seared deeper than she thought. The night grew cold, and Ember grew tired. She blew out her candles and as the lights dimmed she fell asleep. In the morning, the colors warmed the sky and it was time for school. School used to be a favorite place for Ember, but after her brother's death, it still haunts her. The horrors of her past can’t seem to settle as she is constantly paranoid everyday. Walking through these halls feels like they are slowly closing in on her. No one says anything, but everyone knows. She lives in a small town where things are not often forgotten, instead they are permanently engraved into the minds of everyone like a tattoo. Ember no longer gets the sympathy gifts or the classic, “I’m so sorry for your loss.”, however that look of sheer pity will never go away. Days become weeks, and weeks become months as school slowly drags on. Finally the lunch bell rings, after what seems like eternity, and all the students rush out, but not Ember. Ember slowly walks and makes her way to the restroom. On her way there she sees a door that is cracked open but all that can be seen is darkness. With nothing better to do, she walks in and sees a candle, but there is only one. On the table, somehow engraved was, “Make a wish.”, like it was someone's birthday, only it was not. Confused, all Ember could think of was her brother and what he would do in this situation. Just then a gust of wind flew through the room, shutting the door and blowing out the candle. Just as fast as the candle blew out and the room became dark, it was filled with light once again. However, this place didn’t seem like the empty room she was once in. Oh no, this can’t be happening. As Ember took in her surroundings she realized she was no longer in the room, but she was on that curb again. The curb that hides the horrors of her past, the past that she can’t seem to move on from. The curb that used to be filled with so much joy and happiness transformed into the symbol for sadness and heartbreak. This was the very curb that Justin had lost his life. One afternoon when Justin and Ember were playing, she got mad at him and threw his phone into the street, that’s when it happened. That’s when the horrific scene unfolded right before her eyes. The last time she would ever see her brother, the last time she would ever play with him, and it was all her fault. After that day, Ember became quiet, she had lost the one person who was her safe haven and she would never see him again. Or at least that’s what she thought. That was until today, where somehow she’s back on the same curb and her brother is still alive. Is there finally a way for the horrors of the past to disappear or is it all in her mind once again.
The coffee shop is bustling with noise, the mall is packed with people, and vibrant-orange leaves fall graciously from the soon to be empty trees. Willowbrook seems like a simple town, but when the lights dim and the shadows disappear from view, the truth reveals itself. Ember, the sister of the well known football player, Justin, who had lost his life in broad daylight after a fatal accident, was often up late through the night. Night brought her comfort. As the wind blew through her room, and the windows creaked, Ember felt a sense of comfort. She was only seven when her brother tragically passed, but the imprint from the event seared deeper than she thought. The night grew cold, and Ember grew tired. She blew out her candles and as the lights dimmed she fell asleep. In the morning, the colors warmed the sky and it was time for school. School used to be a favorite place for Ember, but after her brother's death, it still haunts her. The horrors of her past can’t seem to settle as she is constantly paranoid everyday. Walking through these halls feels like they are slowly closing in on her. No one says anything, but everyone knows. She lives in a small town where things are not often forgotten, instead they are permanently engraved into the minds of everyone like a tattoo. Ember no longer gets the sympathy gifts or the classic, “I’m so sorry for your loss.”, however that look of sheer pity will never go away. Days become weeks, and weeks become months as school slowly drags on. Finally the lunch bell rings, after what seems like eternity, and all the students rush out, but not Ember. Ember slowly walks and makes her way to the restroom. On her way there she sees a door that is cracked open but all that can be seen is darkness. With nothing better to do, she walks in and sees a candle, but there is only one. On the table, somehow engraved was, “Make a wish.”, like it was someone's birthday, only it was not. Confused, all Ember could think of was her brother and what he would do in this situation. Just then a gust of wind flew through the room, shutting the door and blowing out the candle. Just as fast as the candle blew out and the room became dark, it was filled with light once again. However, this place didn’t seem like the empty room she was once in. Oh no, this can’t be happening. As Ember took in her surroundings she realized she was no longer in the room, but she was on that curb again. The curb that hides the horrors of her past, the past that she can’t seem to move on from. The curb that used to be filled with so much joy and happiness transformed into the symbol for sadness and heartbreak. This was the very curb that Justin had lost his life. One afternoon when Justin and Ember were playing, she got mad at him and threw his phone into the street, that’s when it happened. That’s when the horrific scene unfolded right before her eyes. The last time she would ever see her brother, the last time she would ever play with him, and it was all her fault. After that day, Ember became quiet, she had lost the one person who was her safe haven and she would never see him again. Or at least that’s what she thought. That was until today, where somehow she’s back on the same curb and her brother is still alive. Is there finally a way for the horrors of the past to disappear or is it all in her mind once again.