Jakob

POV of Jakob:

Jakob walked along the shore of the beach looking for shells. Living along the coast of what used to be Maine made this one of his favorite past times. His toes would slide into the sand along the edge of the water while the ocean ran its cool water over his feet.

It was the middle of September when the world froze. His world was always stuck between the light and the dark. Always the beginning of a sunset that would never end. To the west every mile you go takes you farther into darkness. He wanted to travel that way just to see the stars. Some shine through the dusk, but Jakob wanted to see the whole sky lit up with the stars. He wants to see constellations. He yearned to find shooting stars and asteroids. He plans to go somewhere where he can look through a telescope just to see as far as far into space as his eyes can see.

Jakob looked up at the pink and yellow clouds rolling over the top of the ocean. It is hard to tell what time it is when the light never changes outside. Sighing he looked down at his watch. 5:03pm shined on the led screen. "Just great. Time to go deal with crazy again."

He pulled his feet out of the edge of the water and started walking back to where he had parked his beat up little car. He stopped by the drivers side door and reached in through the open window to grab his towel. Leaning on the car he bent over to dry off his feet and slip on his shoes.

Once his shoes were back on in his feet he dug in his pocket and grabbed his pack of rolled cigarettes and flipped open his old zippo to light one on fire.

Taking in a long pull he blew out the smoke quickly, "I fucking hate it here. I don't wanna go home. I don't wanna take care of her anymore. I don't want to deal with her wrath every time I don't do something perfectly her way. I CANT STAND MY LIFE ANYMORE!!!," He screamed as he threw the cigarette down and stomped it out.

His outburst caused some curious glances from other people but he didn't care. He had to let it out sometimes or he just might give in to his intrusive thoughts and finally smother the old broad with her pillow.

He had been his mother's caregiver for 12 long years now. When he was only 9 years old her drunk boyfriend beat her up so badly he broke her neck. At the time they lived in a small one bedroom hotel. Jakob had hidden himself in the bathroom while the old drunk took his anger out on Jakob's mother. She was a junkie who would beat Jakob so he had no problem letting the man hit his mother.

The only problem is that his mother had some wealthy parents. Usually coming from a rich family isn't all that bad, but they had wrote off their daughter years ago and in a way Jakob too. Once she was paralyzed from the neck down and no longer able to inject herself with her drugs they showed back up. They promised to provide Jakob with food and better housing ONLY if he took care of his mother. The idea of 3 meals a day and his own room made 9 year old Jakob giddy so he agreed right away.

21 year old Jakob though, resented the deal and his spoiled mother. Only once a week he is relieved from his duty while an old friend his mom has comes to watch her for an hour. Jakob's looks forward to this respite each week. It's his only freedom but it isn't nearly enough of a break. The hour goes by too quickly and each week he finds himself dreading going back to the miserable old woman.

Getting into his car he turns the key over and listens to it struggle to come alive. With a burst of black smoke from the tailpipe it comes roared out of the parking space. Many times he has asked his grandfather for money to get a new car, but that wasn't part of their deal. Only food, supplies for her care, and housing are supplied. Often times he has to steal clothes and shoes for himself. To make extra money he makes jewelry from the shells he collects to sell at a flea market nearby.

One time his mother had woken up from her nap before Jakob returned from selling his wares. She had been screaming for him to come help her for an hour before he tiredly walked through the door to their home. For this Jakob was punished by his grandfather by not being delivered a weeks worth of his groceries.

When the people in your life treat you so horribly you can't help but to feel a kind of way about them. In Jakob's heart all he ever felt was hatred and a longing to be free. The only person who ever showed him kindness was his grandmother. His mother was an only child and he was her only child as well.

Shutting off the car and stepping out of the vehicle he thought back to the last conversation she had with him before she passed on. "Jakob my daughter was never kind to you, and your Pop thinks you will end up being a disgrace like she was. He does not claim you. I, however, disagree. I love you. I feel so horribly for how your life turned out. I see the shine in your eyes when you read about other places. I see how you handle your mother with so much care and ease despite hating her. I know you are unhappy, so I want to give you something to look forward to. Our fortune is great. Greater than you even know. Pop will have access to it always but Jakob once he and your mom are gone everything will be left for you. Here is a key to our safe. Jakob you must never open that safe until we are all gone and dead. Pop will cut you off and beat you mercilessly if he finds even a single dollar gone. Be patient. Then when no one is left open the safe, take the money and go. Go wherever you please. Go be happy." His grandmother looked at him with kind eyes and had patted his head. The old woman was in a way trapped just as much as he was. The last good deed she did before her death was give him the key to his own freedom.

Shaking his head he cleared the memory from his mind and stepped through the door. "Where the hell have you been? You're the worst fucking son a mother could have. I've been calling for you for 5 fucking minutes now!!!" His mother glared at him. Her face red with bulging brown eyes. Her awful haircut accentuating her hideous face. He could smell the reek of cigarettes from her breath.

"Oh dear, did the world end in the last 5 minutes?". He hated talking to her. She looked at him and said, "You remember what happened last time you were late? Your lucky I feel generous tonight. Give me my fucking bed bath and I won't tell my Dad what a worthless twit you are."Jakob was quick to come back with a sarcastic reply,"Oh shit, really? Don't go winning any 'Mother if the Year' awards with your generosity.".

She nodded her head motioning for him to pop a new lit cigarette into her mouth. After he stuck it between her yellowed lips he began to undress her for the bath. Occasionally he would stop what he was doing to take the cigarette out of her mouth, ash it, and put it back in her mouth. She was a chain smoker. Constantly demanding he help her with her habit. He went back to bathing her after he put out the cigarette. "I want you to shave my legs."She never asked nicely

He did what he was told until she shocked him by saying, "shave my crotch."

Looking at her in utter disgust he said, " I already have the unfortunate task of cleaning it since you can not move your arms but why the fuck would I shave it for you? No one sees your pussy but me and I have to swallow vomit to do basic care down there as is."

"I'm going to get lucky when Jeff comes next week," she said and then smiled so wide her yellow teeth made an appearance.

"I'm not shaving you for a freak off you won't even be able to feel." He threw down the wash cloth and started to storm out of the room but quickly stopped to turn and yell, "You really are delusional to want your son to prep you and the bathe you after a romp session." He turned around and slammed the door so hard a picture fell off the wall.

Pacing back and forth he decided that this was the last straw. He would rather die than spend another minute in this home taking care of the ungrateful whore who birthed him.

Once he had finished the evening with her he waited for her to sleep. Silently closing the front door to their home he walked towards his grandfather's house carrying only a book bag stuffed with two outfits and his astronomy book. He kept fidgeting with the safe key in his hands. He was only slightly anxious about being caught. Life couldn't get much worse BUT it could get much better.

Pretty soon he was in front of his grandfather's Victorian home and sliding through the bars of the gate. It was time for him to make his escape.