Flickering Flames

As I watched the fireplace flicker, I wondered if this was what the rest of my life would be like.  Sitting, watching and waiting for the next event.  I wasn’t sure how to get things done, how to get things started.  I needed to get out of this house, but I couldn’t let my aunt and uncle know I was leaving. If they knew I was even thinking about leaving, I would never be let out of my room again. They would put me to work and I would never leave the farm again. 

The farm was big enough I could be isolated from the rest of the family and from the authorities if anyone ever thought to check on me. I knew if I stayed, I would never have the chance for college or a career because those options would be reserved for my cousins. I would be expected to take care of my aunt and uncle as they had ‘taken it upon themselves’ to take care of me after my mother’s disappearance. I was their burden and their nightmare. I knew a fire was my only chance. If the animals all got ‘accidentally’ let out of the barn before it went up in flames, they could blame my disappearance on the fact I had vanished along with the fire. I just had to find some bones I could stage as mine, I was good to go. The only plus side was I knew where a forgotten cemetery was.