•Tyler•
I come out to my treehouse at dawn the next day. I don't know what sleep's problem is with me. I've been up all night. Can't my demons just leave me alone?
It's not as misty this time around. I can see the birds starting to wake up. Some of them are singing. I wonder how the first birds learned how to sing. What if there was a songbird that couldn't sing well? Would he be an outcast? Shunned by his bird-society for not being like the rest? I surprise myself with my thoughts at times.
A twig snaps underneath me, causing a crashing in the bushes a few yards a way. I see a deer bounding gracefully through the trees. I smile faintly as I climb into my tree house. I didn't bring my ukulele this time around. Maybe I could figure out the rest of that song without it.
I walk to the back wall—stooping because I'm too tall to stand all the way up—and open up the chest. I remove my notebook and pen and sit down at the doorway of my treehouse, my feet dangling over the edge. I look down at the leaf littered earth. It's about a twelve foot drop from the house to the ground. I probably wouldn't hurt that much if I fell...or jumped.
I shake my head to clear my mind and focus on my recent song. A light breeze ruffles my unbrushed hair. It's warm, like someone breathing on you. Poking my tongue out of the corner of my mouth, I scribble down the next line.
I can feel your breath,
I can feel my death

I slap my head. Frickin writers block. I can only get down one to two lyrics a day. I'm about ready to give up on this song, but I'll hold on a bit longer.
I lay back and squint my eyes, my eyelashes dimming and distorting my vision. Something glints in the corner of my left eye in the faint dawn light. I turn over and look at the corner of the oak trunk. Silver.
It's continues to sparkle, enticing me, beckoning me. Crawling forward, I reach out and grab it. Smooth, cool metal settles into my palm. Opening my hand, I see a simple heart locket. Silver chain, pearly pink heart. I open it to see a girl and a boy. The girl captures my attention. My eyes are fixated on hers. They're a nice shade of blue, the kind that you can associate with a nice spring day of cloud gazing and reminiscing about the good ol' days. Crystal clear eyes. Glowing eyes.
I move from her eyes to her hair. It's a light shade of blonde, like sunshine. She has a beautiful smile. The boy has an arm around her. Must be her boyfriend, I assume.
My fingers suddenly snap the locket closed as the realization settles in my chest. Someone else has been in my tree house.
Stuffing the necklace in the pocket of my night pants, I hastily throw my notebook in the trunk and climb out of the treehouse, running all the way home.

I get inside just as I hear Zack crawling out of bed and walking into the upstairs bathroom. I can recognize his footsteps. I sit at the kitchen table, twirling the locket's delicate chains in my fingers. Why am I so worried about someone else being in my treehouse? Maybe it's because it's personal to me and most of my life has been spent there.
I stuff the locket in my pants again as Zack stomps down the stairs. He doesn't question why I'm up; he knows about my insomnia.
"Want to shoot some hoops?" He asks as he pulls some orange juice out of the fridge and pours himself a glass.
"Not right now," I reply. "Maybe later."
Zack shrugs and heads outside by himself just as Jay and Maddy file down the stairs.
"Hey, Ty." Maddy walks over and sets a gentle hand on my shoulder. "You look tired. Maybe you should get some extra sleep. I shake my head.
"I'm fine. I just need to eat some breakfast. That will help me wake up."
"Okay," Maddy says as she walks into the kitchen.
Mom and Dad walk out of their room. Turning on the light, Mom immediately starts on breakfast. I head upstairs to my bedroom to play my keyboard until I'm called to eat.

After a mouthwatering breakfast of bacon, eggs, and pancakes, I tell my parents that I'm headed out to the music store. They give the ok and I walk out the door and into the July morning.