DEAR INDIE,
You're all grown up! You've become a big, strong woman. I'm so proud of you for everything you do. Just wanted to know if you still remember me,
Love your dad.
(P.S. I'm almost home, sweetheart!)
I don't even remember what he looks like. I put the letter underneath my pillowcase. This is the first letter I've received from him. I thought that he was dead a long time ago. Uncle Kimmy goes into my room.
"What you up to, Kid?"
I jump. "God, Uncle Kimmy, you startled me."
"Nothing," I stumble on my words.
"Okay." He closes my door.
"Leave it open, please."
"Okay, and in about a week, we're moving so I'd pack if I were you," Cassy chimes in as she walks into my room.
"Okay, okay," I sigh as I pretend to make my bed. Do you Dad's still alive, I want to say but I don't. Not to anyone. Not even at dinner.
Uncle Kimmy talks about his date with his boyfriend last night, saying how they went to a beach and swam in the indoor pool.
"That sounds like fun," Cassy sings as she pours another glass of wine.
"Hey kid, how was school?"
"Not good. Ryan got back together with his girlfriend," I say holding back tears forming in the back of my eyes.
"Aww, I'm sorry to hear that, Malauge," Cassy says patting me on the back.
I throw my food in the trash and go up to my room. I lock my door, go under my cover and I light the lighter with the red shining like a firey, amber shining so bright underneath this monstrous world. I put the light on my inner thigh thinking: he'll never be with you because you're not his type. You're dark, while she's not, you're thin, while she's not. She plays baseball and basketball. she's every guy's dream, while I'm not. I scream as it burns my inner thigh.
Uncle Kimmy knocks on my door, "You okay in there?"
"Yeah," I say as I try to hold back my tears.
"Unlock your door, Mal."
"No, I'm-I'm studying." I sniff away all of my pain.
"You always leave your door open, Kid," Uncle Kimmy softly says. "How about we make cookies?"
"Okay," I say opening the door.
Click.
The next morning, I wake myself up and take a shower. I usually take a shower because I'm sad and it takes me away from reality. After my shower, I get dressed, brush my teeth, and get out the door. If I wake up early enough, I can watch it until she wakes up.
"Let's go," she says her voice low from sleep.
"Okay, you still sound tired."
"I had to work until like four because I'm still staying here when you and Uncle Kimmy move in with our cousins. Aunt Lucinda and her kids Lalura and Francis, I think."
I feel instant fear and astonishment floral all throughout my body, "What!!?" I blurt out really loud as it wakes Aries up in her arms as she cries.
Cassy nudges me, "What the hell, Mal?!"
We're out in our driveway, now. "You never care about what I say. I'm texting Esmerelda to drive me instead, " I say my voice shaky and unsettle.
She sighs, "Malauge--"
"No!"
Her big, black Dodge pulls up to my driveway as I step in. She turns her radio on, she mostly rap and hip hop. I turn to her jamming out to her music.
"I'm moving," I state in a low voice.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"When?"
"Next week."
"Oh my god--"
Before she could say anything else I say, "My sister's staying with my nice Aries, you've seen her."
She nods.
"My cousin, Lucinda, and her kids are coming over tomorrow."
She turns to the right instead of the left. "Then we ain't goin' to school. It's your last week, girl!"
I say no more.