I walked down to the expressway to board a bus home. Mrs. Georgia made me leave for home from work late. I was exhausted, tired is an understatement. I was feeling so weak and sleepy. Yawning countlessly didn't stop the sleep. My eyelids became a bit heavy. An old man was standing beside me, he looked as though he's having difficulty in crossing the wide expressway. I couldn't look away and ignore like the way others waiting for a bus in the bustop did. He had this funny tiny glasses reminding me of my late granpa, who was a very nice jovial man, he died of heart attack, i miss him, just thinking about him made me teary.
I volunteered to assist him, he had this warm smile and i returned the same, the old man was in delight to see me help him cross the road safely. I managed to stop few cars and took him to the other side of the road.
"Thank you my dear, May the good God be with you" he said smiling widely.
"You are welcome sir, Don't mention"
"What's is your name my daughter? " He asked.
" Abylay" i said my full name. It's an acient name, i don't even know why the name was given to me, such a weird name.
"Wow! It's rare to see parents name their children beautiful rare names like yours, you know? My son is around your age, very handsome charming young man, anytime i look at him he reminds me of my young self. I am waiting for him to come pick me up, His name is Nick and i wanted an acient n..." The old man continued to talk making me uncomfortable. I felt like running away, Gosh!! How do i tell this old man i need to go home and not sound offensive?.
Suddenly, a Range Rover car drove and parked right in front of us. The man laughed and felt delighted.
"That's him, that's my son..."
The man held my hand and pecked my knuckles. I couldn't help the smile, this was how my Grandpa does anytime we come to visit him.
A young man roll his car glass down exposing his face. Nick waved at the old man, the old man hoped to the backseat.
"This young lady is very kind, she assisted me when i was having difficulty in crossing the expressway, i told you to always come pick me up at the other side of the road" the old man gave his son a light knock on his head making me giggle at how funny the old man can be.
I smiled nervously looking for ways to leave for home since the old man has gotten to his son's car safely.
" Hello, do you want to earn 600$ just for 3 months?" Nick asked suddenly. I looked back to confirm if i was the one he was talking to and yes i was the one he was talking to. I felt insulted as i stared at him weirdly.
He continued in his still smiley face "You will work as a PH just for 3 months" .
"What's a PH? "
"Personal help, take this, this is my business card, call me if you are interested, I'll be glad to hear from you " he said. i was startled and shocked at his words. He stretched his hands and i subconsciously collected it. He drove away as the old man waved at me.
Do i look that pitiful? Is it now obvious that i badly need a profiting job? Am i that bony? Does my dressing makes it obvious? Goshh, what did he take me for? . I stare at the black business card and shove it inside my bag.
I got home using my key to come in since Ariel and Mum would be asleep. I got in only to see mum laying on the couch with a green scarf around her head. I saw her drugs on the table, it's remaining one last pill. Her drugs is about to finish. I need money to get new ones for her.
"Eomeoni, I'm back from work, go inside your room" i said with a gentle voice.
My mum is a beautiful Asian lady with a pair of cute brown eyes. She is sick and is kinda surviving on drugs. My mother is a very strong, kind hearted and hardworking woman and the only thing that breaks me is her sick state, sometimes i might want to go into illegal business to earn more money but anytime i think of her I woul quickly forbid those silly thoughts and instead work harder. You must be wondering who my dad is or where he is, well... I don't have a dad, not that he has died or anything i just have it in mind that he's not my father after all he did to mum. He was a not good man, a very heartless man. He was a notorious man who would always drink on his way back from work and on getting home, he would turn my mother into punching bag, he won't stop hitting her until she bled. He maltreated her and frustrated her. He once hit her till she had miscarriage, that was few years after Ariel was born. One day, he chased us out of the house, we were wearing only pyjamas that night in the cold weather, i was only 12 and Ariel was 9. It was extremely late by 11pm in the night, we had no where to go until Neon family took us in, making us comfortable. Neon Mother and my mom were high school best friends who lost contact when Neon mother went to college to further her education. They accepted us with open arms. That's when Neon and i became best of friends. My mother worked really hard and doesn't want to depend on Neon mother like the way she did on my father. She tried her very best to enroll us into high school and rented an apartment. My dad is someone I swore never to remember, he was so cruel to us. Few years ago he married a young woman and that was the last news I heard about him.
"Kylie, you are back, how was work today?" My mother asked sitting up, she's getting old now and is vulnerable to sickness. The stress she had gone through added to her sickness.
Yes, you heard that right she called me Kylie.
Kylie is my middle name, she's the only one who calls me that.
"Mom, you're awake, work was a bit stressful today but in all, I thank God" i smiled. She gestured for me to come sit beside her. I sat beside her as she pat my back, i leaned my head on her shoulder.
"Kylie, i love you, you are blessed, all may seem hard and rough now but i know you and Ariel is our breakthrough" she whispered in my hair and pecked my hair. I wrapped my hands around her waist and even lean closer.
I was so comfortable in her arms i slept off enjoying her warm embrace.