“

and i hate how you
made me question
myself when the
problem was you all
along.

”

—a.s.

TODAY was Ariel's first day at work and she was a nervous wreck.

Agape made the three of them a simple breakfast of toast, scrambled eggs, two cups of coffees and a cup of hot chocolate.

They all had something important happening today.

"You're going to be fine, Aunty Ariel," Jasper said as he waiting patiently for his mother to finish making breakfast, he was sitting on a dining chair while Ariel braided his hair. He hated whenever she braided it, but he didn't say anything because he knew she was nervous.

"Oh, stop making this all about me. You're starting school today! It's about you too," Ariel said to Jasper, trying to stop thinking about what today could possibly hold.

It had been six months since she had walked up to Nick's front door with Jasper clinging to her arm. And even though it's been six months she still couldn't stop recalling the events of that day.

She cringed at it, but deep down she was happy. It was the day that had opened her eyes to the truth about Nick. The day that had made her whole again.

She still visited the counseling center. In fact, she had become buddies with Francis and her friendship with Kayden was strong.

Kayden planned on leaving, something about on a little trip around Asia once she saved enough, she had forced Ariel into agreeing to come with her.

Hence, why Ariel had swallowed up her fear and had gone for a job interview. Before that, she had talked to Agape about it, Agape was not happy. Agape had gone from nearly forcing Ariel into working to standing against it. She didn't want Ariel to think she had to work, to feed up whatever nonsense that was springing up in her mind about defying Nick would make her a better person.

But one day she would have to get a job. Kay was just a little forward push and as much as she loved Agape, she couldn't obey her demand.

Ariel didn't expect to be accepted, though. Aside from a degree she had no experience or any reason to receive an acceptance from them - not an internship, not a recommendation from some higher ups.

Nothing, but luck.

Agape came into the living room with a tray in hand and dropped the tray on the dining table.

"Before you start eating, go grab your school bag. I don't want you accidentally forgetting it on your first day," Jasper grabbed a toast from his plate before running off to obey his mother.

Once Jasper was out of ear's reach, Agape brought up her own challenge for today while she removed the plates and cups from the tray, Ariel assisting.

"So I talked to Friday and he wants to talk to me about meeting Jasper some time soon."

Ariel frowned. Agape never talked about the night that led to Jasper, the only thing she had ever said was who. Friday was that who.

"Jasper's not safe around him," Ariel immediately disagreed, "he may be his father, but the role doesn't make a bad person good all of a sudden."

"I know, Ariel. It's what I've been telling myself, but Jasper's old enough to realise that his dad. . . he may want to know who his father is," Agape looked upset, maybe a bit disturbed about it, but Ariel understood. She didn't want Jasper growing up without a father figure, it didn't mean she had to be happy about it herself.

"It's not like I'm giving Jasper to him or anything. I just want to hear him out," before Ariel could reply, Jasper ran in with his backpack on his back. Agape smiled at her son.

"Let's eat, we all a pretty long day ahead of us."

••

"I think Mummy thinks I'm still a little kid," Jasper said to Ariel as they walked to his new school. It was a little private primary school that Ariel knew must have cost Agape a fortune.

He was dressed up in his primary school uniform with a blue backpack and a blue lunchbox - matching the colour of his school uniform. His hair was braided today and it was prettier than all the previous braids his Aunt Ariel had braided.

"Aren't you?" His Aunt had replied a bit absentmindedly as she tried to straighten out the wrinkles in her new dress suit. Hoping it was just perfect to impress her employers.

"I mean, yes I am," he pouts and pinches his nose slightly, "she gave me some rules about good behaviour, as if I don't already have a good behaviour," he said and rolled his eyes, reminding Ariel of his mother, "and then she told me things I already know - like that people may be rude and mean to me, or that I actually need to make friends to start a school year. I'm not stupid."

"Bad words," she gave him a look until he muttered an apology, "besides she doesn't think you are," Ariel immediately corrected, playing with the strap of her handbag out of nervousness, "she's just doing her duty as a mum. To worry about you."

"I wish she'd stop it. She's already taught me how to take care of myself if people are mean or rude to me."

"I wouldn't expect any less from your mother."

Jasper's new school started to come into view, Jasper could see the large building that he was going to spend most of his days in. He was starting primary school a bit late, Agape said. He was starting a bit too early, Ariel said.

But what everyone said and thought was finally getting to him.

He squeezed his Aunty's hand tighter as they got closer and gulped. "Do you think it'll be scary? What if they don't like me? Mummy says everyone likes me, but she's not everyone. She wouldn't know," the anxiousness in Jasper's voice made Ariel forget about her own nervousness and pay attention to his.

He looked just as frightened as she did.

"I- I don't know, Jasp," she sighed in defeat, once the gates of his school were in plain sight, they stopped walking to talk. "You shouldn't care about what everyone else thinks of you, but if this counts for anything - I think you're awesome. Your Mummy raised a good kid. If they don't see that, it's not your problem. It's theirs."

For a second, it felt as if Ariel was advising herself and not Jasper. Jasper didn't care though, because he hugged her legs tightly and buried his face in her long legs. He then looked up after Ariel had hugged him back and smiled at her.

"Your Mummy raised a good kid too. You're kind and amazing, Aunty Ariel," his brown eyes sparkled and Ariel's heart warmed up a bit.

Your Mummy raised a good kid too.

Of course she did. Ariel's sweet mother couldn't raised anything too far from good.

"And you're way too smart for your age, but thanks anyway Jasper."

"Mummy says when she was my age she was already mastering the dictionary. You're welcome, Aunty."

Ariel smiled at that, she could never tell if Agape was lying or not. She had started school very early and had very strict African parents.

After warning him not to go home with anyone other than she and his mother, she watched as he walked into the school gate and sighed.

He had faced his own challenge, Agape was currently facing hers, so it was time for Ariel to start with hers.

And with a heart beating fast, she went for her first day of work.