Lily

The person in the car ahead of me moves to the side of the road, allowing me to take the lead ahead of them.

Why thank you.

I push my glasses higher up as they were falling down, but accidentally forget to put my other hand back on the steering wheel. I wasn't much of a multi-tasker.

People behind me honk their horns and I drive a little faster. The house comes into view and I look in the backseat to make sure I brought my bag. I lose focus again and turn around, my eyes go wide.

I try to turn but am too close. The car hits the sidewalk with a thud and my head jerks slightly.

I scream a little at the sudden action. When I calm down, I get out of the car hastily, holding my heart as I check the front of the car.

"Oh my goodness gracious, Lily look what done did."

I shake my head in disappointment at myself. This was the fifth time I crashed my car today this month. I wasn't a very good driver, either.

This was going to cost me a whopping five hundred dollars, at least. Which meant I wouldn't be eating for a little while again.

I pat my truck in sadness. "I am so sorry, sugar. I won't do it again. "

I shake my head and giggle as I get back in the car. "Alright, we both know that's not true."

I didn't have the money to pay for another repair on Betsy, which is my truck. Especially since I just got fired from Dominos. The boss had told me customers thought I was annoying, and was causing too much disturbance.

I was just trying to make friends, though. I should probably stop 'over sharing', as Diana put it. Diana is my friend, by the way. My very best friend.

I grab my phone and dial Diana. She answers after the second ring, "What?" A male voice asks

Well, that isn't Diana

"Who is this?" I reply, rubbing my necklace.

"Dante."

A smile forms on my face at my friend. Dante is my friend.

"Bear! Well, why didn't you say that? You had me shivering in my boots."

He yawns and I hear Diana in the background. "My bad, what's up Lily?"

"I need to speak to Diana."

"Diana's yelling at Fiona right now."

Fiona was my niece. I loved her a lot because she had the same southern accent as me.

"I did it again." I whisper, biting my nail.

"Did what?" Dante's tone becomes serious, and I know he is about to yell at me.

"I crashed my car again." I mumble.

"Goddamnit Lily, this is the fourth time this month!"

"No, it's the fifth, b-"

"Lily." He deadpans and I stay silent.

"Why don't you start taking the cab or bus? You're going to hurt yourself if you don't stop driving. You're not good at it Lily."

"I'm sorry, I really am. I wasn't pay-"

I jump at the sound of someone knocking on the window glass. I turn to the side and see it is a man. A very good looking man, I might add.

Well hello. Mama likey. Mama likey a lot.

I pull the window down with a smile. "Hi there. My name is Lily H-"

"I don't give two shits about your fucking name. Look what you've done!" He shouts and I flinch a little.

Goodness gracious! I take it he's got an issue with names.

I look at the direction he is pointing to and see it is a house infront of the street I have crashed into.

"Oh shucks." I grumble, getting out of the car and jogging over to it. I look clearer and notice it is an awful lot more than just the street. I crashed into his porch and messed up his lawn.

My mouth goes agape and I curse myself for being so clumsy. "I'm so, so, sorry! It was an accident, I promise. See, I was driving and then I had to push my glasses because they got a bit fog-"

"Does it look like I care?" The man cuts me off. His face frowned and eyebrows narrowed.

Well geez.

"What are you going to do to fix this?" He asks after I stay quiet.

"I'll pay you back."

He folds his arms and scowls as we stand on the sidewalk. "And how the hell are you going to do that?" He glances at my shoes, then my bag, and I frown.

I happened to like my outfit today. I had matched my shirt with my brown hair and was able to find my jeans from highschool. My sandals weren't very appealing though as the hole peeking out on the left shoe wasn't too good. My bag was a one strap that Diddy had bought me before he left last summer. He said it matched with my light brown eyes. I brought my bag everywhere.

I had thought I looked pretty good when I left the house this morning. I wasn't as good looking as everyone else I knew. They all had beautiful faces and even better bodies. Nice boobies and butts that men loved. While I had barely grown a b -cup last summer and my butt, well, I don't like to talk about that. I'm not very proud of her.

I zone out and face the angry man. "I'll work for you!" I finally say, coming up with the best idea.

He was wearing a nice navy blue fancy suit, so I assumed he must be loaded. Unless he just walked around in a suit every day, then that'd just be weird.

"I do need an assistant."

I smile happily, "Wonderful! I-"

He shakes his head, "Hell no, you're not working for me. I don't know why that even crossed my mind."

My smile falls, and I hold back my tears. He's not very nice, I see.

"Oh." I mumble.

Looking up at the sky, I notice it is getting darker, so I should probably head home.

I dig in my bag and pull out my 'card'. It has my number and name written on a piece of paper that I had written last week for fun.

"Here's my card!" I say proudly, "If you decide you want to call the cops and they need my information, here it is! Thank you!"

I run to the car in a hurry. Throwing my bag on the passenger's seat and turning the car on as the man stands staring at it dumbfounding-ly.

That probably wasn't a good idea.

•••

"Mama… I'm home!" I say, stepping into the dark living room slowly.

I was shivering scaredly and my hands shook. The lights were off, so I knew she was mad.

"Ma-" I am cut off when a belt connects to my back and cry out in pain.

My body hits the living room rug with a thud and tears begin streaming down my face at the pain.

"I told you 'bout coming home late!" She says, spit flying out of her mouth.

I turn around slowly, wincing as I do so. I can make out her body in the dark. It towers over me and when I see her holding a bottle of alcohol of some sort, I begin to cry harder.

Oh goodness she's drunk. Mama's never nice when she's drunk.

"Mama, please! I'm sorry!"

She strikes my back with the belt for the second time and I can already feel the mark coming. She continues to hit me until I am sobbing and able to run to my room.

Mama didn't like hitting me when the light was on. Maybe she didn't want to see me. Nobody wants to see me.

Two years ago, after Diana and Bear got married, mama called me saying she was in the hospital and in debt from gambling. I came to visit her, and she told me it was uncurable disease. She never told me what it was called. I tried to ask the doctor, but she said not to. I probably should have, though.

I had to sell my house to pay for all of her debt and hospital bills, but I didn't mind. I decided to stay with her to take care of her and Diddy. I'm not very proud to be living with my mama at almost twenty four though. I often get made fun of for that. After Diddy left for the army, she started getting to my head. Mama always treated me like I was a child  like I didn't know how to do anything. I know I'm not the brightest in the box, but I'm at least a pink right?

Then, after mentally abusing me, she saw I understood what she was doing. That's when the hitting started. It began only when she lost money at the casino. Then when I didn't bring home enough money. Now it's whenever she feels like it.

Mama loves me. I know she does.
She wasn't always like this. When Diddy was here, she was the sweet and loving woman I know. She just misses him, that's all.

Sniffling and trying not to move my back, I walk to my dresser.

"Mama missed you, sugar." I carefully take Vivo out of his hamster cage.

Diddy had gotten him for me for my nineteenth birthday. I loved Vivo just as much as I loved sunsets. Sunsets were a bit prettier though, as Vivo isn't very hygienic.

I rub my nose on his soft fur. "We're gonna get through this together. We're all we got for now, alright?"

I walk to my bed cautiously. Wincing as I bend down to lay him on my pillow. Once I have changed into my pajamas, I lay next to him carefully. Placing my glasses on the dresser before getting underneath the blanket and yawning.

I rub my necklace as a small tear falls down my cheek.

Tomorrow will be a better day. I just know it.

•••

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