❀Rose’s POV❀

“Ouch, that hurt you know,” I whine, as Ariel places the last of the ointment on my left cheek. “My bad, sorry,” She apologizes and finishes up.

     Earlier, at the diner, my body felt numb and heavy but I never took in account of it having the possibility of being swelled up. I looked worst than I did before. My thoughts only circled around what would the mystery guy at the diner possibly think about me; the bruised up girl who ruined his shirt, bled and then ran away.

     It would be great to never see him again but some part of me wants to meet him once more so that I can apologize properly. There are enough persons out there who hate me already and for some weird reason, I don’t want him to be part of that group.

     “Okay, here’s how this is going to go down,” Ariel starts, then jumps onto my bed. I was seated on the chair near my dresser so she turned to face me. “We’re not returning for afternoon classes. I already called my mom and she has already called both of our schools. She probably told them that we were sick or something but that’s beyond the point here.”

     She takes a deep breath and I wait for her to continue. Yes, you guessed right, she loves talking a lot and I didn't, which is why we’re the perfect combo. She’s the talker and ‘carer’ and I’m the listener and the person who she cares for. I'll admit that did sound a little selfish.

     “We’ll watch the movie ‘The Giver’, the one you spoke about whole week and then we’ll have our normal girls talk. I haven’t caught up on anything new lately.”

     “Sounds like a plan to me but first, can I use the washroom? I promise to not do anything stupid this time,” I say, lifting my hands up in defense when she gave me ‘the’ eye. I really needed to pee you know! She nods in agreement but says, “Leave the door opened just in case!”

-

-

“This movie is retarded!” Ariel mutters, rolling on the floor as she fixes her position.

     “It is not! You just don’t understand it you blonde!” I retort, taking offence that such an amazing movie is being bad mouthed right before my face.

     “Sure, sure, tell me that it’s not jackass to be raised in a place you don’t know what a kiss is, don’t know what love is and doesn’t even allow you to touch persons who are not part of your assigned family. To make it worst, you have no memory, you don’t know who your birth mother is and all you see if freaking black and white! Where the fuck are the colored people in this! I swear my African American friends will take offence!”

     “Oh stop, your ranting won’t you. The colored persons will be shown shortly… See, that nurse is colored!”

     And here goes the argument discussion we have every time we watch a movie I wanted to see for a long time. Ariel always finds something wrong but still ends up being the one to analyze everything to the brim. I watch the movie for enjoyment but she watches it to scan the minds of the persons who wrote the scripts.

     In only this category, she’s the one who is getting all scientifically involved and I’m the laid back one here. 

     “Good, now all the memories are restored. The guy, whatever his name is can’t even go back to the town place thingy to see the girl he kissed. If he goes back then everything is reversed! Stupid movie I say, stupid!” Ariel says, chanting her last sentence jokingly.

     “It’s only a movie Ariel, wow, and an amazing one at that,” I say, still defending my case. My arms were folded across my chest as I looked up to my best friend who was now standing. Ignoring my composure she pulls one of the two single chairs my living room has and seats on it.

     I am poor, yes but I wasn’t always like this. When my parents were together, we lived in the same neighborhood as Ariel. The place with all the big luxurious houses, the well managed park and everything. But, as my parents divorced each other my life was turned upside down.

     They both were successful business workers who owned a few businesses of their own but my father was the smart and productive one. The reason their marriage ended was due to my mother’s gambling and alcohol problem. After the divorce she vowed to me that she would change because for some reason, she got full custody of me and I wasn’t allowed to see my father.

     She bought a beautiful home for the two of us to stay at because let’s face it, she was rich. We were living the life but as they say, the sun still sets in paradise. Old habits returned and she couldn’t stop herself. I changed schools because the students teased me on how my mom lived her life.

     Soon she sold two of her businesses to pay off gambling debts. Being a careless drinker she would spend for other persons, people used her until she was down to one business. This business couldn’t be sold because it held too much sentimental value so she sold our home instead.

     Though all what belonged to her was gone she couldn’t stop. We were on the streets when I was at the age of fifteen. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t return to my first home so I could live with my father, it was forbidden by the law. The law didn’t know my situation though, the law didn’t know the number of times she abused me when she realized that all her spare change was to send me to school.

     That’s when I went in search for a job, a job which could at least give me bus money and enough for food on a daily basis. Three weeks after I got my job, she sold her last business. The restaurant which was her great, great grand mother’s own, she sold it. This was my favorite place to go, the staff was amazing and she sold it.

     We lived at one of her friend’s garages because she wouldn’t take Ariel’s mom up on the offer of us leaving at their other home. She was stubborn and didn’t want help from anyone. Her life was going down hill and she dragged me along with her.

     Luckily for us, one night she found a cheque for one of the little businesses she sold and she then bought this little house. I was glad; it was the happiest day for me in a long time. The feeling of sleeping under a roof which was ours was so great but this didn’t stop her habits, this just made it worst.

     “Don’t worry Rose, I’m going to change, I swear but first I need to make a fortune,” Those words were constantly repeated in my ear after she beat me up or spend my money for school. “Mom, you had a fortune…” I would cry back on her shoulder. Many persons would think that I hate my mother for what she has done, for what she is making me go through but the truth is I love her with all my heart.

     I can see that she is trying because now after she gets paid, she places an amount in my dresser’s drawer so that I wouldn’t starve. I can see that this is not her fault, old habits die hard.

     I just want her to go back to the way she was before. She divorced my father because he had an affair. From that point on, she just wanted to clear her mind from all her marriage problems. “It’s not her fault… She can’t help it,” I whisper to myself.

     “I’m here Rose, it’ll be alright,” I hadn’t noticed that I was crying. Ariel’s arms wrapped around my body as she pulled me towards her, I sobbed into her chest. She didn’t ask any questions because she already knew what my problem was. And she knew if she asked it would have made my situation even worst.

     “I’m okay now,” I say, pulling away from the embrace and wiping away the tears from my face. She smiles at me and places a lingering kiss on my forehead. “I’m glad.”

     “Rosey darling I’m home!” The sound of my mother’s loud voice was heard from outside. By the way she was shouting I could tell that she had a few drinks after work. She maybe had a drink too many because I could hear her struggle to open the front door with her key.

     Ariel helps me up to my feet and we both took a seat on the available chairs. Ariel grabs her mini first aid kit and car keys because she was planning to leave. ‘I’m sorry but I don’t want to intrude much longer. She seems really drunk tonight. If anything happens, call me,’ she whispers to me just in time. At her last words, my mother enters the house.

     “Oh hello Ariel,” She says, pausing to gain her balance on the wall of the living room, “Give your mom greetings for me,” My mother says, taking a seat on the floor and began digging into her work bag.

     “Good night Miss Rosanna, I’ll give her the message for you. Bye Rose, bye y’all, sleep well!” With that Ariel waves at us and then walks out of my house. She looks over her shoulder and gives me a thin lip smile.

     “Wow, did she leave quick or what. It’s only 7:30,” My mother says and I walk towards her. Tonight was a good night; she wasn’t upset but instead seemed happy. This means I could get into a close proximity.

     “She maybe had some important things to catch up on,” I reply, kneeling down besides her.

     “Oh… She is missing the good news then,” My mother replies, smiling at me. Her eyes were filled with so much joy that I wondered what was going on. “Good news? What is it?”

     “You mean what are they,” She starts off, “I’m leaving for a month and you’ll be living with Ariel for the time. I emailed her mother and you’ll get a call tomorrow so that she will inform you on what you will need.”

     My mood changed. “How is that good news mom, I want to live with you! I am not complaining I’m satisfied with what I have. Oh gosh mom, please don’t do this, don’t just leave me like that-“

     My mother starts to laugh and then does some random movement with her hand. She pulls out an application form from her bag and she hands it to me. My eyes immediately began to water. Oh my God, she was really trying.

     “M-Mom, this is great,” I say, reaching it to hug her. She hugged me back and I could feel her hand tightening around me as she cried onto my shoulder. She was hurting me because she was squeezing on my bruises but I didn’t care because she was trying.

     “I promised I would change Rose, I want you to go back to the lives we had so I’m taking this course so that I can forget about my addiction. The main one is for the month and after I do it after work. Are you proud of me now my flower?” her question has so much hope in it that I began crying also.

     “Mom I was always proud of you, no matter what. What’s the other good news?” I was curious, don’t blame me.

     “You’ll be seeing your father once more, next weekend,” She replies and I just freeze.

     My Father…? Why…?

AN: Did you guys like this chapter or nah? I totally loved the ending... I hope you did too. Enjoy your reading experience my hunnies!