Anita dropped her keys on the table and her body on the couch as soon as she got home. She closed her eyes and sighed long and loud in the small apartment. After a long day at work, all she wanted was a bowl of food, a warm shower, and a long night sleep. Silly Anita, she was always wishing for things she knew she would never get.

"Nini," her younger sister called as she emerged from her bedroom. The long legged beauty had her tight little body wrapped up in a mini black dress and her expensive weave flowing around her flawlessly painted face. "Girl, do you ever stop sleeping?"

Anita merely turned around to her sister. Usually, she would have started nagging about Keshia's self-destructive behaviors but tonight she was too tired to even take off her jacket. Let the girl go clubbing peaceful tonight. Tomorrow she would worry about the rent money she just blew out the window.

She felt the soft tap of her sister on her forehead before the girl sat next to her on the couch. "Girl, I found someone for you. Before you say anything, I have a picture." Keshia continued when she saw her sister angling her body towards the back of the couch.

Anita groaned. All she wanted was to lie down on this couch and dream about everything her life could never be.

"Don't worry, he is H-O-T hooooot," she placed the screen in front of her. Flashing in front of her sleepy eyes was the picture of a dark skinned man with tattoos contouring his shirtless muscular chest. Big glasses hide his eyes and gold teeth grin at the camera.

Anita internally groaned at the sight. There was some pedophile-ish with a grown man throwing the peace sign around like it's free candy. She couldn't deny that he was sinfully fine but she knew for a fact that the men her sister was friends with were from a different planet from the type of men she would even think about dating.

To top it all, she didn't have time for dating. Her life was all about her jobs and the bills. She didn't only have to pay for their basic needs but also for Keshia's college tuition and lavish lifestyle.

"So?" Keshia pressed her. "What do you think?"

"Not my type," Anita yawned.

Keshia huffed out. "Girl, ain't nobody ever your type." She got off the couch and took her jacket off one of the dining room's chair. "Whatever, I gave him your number anyway."

"You did what?" Anita shouted and bolted for the front door but her little sister was already down the stairs, heading for a blue outdated mustang. She would have to wait for tomorrow.

She went back inside, determined to get some sleep until her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten anything since those nuggets she had to share with one of her co-workers. She headed for the fridge. She had seen some leftover rice and beans this morning before work. Hopefully, her sister hadn't ate it all.

Anita opened the plastic container only to find barely two mouthful of the food left. She groaned at the sighed. She wished she would have agreed with her uncle when he had told her to teach her sister some responsibilities and thoughtfulness. She was just so heard-headed and wanted her sister to keep being the little princess their dad wanted. It was the only way to keep him alive in their home.

She heated the food and ate before moving to the back for a shower and some sleep. She knocked then opened the door.

"Bonjour, Mom." She greeted the old woman lying on the bed by the window.

The woman made eye contact with a slight nod of her head. She didn't talk. She hadn't said a word since her husband had passed away and Anita had lost hope of her ever saying one as long as she shall live. It wasn't like she was going to live long since she had to be begged to take a bite of food or swallow her pills.

"It was so busy at work today," she started babbling as she searched for her pajamas in the chaotic closet. "Christmas is coming so everyone's trying to find the perfect prefect."

No one knew if mamma Desbois actually understood English since she barely knew two words of the language when she had to come to live in Florida permanently. However, Anita always talked to her like she understood. She was her best friend and listener.

"Keke went clubbing again," she continued. "I swear that girl spend more time at the club than her classes. I wonder why I both to keep paying her college tuition."

She finally found the over washed gray pants and white T-shirt. She slipped out of the room and went inside the apartment's only bathroom. It was so small that Anita felt like she was in a doll's house every time she went inside.

When she was done brushing her teeth and washing away the torments of the day. She slipped under her covers in the bed facing her mother's.

Her mother and she shared a room since one of them had to and she knew Keshia would have risen hell if she was to share anything with anyone. Her sister was a bit of a spoiled brat but Anita didn't mind. As long as her little sister was happy and continued on the path their father had started them one. One of them had to keep his dreams alive.

Anita tried to fall asleep but she wasn't lucky in that department. At least tomorrow was her day off; she will finally be able to rest better than she had for the past few weeks.

She watched her mother fall asleep. Every moment or so she woke up to check on her and make sure the front door was locked. The last time a robber came in he went with their entire rent money and they were almost kicked out of the apartment. Thankfully, her last boss was understanding and gave her an entire month advance.

It was past 3 A.M. when Keshia came back home hammered as ever. There was a man with her. Her sister's giggling and her friend's loud cussing woke Anita up from her repetitive nightmare.

She got off the bed to kick whoever her sister had brought home with her. It wasn't the first time and it wasn't going to be the last. Keshia was a very confident girl with a large appetite for every type of fun.

"Keke?" She called out in the darkness. She fumbled around a bit before finding the light switch.

On the couch, her baby sister lied topless with a muscular black man in his boxer briefs. They had yet to notice her.

She went in the kitchen and filled a pot with ice-cold water. Her sister's moans were becoming louder and more irritating by the second. In a couple long strides she reached them and poured everything on them.

"The Fuck, Anita?" Keshia shouted.

Anita looked at the man and pointed at the door. "Get the hell out?"

He scrambled up his clothes in a bunch and scurried out but not before whispering something at Anita that rhymes with snitch.

"What was that for?" Keshia fumed. "That's a freaking $100 hair."

Anita wanted to laugh at her sister for worrying about her fake hair than anything else but then should would be the one coming out as the fool because she gave her the money. In her defense, her sister was supposed to buy school supplies with that money.

"That's what you do with the money I gave you?" Anita exclaimed.

Keshia crossed her arms, taking offense from her sister's lack of understanding. "Beauty is expensive, okay? I ain't about to buy cheap weaves like you do. I have a standard to keep up."

Anita rolled her eyes. "How did you buy your books then?"

A wicked smile made its way up Keshia's lips. "Why do you think my boyfriends are there for?"

"What?" Anita shouted before she slapped a hand on her mouth, remembering about their mother in the other room. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Relax, big sis." Keshia playfully hit her arms. "I'm just screwing with you. I rented them second hand from my friends. It was cheaper."

Anita silently released a breath before letting herself drop on the couch. There it was, another reason to back up her claim that her sister will kill her one of these days.

"Goodnight, Nini." Keshia blew her a kiss before opening her bedroom door that was opposite to Anita and their mother's.

"Keke," Anita called out.

"Yes," her sister shouted back from inside her bedroom.

"Do me a favor and don't bring strange men in this house again."

"Sure thing," she answered before closing the door.

Anita didn't know why she even asked. She knew for sure there will be a new one by the end of the week.

Yawning, she looked at the clock over the flat screen TV her sister had begged her for last month but only used for one week. It was past 4 A.M. She didn't think she had to bother going back into the room so she settled on the couch and waited for the alarm clock to ring.