Mutual Butterflies by Ryan Trey
Glendale, AZ
Friday June 28th
Mindy Manor | MM
"Thank you for meeting me today, baby." Mindy smiled as their drinks were brought to the table. She thanked the waitress and then sipped on her iced tea.
"Thank you for coming too." Mindy said.
"How's things been? How are you? How are you really?" This was a question that Mindy had never really received.
"I'm okay for the most part," Mindy let out a sigh seeing Soraya's facial expression, "exams were biting my ass but they're over now and the semesters done. I'm happy for that, i think I did okay but I don't honestly know what the next step is. I'm unsure whether I want to become a midwife or paediatric nurse."
"Well as soon as I got my degrees I became a daycare worker as you probably know, about a decade later I quit and became a full time artist. That may seem like a bad comparison but what you want to do and what feels right for you will come for you."
"Thank you," Mindy said as she sipped on her iced tea, "why'd you stop working at the daycare?" Soraya shrugged.
"I was getting old and things were changing, with you guys you were all 'dependent' I guess and you watched to learn and we were more of a family. As the years went on the kids changed and as you all began to get into middle school and some of you were starting high school working in the daycare just wasn't my thing anymore, those kids were becoming brats and i couldn't tame them babygirl." Soraya said as she drank her cappuccino.
"Why art though?" Soraya smiled.
"I love it, it's so amazing. Hezekiah really pushed me to pursue it and i'm so thankful for that because it was the best thing i'd ever done. Painting is literally my love, you've never been to my home before unfortunately but i literally have a whole studio for myself and there is my art plastered around the house."
"It's great that you have a very supportive family and friends." Soraya nodded understandingly.
"When you have people to encourage you it makes you thrive more and want more, what about you? What about your folks?"
Mindy sighed, "well my parents don't care much about anything but each other, themselves and their business oh and their reputation."
"How was it like growing up?" Soraya felt saddened by Mindy'a forlorn expression.
"I was alone," Mindy sighed again, "so very alone. I was obviously a very unprepared pregnancy but you'd think since they'd taken care of one before they'd be able to take care of another."
"It was hard being all I had but I got used to it in the end, me and my brother didn't have a close relationship — we just didn't have that bond. Sometimes I wish we did because I just wanted someone to appreciate me and love me. I grew up thinking that they were my blood which equalled to family so I should love them regardless."
"Blood does not make you family," Mindy nodded and Soraya continued, "it may make you related but it is not the equivalent to family."
"I know that now."
"What about friendships or relationships growing up?"
