home coming

Part 2

I can feel the heat beaming on me. My skin felt moist and sticky from all the moisture in the warm air. My body was pressed against a hard, cool thing. It was keeping me from over heating. I had no idea where I was, or how I got there. It didn't matter, really. I couldn't care less, as long as I didn't have to face the world again. I laid there until i could feel my sweat start to dampen my clothes. Eventually the heat became too much, pulling me up from my only source of relief. sleep, my empty abyss. Except when i have dreams. They remind me that the painful memories will never truly leave. They will always be there to eat at me. Eventually my eyes flutter open, to the bright room. I was staring at the arched wood ceiling of a room I didn't recognize. I sat up to looked around, then started to remember the day before.

There was a sheet on top of me, across the room all my bags were left next to the accordion doors of what i  assumed to be the closet. My body ached all over as I stood up. I still had yesterdays clothes on. Which were way too warm for the weather now. I was sweating beneath them. I was not ready to go out and face my grandma just yet. I didn't want to face anyone, anything, ever really. At least here, I wouldn't have to pretend. I didnt have to act like i was okay. I tried that back home, i did such an awful job at it that I got sent here. Alone i was free to cry, pace around, or just stare into nothingness. I know that my aunt knew about some things, i just didnt know the extent. I stood with my forehead against the door for a while until I finally built up the strength to open it.

I stepped out, and I could hear voices talking downstairs. The door across from my room was opened and I could see the bathroom beside it. I looked in the cabinets for the towels until I found some. I kicked off my shoes, pulled off my clothes, then set the shower to the coldest setting. I looked into the mirror, my eye bags weren't as dark, but my skin was flushed red from the heat. My brown hair was still in a messy ponytail. The green in my eyes popped out more next to my flushed cheeks. They were always this glossy as if i was on the verge of tears. It was hard to look at myself at times, it was like staring at a stranger. Its unsettling. I pulled my hair out of its band then stepped into the white tub. The cool water felt so good. It was waking me, making the morning zombie-ness slip away. After i washed my hair and body, I stood in the cold water until I started to shiver. I dried off, then walked quickly back to my room. I put on the first pair of shorts I found, then a plain olive tank top. I lost all hope for having a decent day once I was dressed. All of my clothes were hers. Which only reminded me of how much i missed her. Oh how empty everything feels now.
I crawled onto the sheets of the canopy bed. They were the same ivory color of the curtains. The room was simple, but big. It was almost empty besides the vintage wood furniture that matched the wooden floors. I was staring at the ceiling patterns when I heard a knock at my door. I jumped up a bit. "Goodmorning Alex, are you up?" my aunts voice sang from behind the door.

"Yes" I replied. "Okay, well when you're ready breakfast is downstairs mija" Aunt Chris said through the door. "Alright, coming." I said with a deep sigh under my breath. I got out of the big comfy bed, i already longed for it when i stepped downstairs. 

I opened to see Aunt Chris with a sheepish smile on her face. It worried me. "What?" I said with a cautious voice. "Follow me." she said before turning around and heading to the dinning table.

"Meet Raena, shes Liz's daughter. She's been staying with me since her mothers passing on." Liz was Aunt Chris's late best friend. They were so close that even my mother even refers to her as Aunt Liz. In thought i met eyes with Raena. She has these irradiant  eyes. They were dark brown, to match with her dark long hair. "Hi, Alex. Welcome to Galveston."