𝑇𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑

10. Changes

I stare out my window, I see a couple fighting, some friends out on a walk, a dad with his little daughter in hand, I miss my parents. Tears prickle my eyes and I blink rapidly to wash them away. I change into some tights and a shirt, throw a sweater on and lock my door.

I walk in my hallway, I smile at the middle-aged lady that's always snooping and sticking her head into the hallway and into everybody's business. She returns a small scowl and closes her door, I feel sting on empathy, she's always alone. No one deserve to be alone. I catch sight of the painting hung of the left wall, it's a weird one, but I guess you can call it abstract? Weird lines, colours sprawled out, it's unique. I like it. I shrug. Walking into the elevator, I press the ground button, the thing with living on the tenth floor of this building is that it's a balance, I'm not too high on this building but not too low, I get to enjoy a nice view out my window without the fear of falling. I need some writing inspiration, I walk through the streets until I reach the park. Spotting a teenage boy looking at the kids with parents in front of him, my heart clenches with grief.

"Can I sit here?" I offer a smile, he nods and I take my seat next to him. I don't know how to comfort people, he seems like he needs it. I've always just dealt with it on my own, after mom and dad died. I lived with in Canada with my aunt until I moved back, I felt closer to my parents and my younger self, I grew up here and I wanted to be back. She was apprehensive about it at first but she agreed nonetheless, she'd said I was an adult and could make my own decisions. She calls every now and then to check up and tell me she misses me. And I miss her as well but I feel better here. "How are you?" He stares at me for a minute before shrugging. "You wanna talk about it." He shrugs again.

"Wanna hear an embarrassing story?"

"Sure." He mumble and I start "when I was little, I'd run into my neighbourhood a lot, it was a safe neighbourhood, so my parents would be okay with it, that day I was covered in mud. Almost butt naked with only a diaper on. My neighbours called my family and they had to run after me for like three blocks to catch me. I just kept running around because I didn't want to be bathed." He chuckles and I smile.

"It's my parents, they're  getting a divorce." His voice is glum. "I love them both, but I don't know how I'm going to deal with this change, I don't like change. At all." He shakes his head and checks to see if I'm listening when I nod he continues "I want them both to be happy but I don't know how someone could just fall out of love, I'd watch them with hopeful eyes and wish to be like them when I got older." He confesses. "And I don't get it, if they didn't truly love each other why get married."

"Can I tell you something?"

"Mhm"

"Not everything works out the way we plan in life, or the way we want." I add. "Sometimes feelings change, people change, circumstances and times change. Just because they don't love each other the way they used to, it doesn't mean they don't care. And marriage is a beautiful thing and because of them your here. Just because they aren't in love with each other anymore doesn't mean they don't love you." I point to him. "It's not always meant to be but I'm sure they don't regret it because they've got you and your love for them. You care about them and want them to be happy no?" I ask. "Of course." He nods. "Then that's all that matters, at the end of the day they're still your parents and they'll love you, apart or together. I miss my parents everyday, and I would give anything to see them, together or not."

"Where are they?"

"In heaven, I hope." I offer a small forced tug of lips.

"I'm sorry."

I shake my head. "Don't be."

"Thanks." He says, sincerity in his voice. I smile at him.

"Now go join your friends and have fun." I ruffle his hair and  point my thumb to the crowd that's been calling out to him since I sat on the bench. He runs off and starts to wave a goodbye to me, I return a grin with a wave. My phone buzzes in the pocket in my sweater and I take it out, holding it to my ear. "It's Amara." I speak.

"It's Stella, FREAKING OUT!" Whatever is it, it seems serious. "What happened, are you okay? Are you hurt?" I'm worried now.

"No. I'm happy and tingly and weird." And I've never been more confused in my life, she goes on. "I'm all smiley and warm and content and all I'm doing is starting at my hands." She's officially lost it.

"Stella work with me here, what is going on. Do you want to meet me somewhere?"

"Yes please." I hear the desperation of her voice. "Edith's cafe, five minutes away from our building. Meet me there in 10 minutes okay?" She mumbles an 'alright bye' and I start to walk to the cafe. Swinging the door open and greeting Edith and Theo.

"You haven't stopped by in two days I was getting worried darling." She squeezes the life out of me.

"Sorry, been a little busy with the new book and new friends."

"Do tell. Is it the cute boy, Dorian was it?"

I nod " yeah and his sister, we became close, it's nice to have her here."

"I'm glad, when do I get to meet her." The bell hanging on the door frame rings "there she is actually. Stella this is Edith, Edith this is my friend Stella." Stella doesn't do the handshakes and hugs Edith instead, she doesn't mind and returns the hug. We order our coffees and sit.

"What was the big freak out about? You have me scared for a second until you said your happy."

"Noo. No. You don't get it." She shakes her head. "I go to sleep last night right?" I bob my head up and down, she goes on. "I was all smiley, like a wide big tooth revealing smile. I was thinking of Zion." I internally 'awe'

"What's so bad about that?"

"It's never happened! I've never felt so happy with someone by going on a couple dates and knowing them for a month only! I wake up and he's on my mind, so I'm at work and I think of his smile and I couldn't get my mouth in a straight line, people gave me weird looks. My cheeks started to hurt. I bet it looked creepy but I couldn't stop. That's not how it usually goes!" She complains. I burst out laughing as soon as she finishes off her little rant. "That's not funny." She crosses her hands to her chest, that's heaving up and down from all the talking that came out of her mouth.

"It is a little funny."

"No it's not." She argues.

"Yeah it is."

"Is not."

"Is"

"Alright fine just a little." Her lips tug up. "Help!"

"Well you like him so what." I shrug.

"So what? What if he doesn't like me back as much? What if he only wants me for a bit gets bored? What if he think I talk too much." She lists off a couple more reasons that make absolutely no sense.

"Yeah you do talk a lot." I joke. She laughs. "Trust me, he's just as bad as you are, he doesn't shut up about you either. Stella has a nice smile, she likes to pick the olives off her pizza, she doesn't like crust on her sandwich. Stella this Stella that." I wave my hands around in exaggeration. Her eyes light up instantly, you'd think she was a kid that's looking at the Halloween candy they've collected.

"How's the book going." She takes a sip of her coffee and acts nonchalantly as if she wasn't a mess five seconds ago.

"It's almost done, just a couple more days and it'll be published." A proud smile takes over both our faces and I take a sip of my own coffee.

"Your doing amazing y'know."

"Thanks honey."

"We should celebrate by going to a club when it comes out." She says giddily. The rest of our time is spent planning hang outs and Edith joins us at some point to tell us her young life adventures.

Author's note:

Hey! How has your guys' day been?

I wrote about the little kid because it was something that popped into my head, if that's something you feel upset by or hurt or uncomfortable please let me know and I'd gladly fix it. I am in no way trying to trigger anything for anyone so please if it does make you uncomfortable just let me know.

Hope you have an amazing day,
Lots of love 💕
-J. A.