Ambre, Mon Coeur

Wakey Wakey

AMBRE

I'm startled when I wake up. The plush pillows the bright paint. I still couldn't believe we were just in France yesterday morning. I glance at my digital clock. It was almost 7:00 and today was going to be my first day at the company. An excited nervousness settles in the pit of my stomach. I was excited but I was also nervous because I didn't know what to expect. I hope that all good things will transpire as I head to my bathroom. I take deep breaths as I stand under the nice hot shower. I wriggle my toes through the soft bright red bathroom rug. I get a sticky note to remind myself that I had to take my braids out later today or, at the latest this week. It was starting to grow out at the roots. I apply some cherry-scented lotion and take my time picking an outfit.

In my closet, I reach for a brightly colored African textile skirt. My sisters and I tried our best to Hold onto our Cameroonian heritage. Our late mother was the child of two Cameroonian lovers Marie and Emmanuel Sali. She later moved to France where she met our dashing and tall late father. Monsieur Alexandre Dupont. My mother had passed after giving birth to Aimee. And my father carrying all the despair from her death his chest could muster and carry began to drink.

That was how he copped. He drowned his sorrows in alcohol. It wasn't long until our previously loving father became a drug scavenger. He began to use all his money to pay for the drugs. He missed all of our recitals. All of our games. For Aimee's 2nd birthday he got her a bottle of wine and then laughed it off. He promised he would replace it with something else. He never did. I figured he had forgotten.

It was truly pathetic. He was pathetic. Everything was pathetic. The whole situation was just so sad. Then one day I came home from school and he was laying on the floor. The acrid smell of pee coming from him. I couldn't move from the door. I couldn't believe that my father, the man who dressed so sharply and spoke so softly and kindly was now in this situation. I didn't know what to do. I was 17 but I was quiet then.

Soft-spoken and obedient. I let people say whatever they wanted to me and I would just cry. Anais was 13. The twins were 8 and Aimee was 3. I took care of everyone. When I had finally mustered up the courage to go near him. I noticed how blue his lips were. It surprised me how much I wasn't surprised. It was like I was waiting for him to die. Like I knew that one of those days he would take in too many drugs and finally die. I didn't cry at his funeral. I told myself that he was with mom now. That was what he wanted after all.

I looked in the mirror to see that I was tearing up. But I wouldn't let the tears fall. I won't. I take a deep breath and blink the tears away and go back into my closet. I grab a vibrant yellow, blue, and white African print pencil skirt. I grabbed a white tube and a matching jacket to look a little more modest. I pair it with a blue bag and some blue heels. I assess my outfit pick in the mirror and smile. Small dimples show on my cheeks.

I grab my phone and purse and I glimpse the gold pen that belonged to bus guy on my dresser. I picked it up and put it in my purse carefully. I head to the kitchen, a small smile on my face. A slight pep in my step. Mr. and Mrs.DeRose Smile brightly at me, their eyes assessing my outfit. " French: Votre tenue est parfaite! je l'aime // English:  Your outfit is perfect! I love it!" Mrs. DeRose called out from the kitchen. She stands at the stove so I can guess she was the reason for the amazing scent coming from the kitchen. Turkey bacon wafted over to me in the living room. "Come sit for breakfast sweetheart!" I followed Mr. DeRose's instructions and went over to sit at the kitchen island.

A plate of turkey bacon and an omelet is placed in front of me. I smile and thank Mrs. DeRose.

The slight nervousness that I had earlier settles back in the pit of my stomach. Accompanying it, the excitement that I felt as well. I shove the food into my mouth not taking my time to taste the food. This was how I reacted to being nervous. What if my new employees didn't like me? Or what if I can't handle the pressure of being the boss? I push away all the negative thoughts from my head and sit up. This isn't like me. I slow down my eating and take my time to taste the food. " Ambre! Your clothes are so cute!" Aimee smiles brightly at me as she stomps over. I mirror her smile.

EZRA

"Hey Azure, I can't take you with me. You have to stay at home with mom. She loves you so much already. You don't have to worry. "I spoke quietly to Azure as she purred in my chest. I set her down and felt my heart shatter as she raced back towards me. "No, No Azure." I picked her up and took her to my mom's room. If I didn't leave in the next 5 minutes I would be late. My mom laid in her big cushy bed. It swallowed her up and made her look tinier than she already was. " Hey honey! You leaving little kitty with me?! Aww shes so cute!" My mom opened her arms for Azure. I hand Azure to my mom. At first she doesn't go but after a few seconds she nuzzles her face In my moms hands and crawls over. She disappears in the comforter. I sigh a huge sigh of relief and make my way to my room.  I grab my lucky paint brushes and my messenger style bag.

My suit is nicely pressed and clings to my figure dashingly. I smile at myself in the mirror and take a deep breath. The sudden realization that I don't know how this is going to turn out makes me nervous and uneasy. I sigh nonetheless and grab my keys as I leave the apartment.

Hey beautiful people!! Thank you all so much for reading my story! i appreciate it. Dont forget to vote and comment!!❤️💙❤️💙-Ruby

PS: I know the title is kinda weird. I didn't know what to name it and it was morning time, at least for them.