His Little Diamond

1~ Wow, Weird

   "Ly! Get down here and clean this kitchen!" my mother yelled to the tippy top of her lungs. I was sure she'd burst one as much as she'd scream. She could have sent a text or knock at my door like a sane person, but unfortunately, she wasn't too sane.

I hurried out of bed and pulled a lazy pair of shorts up my legs. I loved to sleep practically naked. No bra. Boobs free. Just cozy panties and a large colorful tee.

"I'm not about to say it again, chile!" my mother yelled again.

"I'm coming!" I shouted back, trying to not give off much attitude. I was on my period, and I couldn't stand having things repeated to me while I was on. Say it once, then shut up, is how I liked to put it.

After using the restroom, I pulled off my bonnet and quickly brushed my hair together into space buns, laying the edges. It absolutely took me forever to learn how to do so in less than five minutes, but if any of us get rushed enough, it'll become a habit eventually. That was my case.

I grabbed my bear-plushie purse, and placed a gold angel pendant around my neck that my grandmother gave me, and headed out.

So here I am

Today was Sunday, and my mother usually always had guests come over for brunch from church. Though, she wasn't quite that religious herself.

When I made it downstairs, I saw her flung over a different man from the last she brought home just the other day, all on the love sofa I loved to sit on. A dirtied cigarette was between her lips, limp from sucking the nicotine dry out of it. Great.

My father, though still married to her, was always out and about working hard for us. He was a good man in my eyes, but she always said men like him had something to hide. "You can't trust anyone nowdays," she told me one night.

"Just think," she added, "from the three men I've married to, two have been absolutely assholes. They never loved me." And it was true. One was so agitating I screamed, and the other was an absolute womanizer without shame.

"Just be careful who you let inside your heart, cupcake," she whispered afterwards.

That's all I've ever done, but she wouldn't follow her own advice. Instead, she coped in sometimes the worst ways.

I did what I usually always did and paid no mind to it, going my ways into the kitchen to clean off the tables. To distract myself from the noises in the living room, I put my earphones in and blasted SZA.

For some odd reason, chores made me think about a lot of deep topics.

I wondered why they taught kids that Christopher Columbus was the first to step foot on the American land.

Or why Popeyes employees served so carefree, but their chicken tastes like it's been cared for.

And for the love of sweet Mary, how was Boruto so stinking bad?

My mother soon walked in and took the ear buds out of my ears, giving me a look I knew all too well about. She wanted me to do something or go somewhere again.

Many people with siblings thought being the only child was terrific, but really, it kind of sucked. Not only would every little matter be pressed upon me, but I also had no one to complain to or be regular with.

Friends? Rather not go there.

She handed me a small notepad, "I need you to go to Walmart for me and get all these things. Be back by one, y'hear me?"

"Yes ma'am," I respond.

Did I mind? Not at all.

I loved to escape.

• • •

The only time I prayed was when I was about to drive a car to go to somewhere public. Guess you could say I had anxiety.

I've experienced a panic attack in front of a classroom in tenth grade, and that one day never failed to stay out of my thoughts every night now.

I parked at the far end of the lot and ran some clear lip gloss over my lips, inhaling and exhaling as I could feel my heart beat faster against the bone of my chest. It was clenching as if it were in a trap.

We're all people here, I thought to calm myself. Just people. Stinky human beings.

I then counted the money in my purse so I'd already have it ready.

In and out, I thought. In and out.

That's all. That's it.

Before I knew it, I was pushing a buggy through the isles, searching for some paper towels. While grabbing some rolls, my phone vibrated on my hip.

I thought about letting it ring, but if I didn't answer she'd be bound to show up in person and tell me herself.

"Hi, Momo," I smiled, putting the phone between my ear and shoulder as I traveled down another isle.

Monique was my older cousin, and basically the only one I called a friend. We were blood after all.

While I was more introverted, she had a much more outgoing heart. It sometimes exhausted me physically hearing how long she could talk, and she spoke so fast.

"Wanna come over? I've got something really juicy to tell you and Aph."

"Uh-"

"Deal then. You're coming over," she said before hanging up.

"W-wha-"

Right then, I accidentally bumped someone's bottom with my buggy. The smallest grunt was made and the person turned around to look at me.

To say I wanted to vanish was an absolute understatement. Can I die in a second on command?

Everything bad happens on the first day of my period, and of course it'd be in a place like Wal-mart too!

Gah lee, I hate myself.

The man was so intimidating. Even the shining white lights of the store couldn't brighten the looks of his dark demeanor.

He had raven hair, a closely trimmed beard and mustache that ran along his very sharply angeled jaws and set of strawberry lips.

His attire; a turtle neck sweater and slim fitted jeans, were both midnight black. The only pop of saturation was his gold watch, rings, and that damned glare.

I watched his rough fingers curl over the edge of my buggy to gently push the cart from him.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered.

Those piercing, almond-shaped, green-colored eyes found mine and I could feel a lump growing in the mid of my throat. I swallowed, and feared it was too loud as the sound swelled in my ears.

Don't panic, I prayed silently to myself.

"Hm," he hummed, but the bass in his simple tune was scary enough.

He surprisingly did nothing more, just turned to walk away as my brain was left swimming in thoughts of regret.

Wow...weird.