STRANIERA

Part 14

The day went by very fast and I quite enjoyed it.I sweep my classroom and start turning around the chalk boards.Mostly had doodling on , but one caught my attention.Peach's. 'I also lost my twin brother , at the age of six.His name was DJ.We were at the river getting water and chose to swim in it for a little while ,because it was a really hot day.DJ's foot got stuck ,I tried to help him ,but the water filled his lungs a little to fast.I ran to get help ,but it was too late.Sometimes I blame myself ,sometimes I blame my parents.But at the end of the day ,how could they have known. The pain never goes away ,but you learn to live with it day by day.'

I hear a truck outside the building,I turn my focus away from the chalkboard and I walk to the window,looking behind the curtain.There between all the kids ,stands Jaco.He caught my eyes and I smile at him giving him a small wave.I do a little sprint out of my classroom ,lock the door and walk to Jaco.He is holding a box filled with veggies and fruits. "And this?" I ask casually. " He hands out little plastic bags with a small variety of veggies and fruits to the children around us. "Each month the farmer gives to the community. This is the only high school in Afghanistan ,and like you know ,not really wealthy.We help where we can." "That's amazing! Can I help with something ?" "You can grab the last box and give it out,if you don't mind" " Not , at all." I smile at the children as I hand out the bags.Each and everyone said "Thank you" and some even hugged me.My heart felt warm.

"And one for you." Jaco hands me a bag. "Really?" "Somebody needs to feed you." "ha-ha-ha" I respond sarcastically. "Thank you...may I ask you for a favor?" "Depends." " Is there a possibility that you can ride me into town to the pharmacy?" " No problem ,I need to get a few things myself in town." I give him a fast hug "I'm just going to wash my hands ,give me a sec ." I do I small sprint to the tap to rinse off my hands. "I've seen you met the towns farmer?" Miss Gellers voice appears above me. "Who,Jaco? I thought his a worker on a farm?" " What a humble man.",and she pats me on the back. I was a little shocked that he didn't told me ,but I decided not to bring it up.

Jaco made small talk on our way to town,I didn't mind answering his questions. "How was your first day?" "Delightful,I quite enjoyed it." "How's the kids?" "Too soon to tell." That was about it ,the rest of the ride was quiet ,just as the first time.

"I'll catch you in about ten minutes."Jaco said as he heads the opposite side than the pharmacy.I take the yellow scrunchie around my wrist and make a rough ponytail. I enter the pharmacy and went straight to the medicine cabinet.This place was small ,just like every other store in town. "Hi ,how can I help you?" "I want to collect my prescription." "Medical aid,Miss?" "Discovery." " ID number?" "9904805050471" " Alprazola and Activans ,right?" I nod. She walks up and down and then type roughly on her keyboard. "Sorry Miss Van Schoor ,we don't keep it in stock.But I can help you with Cannabis?" My heart sanks to my knees.I needed those pills to function,I only have a few left. I give her a weak smile, " I'll take it ,thank you." She hands me a small green box and I nod. I will stop drinking my prescription and drink this weed meds,in emergencies I drink what I have left of my prescription.I honestly don't know what I'm going to do about this.

When I exit the pharmacy ,I see Jaco already in the truck holding two chocolate ice-creams.I get inside and he hands me one. "You're the best." I say as I take a lick. "I know.Did you get everything you needed?" "Yap." was all I replied, I didn't want to get into it.I was already worried about all the "what if's".

Once again Jaco doesn't drive back to the school.It's already late noon and the sun is inches away from disappearing. "Jaco,I have work tomorrow." I sigh. "This will only take a minute." " To chop off my head ?" "If only you were so lucky." The truck comes to a standstill. I follow Jaco. He climbs onto the bonnot,lays on his back and indicates that I should look up. Stargazing. Also something you can't do in Canada with all the lights blurring them out. I stare at it until Jaco steadies his head on his right palm. "What's your story?" "What do you mean?" I ask. "We both know you are worth more than this." I look him flat in the eyes. "I can say the same thing about you." It was silence and I break our gaze by looking at the stars again. "I have no story." Is all I tell him.I wasn't ready to bring my past to my present.I told myself thing will be different here.I only know Jaco two days,it's way to fast for me to unlock the door to my past.If you don't talk about the pain ,it can't get to you.

"I want to kiss you." I gulp , loudly enough to hear. I didn't want to kiss him.I didn't see him as a lover.Just a friend. "I think we should go." I answer ,I get off the bonnot and stare into the night.I can actually see the back side of my house from here.I start walking towards it. "Where are you going?" "Home." His paste gets faster to get caught up with me.I stop. "What are you doing?" "I'm walking you home." "I can walk myself home,it is just there." "You were with me,you are my responsibility." "I'm my own responsibility.You can stand here and look as I walk home,okay." And I start walking until I reach it. I turn around and look at Jaco staring at me. "Are you afraid of men?" ,he yells. "Should I be?" "No." He walks towards me and I can feel my heart beating in my throat.He is going to kiss me.But he doesn't he just stops next to me. "What do you want?" I ask. "You know what I want." "I think you should go home." I answer ,turn on my heels and walk to my doorstep.I still can't breath. The whole night I play the scenery over-and-over in my head,trying to make sense of it all.