Melancholy

Wanderlust?

    The last bell rings and school is over. I weave through the tall grade 12's getting out of gym class, then zig-zag between the guy with a bunch of bimbo's crowded around him and the creepy grade 11's who play screamo out loud. I finally get to my locker and then this feeling just hits me. I don't want to go home. I never do, I hate going home. My parents are always arguing, even something small like how to properly fill up the dishwasher. I swear the only thing stopping them from getting a divorce is that they can't afford it. Every time I walk in that house I get such a bad vibe. My mom repeatably chastises me. My dad forces me to help him with stuff. Usually normal kids do house chores. No, I have to help him with his jobs. My dad lost his job a few days after his birthday so he has to make his own jobs. He is an unlicensed home renovator. So, every time I have a day off school me makes me wake up at an ungodly hour and help him put down floor boards or break walls or completely demolish a washroom. This takes hours and he's only now paying me a little bit. A part from renovations my dad also does car installations. His work is extremely time consuming. I don't feel like dealing with them right now. I just can't.

"Hey...Flora", my throat chokes up a bit.

"Hi", she looks at me and smiles.

"What'cha doing later..today...after school", I look at the ground.

"Do you want to come over?"

"Yeah..I don't want to go home."

"Essie,if you ever want to come to my place to get away from some thing or whatever never be afraid to ask".

I smile.

"Okay, just let me go get my violin".

I go into the strings room and take my violin out of it's cubby and walk with Flora to the front foyer and wait for her mom to pick us up. Her mom comes and we hop in the back seat.

"Hi guys", Flora's mom greets us.

We say hi back.

"I have to go pick up Lynn and take her to her chiropractor", Flora's mom says as she drives off school property.

"Okay,and is dad home?", Flora asks.

"No why?"

"Just wanted to know know if he's home sleeping so we won't disturb him."

"Oh."

We wait in front of Lynn's school. Flora and I use to go to that school when we were middle schoolers. Hated it. Hated the people. Hate the memories. Hated the teachers. Everything. Lynn opens the door and hops in the front.

"Mom! Mom! I got a 78% on my math test!",Lynn exclaims.

Lynn is such a cute, sweet little girl. She's so enthusiastic and full of light despite her many health issues. I wish I was strong like her.

"Wait until high school",Flora says to her sister.

Lynn turns around and sticks her tongue out at Flora. She turns back around and turns up the volume of the music playing in the car. All about that bass blares through the speakers.

"Ew, nasty ass song", Flora looks disgusted.

"Mom pass me the aux cord!"

"Noooo! I like this song!", Lynn yells.

"Too bad!"

"God you too are so annoying",their mom passes the aux cord to Flora.

Lynn shot her a dirty look.

Flora connected the aux cord to her phone and played Video Games by Lana Del ray and turned up the volume. I love that song so much. We both jam in the back with the window down. We get to her house and wave goodbye to her mom and Lynn.

"What do you wanna do", Flora asks as we walk up to her room.

"I don't know", I belly flop on her bed.

"Do you want to get out of your uniform?".

"Sure."

She digs in her dresser to find something that suits me. She pulls out high waisted tie dye shorts and a low neck navy sweater. I change into it and look in the mirror. She tucks the front of my sweater into my shorts.

"It looks nicer like that."

"It does."

"You hungry?"

"When am I not?"

We laugh. Flora is a fun friend.

She makes us Mr.Noodles and we sit on her bed while we're on our phones.

"I wanna go on an adventure", I say with a noodle hanging out my mouth.

"Oh, anywhere in particular or.."

"No, I honestly don't know but I just want to go somewhere".

"Well, when do you have to go home?"

Shit.

"Uhh, hold on", I run to the bathroom and close the door.

I call my dad and wait for him to answer.

"Hello", my dad answers in a raspy voice.

"Erm..hi".

"Where are you", my dad sounds upset.

"Still at school, I forgot to tell you I have violin practice until 5:30", I lie.

"Essense, you must tell me these things in the morning! You can't keep doing this", he raises his voice.

"I'm sorry".

"Fine. Until 5:30 then come right home. I expect you to be home by 6:00".

"Okay."

He hangs up. My parents don't like the thought of me going to people's house. I walk into Flora's room.

"5:30. I have to go home at 5:30".

"Um, okay".

"We can go to the creek that just behind McDonald's", Flora says.

"Okay".

We walk out and I follow Flora.

The path is engulfed by myriads of weeping willow trees.

"Why don't you want to go home", Flora asks.

"Just a lot going on", I say.

"Oh."

"And I've been feeling a need to go on an adventure".

"I understand."

We go off the path and into some trees. I hear a faint sound of rushing water. We walk deeper into the little forest and there's a stream of water with geese just casually chilling and big logs sitting along side the river. We sit on the logs and just take in the atmosphere.

"I like this", I look at her and smile.

"Any time", she smiles back.

"If there's anything happening at home, I'm here for you".

"It's nothing really, but thanks for your concern. I just can't be inside all the time. I don't know what it's called when you have an urge to go venture the unknown all the time.

"Wanderlust?", Flora says.

Isn't that a song The weeknd sang.

"Yeah I guess".