WHO ARE YOU?

Chapter Eighteen

Last night was really hard for me to sleep. My mind kept racing back to my mom and the scene I saw of them wheeling her out the house. I stayed up all night twisting and turning and letting my anxiety get the best of me. I pulled myself out of the bed and did a big stretch before going into the bathroom to do my everyday routine. Once I was finished I followed the smell of fried chicken that filled the air leading me directly into the kitchen.

" That smells amazing Ms Linda, What are you making this morning?" I asked her as I looked around.

" Damn, well good morning to you too sweetie. You just jump straight to the food huh? But if you must know, I'm making chicken and waffles, cheese eggs and homefries." Ms Linda said, smiling at me.

" I'm so sorry, my mind goes blank when food is involved. Where's my manners? Good morning, how are you feeling today? And the food sounds delicious by the way." I said as I took a seat at the kitchen table.

She chuckled, " I'm just playing with you. Good morning baby, god woke me up this morning, healthy and breathing so like I always say, with that alone i'm doing great today . How are you? From the looks of it, you didn't get much sleep last night." She said to me,

I smiled at her response about how she was feeling today. Ms Linda definitely says that a lot, but I don't mind because I love her sweet spirit and the faith she has in god. It warms my heart.

" Yes, you can tell? I asked her in the middle of me yawning and using my inner arm to cover my mouth.

" I sure can. For starters the bags under your eyes are telling it all, mixed with all that twisting and turning you were doing back there. You know that bed is loud with all that plastic still on there. Are you okay?" Ms Linda asked me as she took a seat across from me.

" Not really. My mom has been on my mind heavy." I said back to her.

Last night when I got in, Ms Linda was in the living room watching her shows. She gave me her full attention while I explained to her what had happened that day. She prayed over me and then offered me to join her so that I wouldn't have to be alone last night, but I declined. I went to the table to eat my hoagie , took a hot bath and thought I was going to get some sleep, but my brain had other plans.

" And that's normal honey. You just lost a parent and that's gonna take some time to sink in and get used to. I know you have so many unanswered questions and you're hurting a lot, but time will heal. I lost both my parents in a bad house fire when I was only fourteen years old. I never had a chance to say goodbye and the next thing I knew I was being raised in some foster home. They treated me horribly there and beat me just because I said I was hungry." She said to me.

" Wow, I didn't know that Ms. Linda. I'm sorry that happened to you."

" Don't be sorry baby. All that made me who I am today. That's why I have so much faith in god because he pulled me through all the things I thought would break me. I didn't let my past hurt and anger determine who I was as a person and how I wanted to show up in life. It only made me stronger. That's why I know your story doesn't end here, keep your head up." She said as she placed her hands on mine.

The smoke detector went off in the kitchen making Ms Linda stand up.

" See now you making me burn my chicken girl. Here, your dad dropped this letter off for you this morning. He stated during the investigation, they came across this letter your mom wrote you. They called your dad so that he could give it to you." She said to me as she handed me this dirty looking envelope and walked over to the stove.