Affliction

Chapter 2

Rose

It was just another day for me, yea school was over for the year; but that made no difference to my daily routine. I didn't have any friends in Vanguard High, just the other Goth labeled kids that I sat with at lunch, so I stuck to my everyday routine (Home, School, sneak off for a quick smoke and back home). My mom was never home; she was either working late at the Diner trying to make rent, or out with her new boo Todd.

My dad, I don't even know him – I haven't seen my father since the moment I opened my eyes, according to my mom he was doing us a blessing by leaving, his excuse was  " I'm trying to be a better person." No promise of return or balls to tough it out with his family came with that promise just an empty copper locket necklace which oddly enough I still wear. So now this is my life, no family no friends just me and my room.

Occasionally I would sneak into my mom's stash of cocaine; every time Todd came over he'd bring her more so I don't think she even notices, it's usually my coping mechanism for the loneness I suffer from – it's become so bad that I've diagnose myself with social anxiety. I try to avoid all contact with others as much as possible and just want the peace and quiet that my empty home brings.

As I lay my black sleek hair across my pillow and stare at the ceiling I just wonder where would my life take me; what was next after graduation? I know your suppose to have this all planned out before graduation like as a homework assignment or something, but I never thought about life after high school. To be honest I didn't even think I'd make it this far.

I didn't know which school would I attend if I chose to go to college? Would I become a pet vet? A nurse, would I be left to wither away in loneliness and despair? I didn't know, and to be honest I wasn't even planning for anything I just want to attend graduation next week and be done with it all.

Moving out had been an option since last year, when mom and I had a falling out... that was when the coke started. She had a serious problem, overdosing at least once a week, until Todd had enough and limited her portions. When I tried to step in and be a good daughter she got defensive and said I was a no good nuisance and I was better off leaving her like my father did. I knew she didn't mean it, it was the recovery process. She hated everything during that time; but that didn't stop the fact that I had enough of the craziness.

I had been stashing away every penny I've gotten since then and even worked a part time job last summer at Newberry Comics saving whole checks – I had enough now to move out this hell hole and into something small and quiet, away from the shitty people in this town.