𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚘𝚢 𝙽𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝙳𝚘𝚘𝚛

12

Imani

-SEPTEMBER-

He backed his truck in the drive way of his house. Looking to the right of me, I saw that my mom wasn't home. Probably still at work. It was difficult to believe that she could even pull herself together these days. I wonder what kind of persona she displays to her own peers.

Shaking my mom out of my head, I turned back to face Isaiah. He was already staring at me. Intently, as if he was studying my features.  I snapped my eyes forward. The feeling of heat rising to my cheeks. Thanking God he couldn't see a blush rise due to the color of my skin.

He seems to make me do that often. I've also noticed that ever since our paths seem to cross more often than not, I can't seem to stop myself from thinking about him. I felt like a little girl seeing her crush for the very first time. It was embarrassing — that's what this really was.

"What's wrong?" He asked me. "You look as if you've seen a ghost or something."

"Oh um, it's nothing. Thank you for the ride." I grabbed the door handle, opening it to slide out of his truck. As soon as my feet hit the pavement he spoke again.

"Do you want a ride tomorrow?" A smirked graced my lips. "Are you being nice to me now Isaiah?"

"Get out of my car Imani. I'll see you tomorrow." He said clearly amused and annoyed. With a smile, I closed his door and made my way to my house.

I unlocked the door and stepped inside, the awful smell of alcohol hit my nose like a ton of bricks.

Bottles scattered everywhere and cigarettes lingered in the ash tray. I sighed. I knew it would be my responsibility to clean up this fucking mess per usual or I'd have to hear this from my mom.

I put my bag down and got to work.

I wiped down all the spills and ash from the coffee table. I swept the floors of any dust and crumbs. Using a hefty bag, I grabbed all her bottles and hauled them outside to the big trash bin.

Lastly, I sprayed febreze like crazy all over the house and opened a few windows to clear the smell. Hopefully it would be gone in an hour. After I had cleaned, I washed my hands and made me something to eat.

We didn't have much considering she hasn't gone to the grocery store so I was only able to made a sandwich. When I made it to my bedroom, I grabbed everything I needed to start my home work.

About 20 minutes in, I started to here taps on my window. They honestly sound like little pebbles getting thrown. I walked over to it and pulled the curtains back just as one hit my window again.

Isaiah stood at his window, holding a piece of paper in his hand.

There's police in front of your house.

Quickly reading it, my heart leapt into my into my throat. I rushed down stairs to open the front door, just as they were about to knock.

"Hello miss, are you Imani Jones?" One officer asked me. He had on dark shades and wore a scowl.

I only nod, not trusting my voice completely. What could they possibly want. For some reason dread filled me at the thought of my mom.

"Well I'm sorry to inform you, but your mother is in the hospital. She had over dosed, but she's fine now and resting in the hospital. We came down to escort over there."

My ears rang. I couldn't hear anything around me.

My mother had overdosed. I hadn't expected her to start using again so soon.

"Ma'am? Would you like us to escort you?" He asked me.

I slowly nod. Quickly turning numb with the new information on my mother. I turned around to go grab my things before following them out of the house.

I didn't bother to look back at Isaiah's house. I was embarrassed. I was also angry and scared.

I almost lost someone again. I was almost alone...