your city gave me asthma // Wilbur Soot

prologue

TW: mentions of abuse and ED

"Just a semester?"

"Much too long for me," My mother sighs, pouting her bottom lip at me.

I grin and nod, looking down at my glass of water. "Yeah, I'll be back for graduation season. I just thought it would be an awesome experience, and when I was offered the scholarship, I couldn't turn them down."

"We will all miss you over here." My great aunt sighs, squeezing my arm. "Safe travels, Skylar."

Much of the family I've not spoken to since I was five are all around, making me feel exhausted and dull. The only people I really know here are my mother, my younger sister, Maddie, and my best friend, Claire. Mom wants me to talk to all of the family before I run off to Maddie and Claire, and it's felt like hours since I've talked to someone under the age of 40.

"Well, you're finally free." Mom teases once my great aunt has walked away. "That should be everyone."

"Thank God," I mutter with a relieved grin. I give her a quick kiss on the cheek before running to the basement where my girls are hiding, watching a movie. "You two are lucky that no one up there knows what weed smells like, 'cause it reeks."

"Oops," Claire giggles.

I sit down on the couch between them and snatch the joint out of Maddie's hands. "You shouldn't be smoking." I take a long pull, and slowly blow the smoke in her face. "You're still a baby in my eyes."

"I'm 16," Maddie protests, trying to take the joint back, but I hand it to Claire instead.

"Yeah, and much too young. You're lucky I don't tell mom."

"Only because I'd tell her all your secrets."

"True," I say, sharing a grin with her. Right when I turn my attention to the movie, the credits start rolling. "Geez, was I up there for that long?"

Claire lies down, stretching herself across mine and Maddie's lap. She places the joint in my mouth, deciding she's had enough. "Yup. Did they all judge you?"

I shrug, taking the joint from my mouth and nestling it between my fingers. "Surprisingly, not as much as I expected. But I was told to not let London turn me crazy."

"Yes, because when I think of London, I think crazy." Maddie says, leaning her head against my shoulder. "Do I get your room?"

"For the millionth time, no. I'll only be gone until December."

"Way too long," Claire sighs. "Why can't I just come with you?"

"If my boarding family could afford you, I would."

Maddie tries to take the joint but I slap her hand away. "Have you talked to them yet?"

"Jesus, weed ruins your memory." I mutter hypocritically. "Yes. The dad is a surgeon and the mom is a night nurse, so I'm barely gonna even see them. Their daughter is a senior, too. Her name is Marie. She-- actually, why am I telling you this? You'll be asking me again in the morning."

"True," She says with a giggle, making Claire giggle. For some reason, being high doesn't make me more giggly. It makes me have short term memory, crave anything that is edible, and act stupid, but not giggly.

Suddenly, the sound of the basement door opening makes us scramble. I burn out the joint and hide it in my bra while Claire gives us all eyedrops (which mainly get everywhere but our eyes) and Maddie sprays a strong perfume all over us and the couch.

"Hey girls," Mom says, coming out from behind the wall separating the staircase and the main room of the basement. Just in time, we're all sat back down on the couch, covered in a blanket with the only light being the TV screen. "Gosh, it's boring upstairs without you three."