Ava is standing in front of the mirror, dressed in trendy clothes. Her friend, Amy, also 13, stands beside her, equally excited.
Ava adjusts her hair, "Okay, Amy, are you ready to slay this TikTok dance?"
Amy grins, "Absolutely, Ava! Let's show everyone our moves!"
They both start swaying their hips and grooving to the beat of a catchy song playing in the background.
The room is filled with giggles and excitement as they go through the dance routine, mimicking popular TikTok trends.
Suddenly, Ava's baby sister, Chloe, barges into the room, oblivious to their dance session. She carries a stuffed toy and looks at Ava, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"Ava, look! Mr. Fluffykins wants to join the dance too!"
Ava stops mid-move, irritation crossing her face. She tries to compose herself but fails.
Ava yelled, "Chloe! Can't you see that we're busy? This is important to me! You always ruin everything!"
Chloe's face crumples, hurt by Ava's harsh words.
"I-I just wanted to have fun too, Ava. I'm sorry." Chloe sheds tears.
Amy steps in, sensing the tension between the sisters.
"Hey, Ava, let's take a breather for a moment. Chloe just wants to be part of the fun. Maybe she can dance with us, too?"
"No! She's so annoying!" Ava dragged Chloe out of her room and slammed the door on Chloe's face, making Chloe cry.
Meanwhile, Martha with worry lines etched on her face, sits at the kitchen table, surrounded by a pile of bills and papers.
She wears a tired expression as she meticulously goes through each document, her brow furrowed with concern.
Martha picks up an envelope, her hands trembling slightly, and opens it. Her eyes widen as she reads the contents, her stress levels rising.
"Another overdue bill? How am I supposed to keep up with all of this?"
Just as Martha reaches for her phone to call the bill collectors, it rings loudly. She hesitates for a moment, then picks it up. The voice on the other end belongs to Ava's teacher.
"Ms. La Ayala, this is Mrs. Johnson, Ava's teacher. I wanted to talk to you about her recent exams."
Martha's heart skips a beat, and she grips the phone tightly, bracing herself for the news she dreads.
"Yes, Mrs. Johnson? What happened?"
"I'm afraid Ava didn't perform well on her last four exams. Her grades have dropped significantly, and she seems to be struggling in class."
Martha's face pales, and her shoulders slump with the weight of the news.
"Oh no... Is she failing the whole subject?"
"It's too early to tell, but we need to address her academic performance urgently. I wanted to inform you and discuss a plan to support Ava."
Martha's mind races with worry, bills momentarily forgotten as her focus shifts to her daughter's well-being.
"Yes, of course. Please let me know when we can meet. I want to help Ava get back on track."
"I appreciate your cooperation, Ms. Thompson. Let's schedule a meeting at the school tomorrow afternoon. We'll work together to find a solution."
Martha takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself amidst the mounting stress.
"Thank you, Mrs. Johnson. I'll be there tomorrow. Ava's education is important to me, and I want to do everything I can to support her."
The call ends, and Martha sets her phone down, her mind filled with a mix of concern for Ava's academic struggles and the weight of her financial burdens.
She takes a moment to gather herself before returning to the pile of bills, knowing that she must face her challenges head-on for the sake of her daughter's future.
She even thought of going back overseas.
YOU ARE READING
Unspoken Desires
Ficción GeneralCheska, a girl whose heart bore the weight of abandonment, had carried the scars of her past with her throughout her life. The wounds ran deep, originating from the neglect she had endured at the hands of her parents. Their absence had left her with...
