Shadows and Picket Fences

Chapter 3

Phoebe had just entered her university dorm. Her home for four years. She began unboxing her luggage. Just as she was about to place a potted plant on her side table, the dorm door opened with a slam, and a bright- cheery redhead made herself known.

"Hey! I am your roommate, Kate! Oh my gosh! You are so pretty!" exclaimed Kate.

" Jesus Christ! Knock, please! Oh, Hi, My name is Phoebe." She introduced herself.

" Oh, I am sorry to scare you. I didn't mean to. I am just so excited to start living here." Kate reasoned.

" Oh no, you are good," Phoebe assured her.

"What are you majoring in?" Kate inquired.

"Business Administration, What about you?" Phoebe questioned back.

"Liberal Arts," Kate said, enthusiasm clear in her voice.

" Hey! I heard there is a welcoming party today for all freshmen. You wanna come with me?" Kate stated in her high-pitched voice.

"Uh...Sure." Phoebe said uncertainty.

"Yay! I am so excited for our first hangout bestie!" Kate says.

" Bestie?"

"You don't like it..."

"No! No! It's not like that. It's just I didn't think we were that close. "

"Oh? Well, we will now that we live together."

"Awesome! Can't wait Bestie..."

" I am gonna go unpack now."

"Okay! I am so psyched !"

Phoebe goes into her room and feels overwhelmed by Kate's energy. She has never seen a person as happy as Kate. Everyone Phoebe has ever met always had some baggage evident in their eyes. However, Kate seemed as if she grew up with unicorns and ate cotton candy. Phoebe was now worried that she would come off as dull. As Phoebe was worrying about how her relationship would be with Kate, her phone rang with an incoming call from her mom. She heaves a heavy sigh and answers her phone.

"Phoebe, How is it going there? How is your new roommate? Is he good? "

"He? My roommate is a she. She is fine, I guess. "

"What? Your cousin Zach was supposed to be your roommate."

"Zach? Why? "

"You know why? After what happened in high school, do you think I can trust you by yourself?"

"Zach probably got tired of me like the rest of the family. "

"Phoebe Ryson! How dare you!"

"What! What did I say so wrong?"

"Remember. I am your mother."

"You were.."

"What?"

"You were my mother. You lost that right a long time ago."

" Wait until spring break, and I'll see you."

She hangs up the call.

There are tears in Phoebe's eyes. She hates fighting and getting blamed. She was deprived of love since the day she was born. Pretty were the standards of her house. Nichole, her sister, is beautiful. Phoebe lingered in her home like a shadow. Nobody cared what happened behind her room door. Whether she cried or watched the blood run out of her veins when she cut them, her consciousness lingered beyond the known. Feeling alive in the consciousness of her head than the life she lived. Phoebe walked to her full-length mirror and stared at herself as the mascara bled through her face. A knock sounded on her door.