Bitten

Home

I watched as the smoke danced and floated around in the sky evaporating into thin air. I closed my eyes letting the buzz die down and sighed constantly. I took another drag counting the stars in front of me. The smoke formed shapes and swirls making me squint to decipher it.

"Julia? Honey, what are you doing out here?" My aunt called out from inside slowly making her way out of the room into the kitchen. I quickly put the cigarette out stepping into the hall closing the door behind me. "Sorry I was getting some fresh air, big today tomorrow and all." I smile small following behind her down the stairs.

"Oh honey were you smoking again? You know you're bad at hiding it." She scoffed scrunching her face in disgust and sunk into her chair wincing in pain. She gestured me to open to fridge and stared off into the distance.

"Sorry Aunt Laiya...i'm stressed out okay? I'm trying to adjust to everything, and I need to help you." I cleared my throat and reached for the leftover pasta shutting it behind me. "It won't happen again, just focus on yourself okay?" I gave her an apologetic smile letting my fingers tuck away the stray hairs sticking to her face and scooped some spaghetti.

It hurt lying to her, but she shouldn't have to worry about me. I'll quit eventually...I just need a stress reliever.

"There should be no reason you're smoking cigarettes J. Am I a burden to you now?" She snickered digging into her warmed up pasta humming at the taste. "I didn't mean it that way, i'd give up everything to help you. Just eat your food." I shook my head giving her a head kiss letting it linger before turning away and heading upstairs into my messy room.

I tore open a couple of boxes unpacking what I could and plopped onto my new bed staring at the bright ceiling. I shut my eyes tight trying to shake away the urge to light another cigarette and focused on my goal.

This is a new leaf i'm turning. My life wasn't terrible back home in Florida, I had mama, my friends Anna and Sean, and of course my boyfriend Jason. Why move? Nobody else wanted to look deeper into what was wrong with Aunt Laiya, they've given up and hoped she got better. Even if I came all the way here and couldn't do anything she wasn't alone.

"Julia? I'm going to run an errand a few blocks away. Don't stress yourself i'll be okay." I was snapped out of my thoughts hearing her mellow voice. "Are you sure? I'm quite bored." I frowned hoping she'd let me tag along but she rolled her eyes and smiled closing the door behind her tuning out her footsteps.

"I love you too." I muttered slipping under the covers.

Am I going to get the job? Is my resume good enough?. Or if they put me on a long waiting list. Would coming all the way here to Virginia in hopes of helping my sick aunt and change things around in my life be a waste of time? 

A nap is needed.

I sighed shaking away the negativity and switched the light off closing my eyes before drifting off to sleep.