The Promise

2) Aurora

   I can’t take it anymore.
  All of this is getting on my nerves. I’ve always hated the feeling of losing control and now everything is slipping awa-
“Can’t you stop putting the bottles at the bottom of the fridge!” my father yelled startling me from my thoughts, his voice sending chills through my bones.
“My back already aches enough I can’t fucking bend down!” he continued his daily dose of yelling.
   It’s okay I’m used to his yelling anyways, I live in the typical toxic household where the father is just a father, but not a dad and the mother is a passive mess that works her guts out to fill her children’s needs, which are: food, drink, clothes and presumably education.
Yes, education this is the only tool for a girl to escape who just tapped into her adulthood after a lot of failed trials of healing or getting her future husband; of course, getting shocked every time they happen to be the reddest of flags someone can encounter.
  I wonder if my escape plan will work out.
I applied for this scholarship to go and study abroad in London as an intern in a marketing company called NV Valley.
They have this yearly program of sending for a specific number of students from around the world to go and train at their company under the supervision of a mentor, but all of this doesn’t matter to me. I’d do anything to get out of this place even mopping the bathrooms floors of a restaurant.
No, I’m not that desperate, but I’d do everything to go because I know I’m qualified enough.
   One thing to know about me is that I can have the darkest of flaws and traumas, but I can be the most confident person.
Some people mistake this for arrogance, but the truth is I really trust my abilities because I spent my whole twenty years learning and preparing myself for my dream which I was hundred percent sure I wouldn’t accomplish, but what could I lose from day dreaming anyways.
   “Your father is in good mood today, he yelled only twice” my younger brother laughed as he entered my room closing the door behind him interrupting my thoughts
“Well yes and only about small stuff not our trashy personalities or the money that is not there” I roll my eyes.
“No news yet?” he asks sitting on my bed next to my desk where I’m sitting.
“Nope nothing” I say fidgeting with a paper on my desk
“Don’t worry I have a feeling that you’ll get accepted” he assures me
“it’s okay I know well the possibility of the acceptance is slim anyways, I’m just getting the honor of trying” I say raising my eyes to look at him
“I’ll study now” I finish wanting him to leave me alone
“Okay I’ll go now “he says heading for the door “I really hope you are set free, Aurora” he says before exiting.
   “Yes, me too” I say to myself as I open my textbooks and PC to start studying because that’s all I can do right now.
A while later, I was immersed in my studies when a ping from my phone interrupts me followed by my phone lighting up with the beautiful name of my best friend calling me.
“Hello bitch” she says as a greeting when I answer the call
“Well, good morning to you too, Kira” I say at her greeting
“Ha! now you get to open your goddamn phone and internet connection, the business woman finally decided to let us know how she’s doing!” she scolds me and I laugh at her motherlike behavior,
she always acts like our mom, but when we tell her that, she denies it.
“I’m okay, love don’t worry” I state.
“Say don’t worry all you like, we’ll still worry” she says,
“Talk about yourself, Nour isn’t worried” I laugh “She was only worried when she knew I wasn’t okay” I finish,
“Now I’m the worry freak here “she quips
“you’re the mother.” I try to hold the laugh.
“Stop!” she yells in my ears I have to tear the phone away “okay, you’re not a mother, you’re my mother” I say
“Huh, much better” she mutters
“What are you doing anyways, Miss Aurorae?” she uses the nickname she made me when we became friends
“Well, I was studying when you called”
“I’m a proud mom now” she says.
   She always supported me; since we started our friendship she was there, she also introduced me to one of my closest people, Nour.
Her name means light and she is really the light in our lives. Nour is that quiet yet cool friend, she represents comfort in my life.
Back then when I was in a pretty dark place I’d rather not remember, she was my yellow person. I saw before, that yellow person is the person who carries you when you don’t have the energy to pull yourself up and she did that. They both did.
   We’ve always been the golden trio, in our friendship, presentations and work at university, gatherings even and planning our futures together. They always pushed me towards the good and inspired me a lot, they’re the ones who made me apply for this scholarship. It was because I was interested in business recently and I took a course in it so they saw it fitting to try my luck by applying.
I don’t want to leave them, but they know damn well how is it urgent for me to leave this country; I know I won’t be from this limited number of students who’ll go, but I’m trying for them and the hope of it all.
   “Are you free on Sunday?” Kira’s voice interrupts my thoughts about that scholarship
“Free for you busy for others” I flirt
“Aww stop raising my standards who will make my heart fold when you’re not there?” she croons.
“And where am I going exactly?”
“You know you sometimes become dumb. London baby! where you’ll achieve those dreams!”
“Look Kira, I don’t want to get your hopes high, but I don’t think I’m going or I’ll be part of this scholarship “I say
“Why are you pessimistic” she says
“I’m not, I’m being realistic here. I don’t want to raise the expectations for nothing after all”
“Wait, I’ll let Nour join the call to scold your ass herself” she says
“okay” I laugh,
“Hello” Nour’s angelic low voice fills my ears.
“Hi baby” I coo “how have you been doing?”
“I’m good where were you? I was worried “she says
“See! “Nour doesn’t get worried”” Kira mimics me
“I’m okay guys” I roll my eyes
“Come Nour, scold this bitch because she says that she’s not getting accepted in the scholarship, who couldn’t accept her anyways”
“Why are you saying that girl?” Nour asks softly
“it’s just, ugh I don’t want to get excited in vain like every time anyways” I say
“You won’t we all have a feeling here that they’re going to choose you” Nour says
“I don’t know guys this is so hectic I don’t want to think about it, but it’s on my mind all the time”
“it’s there for a reason” Kira sing-songs.
They continue talking and I zone out, but pull away the phone to look over the notification I received before we started the call “Guys” I interrupt them as I hold my breath.
“What?” they say at the same time.
“NV Valley’s official account sent me a follow request”.