Colortopia

My Life

(PROLOGUE)

{Dominic, get your ass up, you're gonna be late!}

I groan to myself as I hear my mom from the kitchen. I had been up at three, but I stayed awake for the rest of the night, playing on my console. I wanted to savor as much time to myself as I could, before the first day of school. Unfortunately, time flies when you're having fun, and so I must endure the beginning of this monotonous journey to hell.

As I'm picking out my clothes, I start to come up with any excuse in the world to convince my mom I should stay. But I know she's been waiting for this moment. She's been counting down the days the second August 1st rolled around. And honestly, if I were in her shoes, I'd want to have the house to myself too. I finish getting dressed via gray hoodie and sweatpants, since it's the perfect weather for these clothes, and if I'm lucky, I might be able to snooze a bit in class. I make my way to the kitchen where there's already a bowl of cereal waiting for me at the table. I take the first bite and groan in disappointment. There's just something about eating cereal on the first day of school that leaves a dull taste in my mouth. I see my mom in the living room, decked out in her yoga outfit, looking more enthusiastic than me as she does her exercises... which she only started doing this month. I suppose it has something to do with this trainer guy she's been seeing, his name I forgot because he's Swedish.

Mom: You better hurry up, because if you miss the bus, I'm not driving you.

Me: Seriously?

Mom: I have plans of my own. I do not need you complicating them.

Me: And what are these plans?

Mom: None of your business.

Me: That trainer guy isn't much of a plan, if you ask me.

She doesn't seem to like that. She gets up from her pose and gets in my face.

Mom: You worry about you. I don't stick my nose in YOUR shit.

Me: I wish you would, for once.

Mom: Look, none of that matters. The point is I shouldn't have to do it.

Me: I mean, maybe it could be nice... Y'know, give us some time to bond or something.

Mom: {sighs} Don't do that to me right now. Just get a move on or else you're walking.

I say nothing else as I look down at my disgusting cereal. I just toss it in the trash and clean my bowl before I grab a granola bar from the cabinet. I crunch into the crunchy granola and feel the sweet honey glisten down my throat. It's probably the only good thing I'll experience all day, and by jove, I'm going to savor it.

Mom: It's six twenty-five, let's go!

Me: I'm going!

I roll my eyes as I head out the door. But I don't want to leave on a sour note, so I turn around and give a little smile to her.

Me: Wish me luck.

Her face seems to soften, if only a little bit.