Authority

Separation

"Shit! That was the first time we messed up so bad! Do you think they're still onto us"? My brother Brandon asked. Brandon and I are always causing trouble and stealing things. It's what we've been doing since we were children. I mean we live in a pretty fucked up neighborhood, it's all we know how to do.

"I hear someone coming". I whisper as I look around from the corner of the building. The rain was pounding, I was so uncoordinated and tired. It's so late but Brandon and I were hungry so we went into a little convenience store nearby our rundown shack for a house. We stole a few things and tried to make a run for it but they called the police almost instantly as soon as we dashed. Then I became a dumbass outside and decided to trip and fall, giving the officer more time to arrive.

"Quick! Let's try to get back to the house"! Brandon exclaimed. I followed him as we skillfully maneuvered our way home in the dark. Soon there was our house, just feet away.

"Come on Natalia! Hurry the fuck up"! He screamed as I began to slow down. I just knew an officer was coming close. Brandon grabbed my wrist and we ran inside. My mother was sobbing once we entered.

"What's wrong ma"? I asked as I set down the soaking items I stole. She stumbled up and fell into my arms. Brandon stood there looking at her with that 'Not again' look. This isn't the first time we've come home to our mother crying like this. All we could wonder was what set her off this time.

"The landlord said that the government wants to send us back to India"! She cried. That was the worst possible news to hear. I don't want to believe it.

"Why would they do that"!? Brandon asked furiously.

"He said that he can't cover for us anymore! None of us have jobs and we're falling apart. There is a population problem and all of the lower class people like us have to go back to our countries"! She continued. As much as I hated to admit it, what she was saying is true. Recently, I've heard that the population in the US is growing exponentially and there isn't any more resources left to take care of everyone. Now there is a new law that states those who are homeless and in poverty must be sent to either the country they came from or a country with a low population. Once I heard this, I had a feeling that my family would be one to be sent back. I don't want to go back to India. I had a rough life there and so did Brandon and my mother. My father was one of the richest men in India. He owned multiple businesses and mansions, his whole life was just full of luxury. After marrying my mother, he just used her. He cheated on her all the time, beat her, just abused her mentally and physically. Then when my older brother Brandon was born, my dad began to treat my mother with a little more care. When things were beginning to show through and all would've been well, I was born. I was the whole reason we had to move to New York. My dad never wanted a daughter, most Indian men had a hatred for female children but the rich and successful men didn't tolerate it. My dad beat my mother more, he kicked her out and gave her enough money to live for at least a year. She used the money to escape from him and move to New York with Brandon and I. Our money went away so quickly but our landlord was nice enough to keep us here free of charge. Today, it's coming to an end. If we move back to India things will only get worse. My mother vowed to never go back. None of our old family members would care to help us. They'd want nothing to do with us. Indian men will only abuse and rape her, they'd do the same to me. She'd rather live in this life of poverty then go back there. I swear, the next thought in her mind would probably be to kill herself. I don't want this to happen at all.

After about an hour of stressing and packing what little we had, we could only cry and think about what terrible new life lies ahead. Soon there was a knock on the door. Brandon opened it to see the landlord standing with 2 officers and someone who looked fairly young to be an officer yet he was still wearing a uniform. He seemed about my age.

"I definitely recognize these two". One of the officers said as he entered the house. He grabbed my wrist and began handcuffing me, the same was done to Brandon who didn't try to fight him off at all. I think we'd both rather be arrested than go back to India.

"Ok, so I'm aware that this family needs to be sent back to India but if we're going to have some troublemakers the only option is prison". One of the officers said. Brandon and I just sat quietly as my mother began to tear up. I was skinny, dirty, smelly, ugly, worthless. My clothes, torn. It was the end of the road for me and my family, all I want is death.

"Officer Ji Hoon, take them into the car". One of the officers as well as the younger looking guy took Brandon and I into a police car. Our mother was left behind with the Landlord and the other officer. Brandon and I sat in the backseat, silent. The 2 men that brought us to the car were sitting up front looking at us with a look of sorrow.

"Dad, there was nothing else they could do. Did you see how they were living? In a situation like that they didn't have many options. They just stole to keep themselves alive". The younger guy said to the other. So I'm assuming they're father and son? Makes much more sense.

"Listen Jimin, if you want to be an officer, there are some things you need to understand. They might be in poverty but they broke the law. Now the only option for these two is prison. Otherwise they would've been sent back to their country". The father said. So his name's Jimin? He seems nice trying to defend us like that. Still, Brandon and I are going to prison. Jimin whispered something in his father's ear but I was really tired, I could care less about what happens to me next. I quickly drifted off to sleep. I don't see any hope but, something inside of me wants to hold on. Something so very deep is telling me, if I could just have faith! No, I shouldn't. This is life. I've been living like this for so long, I'm 15 but I haven't been to school in years. I have no education so I can't get a job that'll keep me alive. Brandon is 20 and hasn't been to school in years either. We both have only street knowledge and the little knowledge from some trips to the library. I'd go to the library whenever I could to practice reading and the librarian was kind enough to help teach me some basic things. But I don't think it was enough. I needed a school education. This is the time God will take me away from the world. Fuck it, I'll probably end up in hell. When I wake up, I'll kill myself.