Mr. Navas

8

Today I scheduled to meet up with my sister. I was going to go over to her place and visit to help babysit.

My little niece was two years old. Addison became a mother just at age nineteen with her high school boyfriend. I don't know the full story, but I don't think they had planned for things to go that way. They're still together, but going slower and waiting to finish school before thinking about marriage.

They lived in a small house in Liverpool where Addison and her boyfriend, Colton, were attending university.

I got out of my car and stretched my arms and legs after a long drive over. I knocked on the door and it opened in front of me, revealing my younger sister.

"Kris, oh my gosh! You're here!"
I was attacked by her hug, "Yep, I'm here now."
"Come in!"

She shut the door behind me and took my jacket. I walked down the hall to be greeted by my niece.

I bent down to her height, "Hi!"
"Kris!"
"Looks like someone's getting smarter," I said since last time she couldn't say my name.
"Yeah, growing bigger and smarter each day."

I smiled and stood up to see Colton. We embraced and talked for a bit.

"Alright, Addison, I've got to get going."
"Ok."

She kissed Colton before he left.

"Bye," I said.
"See you ladies later."

The two of us sat on the couch and caught up with each other. I almost mentioned Jesús, but stopped myself just in time. The little one, Bella, sat on the floor playing with her dollhouse.

"Alright, that's enough about me," she said after talking close to an hour about herself, "what's new with you?"
"Oh... Aside from being unemployed, not much."
"Kris, why didn't you call or text me?"
"I don't need help."
"Ok, well if you-"
"I won't, it's ok."
"Are you-"
"Yes, I'm sure. I can take care of myself."
"H- how did it happen?"
"Silly mistake on my part, then I was fired. I'm still looking for any other places hiring."
"Well, I'm so sorry to hear that. How are you doing with your rent?"
"Not good..." I bowed my head low.
"Hey, have you ever thought about or even considered going back to school?"
"No, Addison, I didn't even complete high school," I snapped.
"I mean, why don't you go back? Graduate, look into university, get a job. Mom and dad can afford it now and I can help too. Even Colton would help you."

Her eyes showed that she really cared. I know she did. I wanted to do this for her and myself and everybody, but I just couldn't. I felt stupid. I hadn't seen my sister and her family for a maybe a few months and her daughter was already getting smarter by the minute. She knows who I am and how to say my name.

Bella was so smart and she was just going to get smarter. She had so much potential and get whole life ahead of her. She would go to school and get a good job, find a guy, get married, and maybe even have children of her own. Me? No, I was done with school.

"Addison, it's too late for me."
"It's never too late!"
"The older you are, the harder it is for you to learn. I'm twenty six."
"You're still young."
"High school is challenging. How do you think I'm going to do at twenty six? Ten years after I dropped out."
"I'm sorry, if you don't want to you don't have to. Forget the whole idea. I am simply trying to help you with your life so it doesn't get ruined. You need an education."
"It's ready ruined."
"What are you saying? Are you trying to say your life is ruined because you had to drop out to help with dad?!"
"No! Why would you think- you know what? Just- just give me a minute."

I got up from the couch and began to walk to the washroom. I accidentally tripped over Bella's dollhouse, knocking it over on the floor. She started crying and I bent over to help. I stopped myself when I made eye contact with my sister. I continued walking and left her to take care of it.