Infection

Page 1

I drop my light gray backpack on the floor and dig through the contents, finding a couple of coins and a crinkled twenty dollar bill molded together at the bottom.

"Perfect," I say, dropping the coins into a glinting glass jar on my dark black nightstand. I take out my worn duct tape wallet and slip the twenty inside.

I'd earned it earlier that day by playing guitar in front of the small gas station near the Boys & Girls Club during lunch. A nice looking elderly lady had handed me the twenty and a boy who seemed to be about my age dropped a few coins into my leather guitar case. Parts of the leather were peeling off and the logo printed on the back was all but gone. Only a single A remained.

At that exact moment my mom walks in, jumbling my thoughts, "Katie what are you doing?"

I look at the floor and not at her concerned facial expression. "Getting ready to leave."

She crosses her slender arms, "This late? Come on Kate, its almost 9pm."

"Please get out of my room."

"You are not leaving."

I try to shove past her with my body weight but she blocks my path with her shoulder.

"I should have gotten that fucking abortion. You never listen. I could be out partying right now if it wasn't for you."

"MOM GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!!" I scream.

"Sure. But your staying," Its the last words I hear before the door slams shut in my face. I can hear the scraping sound of her moving something in front of it.

The bookcase.

I'd had it at that. I place both of my hands on the door and start hitting it as hard as I fucking can. I didn't know how long I'd been pounding, but when I look at my hands, my knuckles are split in three places and blood smears across the white door to my room. Eventually, I collapse on my bed and stare at the flaky white ceiling willing sleep to come.

And thankfully, it does.