I groaned and hovered the blanket over me as my mom started her usual morning melodies, obviously intending on waking me up.
She drew the blinds high, letting the bright light enter the room. I scrunched my face in annoyance and toppled myself over, pushing myself into the pillow, trying to go back to sleep.
Although my eyes were closed, I knew my mom was standing next to me. Probably her hands on her hips and her foot tapping the carpet in expectance.
I waited for a few seconds and couldn’t really go back to sleep under her intimidating presence that I knew was around me.
I groaned and looked to the side. It took me a couple of seconds to clear my vision after the sleep. And the first thing I saw was my mother standing to the side, one hand resting on her hip and the other hand impatiently patting her left leg.
I was close, wasn’t I?
I sighed and just blinked at her, hoping she would say something like, “Oh you know what? You can skip school today, you seem tired hon”
But the odds of that happening were like an ice cream truck showing up at your house at midnight.
Almost out of nowhere, my mom grinned, flashing all her teeth and patted me on the head. She turned around and started to make her way out of the room.
But obviously not before saying her usual morning melody.
“Rise and shine Evans! It’s time for another new day!”
I got ready at my usual pace – precisely 14 minutes. Like most teenage girls, I didn’t take much time to get ready. It’s not because I didn’t like to, its because I didn’t really need to. It’s not like I’d be noticed if I tried anyways. I was just the girl who nobody noticed.
Or wait. Scratch that.
I was a girl who got noticed. Just not for the right reasons.
I threw on a pair of skinny jeans and a white tank top. I put on a pink fleece jacket over it and quickly combed my naturally straight hair. I put my brunette hair into a messy side braid and flashed a quick, forced smile before running over to the kitchen.
Realizing my bus was about to arrive any time now, I quickly grabbed a granola bar. And just when I was about to make my way out of the house, I remembered I forgot to kiss my mom goodbye.
Yes, I was a junior at high school and trust me, that did not make me feel any embarrassed to show my single mom some love.
Like I said, I wasn’t like your stereotypical American teenagers. I’ve had a rocky road throughout my life.
“Mom?” I said, looking around the kitchen and then both the rooms.
Our house wasn’t too big; in fact if you were playing a game of hide and seek, you would probably find the other person in just less than 90 seconds.
Realizing she wasn’t in the house, I checked the patio.
Yep, there she was.
“Mom, I’m running late. Gotta go, bye”, I said, reaching over to peck her cheek.
She kissed me on the cheek and I was about to turn around when she lightly held my arm and said my name out.
“Nicole…”
I turned back around and looked at her. “Yes mom?”
She removed the grip of her hand from my arm and shuffled around. “I…I….um…I gotta tell you something baby…”
