I'll Tell You Later

Chapter ONE

Fuck, I need to get up. I can't seem to open my eyes as a sudden pain shoots through the bridge of my nose from my attempt at opening my eyes.

Tahilah Malika Carmen Johnson, suck it up and get out of bed. It's holidays, there isn't much you're going to do anyways.

I sigh dramatically as I open my eyes to look at the time on my phone. To my surprise it's only 07:30. I usually wake up at about 08:30 but I guess today is different.

I oddly find comfort in the fact that no sound is coming out of the house. Slowly, so as to not disturb the eerie silence, I walk around the house to check if I really am alone.

My parents room is empty with the bed made and bin emptied. Guess mum had an early morning... My sisters room on the other hand is also empty but the bed isn't made, clothes are on the floor, the curtains aren't even opened and there's a cold half cup of coffee with lipstick stains on it next to a slice of half eaten toast. I don't know how Nali drinks this stuff on a daily basis. I can only drink coffee once a month, the rest is tea. I guess she was late for work as usual.

Once I've done a thorough check of the house, I confidently state that it is empty. I lock all doors and go back to my bathroom for my morning ritual : brush teeth, mask face, use toilet, shower, cream then get dressed. 08:15, mum always said I was slow. Once that is done, I tidy my room and while doing that have an internal debate on whether to clean my sisters room or nah. I end up cleaning it anyway and the rest of the house. It ends up as part of my morning ritual. Oh the joys.

For breakfast I make myself a watermelon and pineapple smoothie and have it with an energy bar. I could never really eat anything heavy before 13:00 so I always settled for either smoothies, energy bars, cracker bread, or yogurt with granola and fruit.

My phone vibrates on the kitchen counter top alerting me of an incoming call. It's my sister, Nali, who -like me- got her name ,Nalima, from my moms side.

"Hello? " I answered.

"Hey Carmen. Lee and I are going abseiling. Wanna come? " asked Nali.

"Well since it's you and your fiancee going, I'd rather not be the third wheel you know. "

"You suck and right now I'm sticking my tongue out at you," came her reply.

I laughed at her antics and said, "what a mature 23 year old." The sarcasm was basically dripping off my tongue.
"Besides, I want to wait for mum to come back. She said she had something to show me. "

She gave out a long exasperated sigh, "Tahilah, mum is not coming back. You know that. And neither is dad. You were the one who chose their gravestones for crying out loud.

Look, I know it's difficult for you but you have to stop living in the past. That was 7 years ago. I'm hurting too but we have to stay strong, okay?"

I stayed silent on my end of the line. I couldn't process it.

"Promise me you'll go out today. Stay out late if you have to. Just get out of the house for a while, hang out with your friends, sleep over at their houses tonight. Just promise me you'll live in the moment. You are only 17, get out there but be safe. I'll call you tomorrow at 15:30 to see if you're still okay. "

"Okay," I said with a small voice. "I'll call someone up. "

"Good. See you tomorrow. "

"Bye."