trendsetter ☹ matthew e.

16%

"I can't believe we raised that thing."

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My heart was thumping out of my chest as I strolled back down my former childhood street, my eyes gazing at all of pastel colored houses. I fumbled with my fingers and bit the inside of my cheek as I approached my house, Estela and Alex were both outside, their voices low as they talked.

I adjusted the duffle bag on my shoulder and cleared my throat, stopping to hide behind the neighbors tree where I knew they couldn't see me. My hands were sweaty and shaking as I fixed my shirt to make myself look the least bit of presentable when I walked by them. I re-adjusted the duffle bag once more and walked out from behind the tree.

I held my head up high and made sure to be extra quiet, partly because i wanted to eavesdrop and hope they would want their only daughter back but also because I didn't want to be noticed.

"I think we should get a boy this time," Estela laughed, holding Alex's cheeks in her hands. I frowned, knowing that they were getting ready to ask for another baby. The council will surely comply, seeing how great they did with me — besides my affection choices.

I couldn't help but take a quick glance at them, and immediately when I did I could feel the guilt and disappointment flow back into my body. The aura that they had was indescribable in the worst way possible and it made my heart ache more than ever. Their eyes were on me with every move I made, every footstep I took.

"I hope she doesn't think we want her back," Estela mumbled to Alex. "I would hate to have to call the police on her."

The last sentence she said made me quicken my pace and my heart beat race. I didn't want to believe that they would call the cops on me but a part of me knew that they had no reason to bluff, I was their science project gone wrong.

As if the lord above had not punished me enough, I tripped over what seemed to be air and fell right on my cheek. I groaned in pain and put my arms to my side, hoisting me up. I took another glance at Estela and Alex, seeing that no emotion was held in their faces.

"I can't believe we raised that thing." Alex whispered to Estela not so quietly.

I simply ignored my scraped cheek and turned my head away from them. I now knew where I stood with them, and I knew that the grudge they held wasn't going to change. I marched down to my destination and stopped when I saw the blue house Matthew used to live in.

His family's belongings and car have left the building but I had a shred of hope that he would have left his bedroom window open like usual. I opened the gate to their backyard and quietly trudged through the large weeds, finally making my way to the room under his.

I adjusted my duffle bag once more and put it on me like a cross-body purse, I made sure my shoes were laced and began to climb the tree near his bedroom window. I silently cursed at myself as a large branch got my arm stuck and ended up leaving a mild gash in my elbow, but quickly ignored it as I tried to open Matthew's window.

To my surprise it was open, and I crawled through, throwing my bag off my body and onto the wooden floor. I looked around his room, seeing nothing but old holes from picture frames and bulletin boards.

"I guess this is home now."

--

SHIT

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH

HAVE A GOOD NIGT DAY AFTERNOON

xox, claire