The School of Hyshin

4-1 - Kione

I remember it well, police sirens blaring in the distance, the loud squeal of an ambulance. It was relieving to hear those sounds that night. 

Because earlier, I received a text.

Masumi: I'm sneaking out of my house.

Masumi: Let me come over.

Kione: O do you need the address

Masumi: I got it, no worries.

Kione: Any reason why youre sneaking out

Masumi: I'll tell you when I'm there.

Kione: Okie

I heard a knock on my window and saw Masumi down below looking extremely nervous. She must of thrown something to get my attention. I noticed the missed texts I got. I had already gone into the garage and gotten a rope latter my dad keeps for who knows why. 

Masumi was really thin so I was confident that I could hold her weight. I grabbed the two ends and threw it out my now open window. She stepped on the first part and looked back up to me. I held it easy and nodded to her.

She finally made it up and I grabbed her hand to pull her in. 

"So tell me what's up?" I said after she got situated.

"My parents are fighting and I needed to get out..." she fidgeted around a bit

"It must be bad if you snuck out"

"I heard glass breaking..."

"Call the police!" I say alarmed

"I don't want my father to get mad..."

"What if your mom or dad gets hurt!" 

"I just don't want to be a burden..."

"You're not! You're helping your parents, Give me your phone." I took it from her as she slowly pulled it out.

I dialed the number and handed it to her without pressing call.

She took it with shaky hands and hovered over the green button. The call started at Masumi looked at the phone in horror.

"Hello, 911. What is your emergency?"

"My parents are fighting and its getting pretty bad, I heard a bottle break and my mom scream..." She spoke softly.

"Can I get your name and address?"

She said her name and the address and nodded a few times

"Thank you." She said hanging up the phone. Masumi gave a sigh and closed her phone. 

"Can I stay here for the night?" 

"Yeah man I'll go get some extra pillows."

I went into the dark hallway and opened the end closet.

"You got someone over?" My older sister asked through her now open door.

"Yeah, can you cover for me for some time?"

She nodded and went back onto her room. I took the three extra pillows and went back to my room.

"Got the pillows." I said closing the door behind me

They fell to the floor as I turned and looked to her. Images of my mom blared into my head, it hurt to think about it.

She sat on the edge of the stained mattress not making a sound, a warm tear drifted away from her eye and traveled to her chin. Memories that I didn't want to remember came to mind, I tried to ignore them but I just remembered more.

She sat on the red cushioned chair gazing into the distance. 

"Mom?" I asked curiously coming closer, I sat my homework down on the glass coffee table.

 The assignment was to interview our parents, yes I recall now. I was going to interview my mom, but she wasn't responding.

"Mommy!" I shouted while she sat, motionless. 

It was then I noticed something... What was it again. Ah yes, tears were forming in her eyes and one skated over her cheek. I noticed the way it shone in the light of the dim lamp we owned.

I looked to my dad who now stood in the doorway. 

"Dad..." I said my eyebrows raised in worry.

"It's okay, just go to your room for a while." He spoke calmly to me and I felt like I could trust him, that it was all okay. 

But was it... No, it wasn't okay.

I went to my room as told and ended up forgetting the whole thing the next day 

  Masumi's crying must have triggered the memory.

"Kione!" Masumi was shaking me from my trance. 

I wiped my cheek as I felt something there. I was apparently crying.

"Are you okay! You just froze and spaced out!" 

"Huh?" I asked as everything was unclear, I felt a bit dizzy. 

"Are you okay Kione?" Masumi asked a bit calmer

"Yeah..." I said bringing my hand to my head.

"Alright that is good." She sat back down onto my bed after picking up the pillows from the floor.

"I was just thinking about my mom..." I spoke suddenly looking down.

Masumi looked at me with surprise and an interested look. 

"I guess we all have dysfunctional families, there are always things that you dislike about a person."

"Kione?"

"Sometimes you might feel like shit when a friend leaves you behind, it could be when someone is so nice that they make you feel like a burden."

"Kione."

"And when ever you talk about your problems you know that no one actually cares about you. That they don't actually want to hear you talk."

"Kione."

"No one really cares what you think about and no one cares about you at all. You're only a burden in everyone's life who cares about you. No one. All any one cares about is themselves," I paused "No one cares about me."

"I care." 

I looked to the Asian girl in front of me. The way her deep brown eyes seemed to light up and show compassion even to a monster like me. I don't deserve this attention, I don't deserve life. Eventually I would just be shot, just like every other black girl. It would be quick and painless. A relief.

Masumi hugged me, "You matter to me. Fayna and I are close but you're still my best friend"

"But you're going to leave me one day... Just like the rest of them..."

"I won't."

"But if you-"

"I promise" She cut me off and continued to hold me tightly