Almost Home [Halted]

| T H R E E |

I walk back to my room like a lifeless corpse. Tears race down my cheeks, marking its territory along the way. I feel breathless and my face turns red and blotchy.

I hear mom calling out to me, saying, "Demetria, come here! Demetria, we're not done talking yet! Demetria!" but her voice sounded so distant.

I enter my room and lock the door. My eyes get blurry, all I see is a dull night-blue room, as blue as my mood. I fall facedown on the bed, making it even harder for me to breathe between the soft thick blanket.

At that very moment, I just wished I could die. My world had come crumbling down. I knew that someday, it would come to this, but I kept running away from the truth because the truth frightened me.

I didn't want to have a broken family. Even though my parents were good for nothing, I loved them so much, more than they would ever know.

I scratch on the blanket, catching a grip of it with my nails and pull it, crying louder. I screamed and cried till I felt like I couldn't cry anymore, even though I wanted to; I cried till I felt empty.

I pull a tissue out of the tissue box and blow my nose, tossing it on the ground once I'm done.

"Scout, I need to talk to Scout." I sniff, minute crystal-like tears still sliding down my lower lashes, onto my cheeks and down, on the blanket.

I pick my phone and pull it off the wire, unlock it and ring Scout up. It rings and rings and rings.

"You've reached Scout the great's VM. Leave a message or whatever after the toot." and a beep sound rang through the speaker of my phone, hurting my sensitive ear.

"Scout, hey, it's your Dee. I really need to talk to you right now, babe. Please call me back or let's chat at least? Anything would do. I love you so much." I say in a rather unstable voice, sniffing in intervals.

I disconnect the call and open kik up.

Demxtria (11:18PM):
Scout, I need you so bad right now.
I'm not okay.
I tried calling you but you didn't answer.

About 20 minutes later, I check kik again. On the left of the bubble box, I saw R✔️.

I clench my jaw and tighten my grip on my phone but then loosen it before I break the screen. I really couldn't afford a new phone right now, after all.

"I'll try calling Cia." I wipe the half-dried tears off my cheek and click on her name in the Favorites section of my Contacts. It goes on ringing and then..

"Hey, you obviously know this is Cia since you're calling me, or not. Anywho, leave a message and I'll get back to you asap." and once again, a loud beep follows. However, this time, I pull the phone away from my ears in advance.

With a sigh, I speak, "Cia, Scout isn't answering the phone, so, ugh. I really need someone to talk to right now. I'm breaking, C. You won't believe what's happening. I just want to disappear right now." and I disconnect the call, as I start crying again.

Unaware, I fall asleep as I cry for hours non-stop.

I wake up without the alarm going off the next morning. I turn it off in the alarm app and get out of bed, walking straight into the bathroom that's attached to my bedroom.

I quickly have a shower and stand in front of the mirror. My eyes were hella swollen and the area under my lower lashes were purple-blue. My lips were pale and chapped, pulling them apart kind of stung.

Luckily, I had makeup which I never wore on daily basis but only on very special occasions, which was pretty rare.

I wash my face and pat it dry, grab the invisible fluid makeup, which kind of works like a light-weight foundation and apply it all over my blotchy face. I then go in with concealer and my usual lipstick.

Tying my hair in a bun and adjusting my barista uniform, I pick my bag and exit the room, hoping I don't see mom or dad. And to my luck, I don't.