Almost Home [Halted]

| F I V E |

I walk down the street, crying and repeatedly wiping the tears off with the sleeve of my cardigan. The scourging heat made my head feel heavy and I felt dizzy. Walking in that state, I somehow managed to reach home, dripping with sweat that was also mixed with tears, that I could taste on my lips. Salty.

I walk into my room and lock the door. After changing into my sweats and tank top, I open the window and sit on the sill, putting my legs outside the window. When I was younger and sad or upset, I would sit in this manner. It used to frighten mom, so she started locking the window of my room. We lived on the 5th floor, but the height no longer scared me as I had gotten used to sitting here everyday.

Picking my phone, I ring Elena.

"Yes, bud?" She answers, while Charles yells in the background.

"El, I came home straight. Got a migraine with this heat. Mark me as absent for today, please." I tell her, trying to hide the pain in my voice.

"Aw babe, take care, okay? And hell naw I ain't gonna mark you absent. You came to work in the morning hm." She was probably preparing something and had the phone resting between her shoulder and ear, from the way she was talking.

"But El—"

"No butts, only boobs."

I hear Cinthia and Charles laugh in the background. Cinthia was Charles's twin sister. She got married a few months ago and had taken a month's leave to travel to Spain for her honeymoon. On the other hand, Charles doesn't believe in marriage nor relationships. He says 'I would rather pamper myself than others'.

"You're a lifesaver, El. Tell Cinthia that I said hi." I slightly chuckle, even though I wasn't in the mood for it.

"Cin, Dems said hi!" She yells and that makes me pull my phone away from my face, stare at it and slightly furrow my brows.

"Oh shit, sorry. I forgot about your migraine." She whispers. "I really am sor—"

"It's alright, El. I'll nap for a bit now."

"Alright, take care, ok?"

"I will."

I make sure that the call is disconnected, close the window and fall on my bed, throw my phone on the side table and grab a pillow, bury my face in it and cry till I fall asleep.

I wake up due to the sound of my phone vibrating on the dark wood table. The room was once again filled with blue hues, it was probably past 7 in the evening.

With my eyes narrowed and sheets under me wet, which made my cheek slightly itchy, I lift my head and stretch to read my phone. I lift it up but look away as the bright light stung my eye.

Slowly turning back, I look at the screen. A call goes unanswered. That's when I read,

Missed call
Scoucletchip Frappuccino (42)

Missed call
Cia (16)

Text message
Scoucletchip Frappuccino: Babe I'm sor...

Text message
Scoucletchip Frappuccino: Babe answer the ca...

Text message
Scoucletchip Frappuccino: Listen, Demetria, I re...

Text message
Scoucletchip Frappuccino: Please, please ans...

Text message
Scoucletchip Frappuccino: You're making me wor...

You have 64 unread messages on Kik!

"Really, why do they even bother?" I clench my jaw and mumble under my breath. "They did what they had to do, so, why are they even worrying about me now?" I close my eyes tight. I could feel anger and pain stiffening my chest, making it hard for me to breath.

With a sigh, I slide to unlock.