Because You Love Me

Chapter Two

"Akeesha! You're going to a foster home!"
Katie said running into the wall in all her happiness for me.
"The news is everywhere!"
I glance up thoroughly confused.
Me?
A teenager?
Right.

As if reading my thoughts she says: "No really! the news is everywhere!"

I smile and run to my sister.
Wait, what about my sister???
I slow to a walk.

I push the door open.

"Congrats sis, you get to leave." A small, sad smile tugged at her lips.
"Thanks." I smile.
I knew deep down she was terrified for me to leave, lost and confused without me.
But she knew I had to go. I'd be kicked out in a few years.

"Mom and dad would be happy for you." She says turning back again to look out the window. "When are you leaving?"

"I don't know. Katie came and told me the news."
"Oh, ok."

-

She screamed again, the night terrors were getting worse each night.

"No no, no please, don't go! You can't leave me." She sobbed in her sleep. "I need you!" She screamed and cried again. "Please Akeesha please!" There was silence for a few seconds. "Please don't hurt my sister." That was it.
Then she slept as I crouched at her side and ran my fingers through her hair as she slept and whimpered.

-

Today was the day.
The day my life changed.
The day I leave my sister.
The day she loses me.
The day we lose each other, never knowing if we'll ever see each other again.
The day I cry since the day I came here.
The day I perceive myself differently.
The day of all days.
What a day.

"Are you ready?" Mrs. Chosemyer asks as I clip close the suitcase I had.

I shrugged.

Katie stood at the doorway, her blonde hair to the side.
she smiled, as if she knew this day would come.

"Don't worry, I'll look out for your sister." She whispered as I passed.
She hugged me and told me to write to her whenever I had a chance.
I smiled and agreed.
I kissed the top of her head and walked away.

My sister stands near the door with a dead face expression of horror, sadness, rejecton and longing.

My heart breaks but I push past it.
I have to go.

"The car you'll be taking is right outside." Mrs. Chosemyer tells me.

As I walk up to the door and my sister looks at me, her eyes boring into mine, questioning me, silently pleading me to stay, but also telling me she understands I have to leave, asking me to come get her when I can.

My eyes give my answer and she studies me. Remembering how I look on this day.
I know she'll go to the now her own room, open part of the wall and draw me in her blank paded paper book.
I would have done the same for her if I wasn't leaving.
But I am.

We hug and kiss her she sheds silent tears and she watch's me leave.
An new emotion appearing on her face.
One I couldn't recognize then.
But I know know.

Mrs. Chosemyer's assistant closes the door, a symbol to me of a new beggining and we head off to my fresh start.
Something I'd never expected to get so soon.

-

The car pulls up to a yellow house.

My eyes grow.

People run outside to greet me.
I was in a daze.
Names were thrown around and my head spun.

Grandma Dee Dee, grandpa Rufard, Annie, Donny, Bonny. So many more were said.
I wanted to crawl in a hole.

My head spun, my stomach clenched and I vomited.
Great first impression, I know.

The husband and wife walked out then, looking confused.

"I know you said not until tomorrow, but, we had to do this today, we have another kid coming in this afternoon." The assistant said.

"It's my mother's birthday and the whole family came over, I thought it's be a bit overwhelming, that's why I said tomorrow. But since she's already here, I'll just get her settled in." The wife said.

She took me by the arm and I jumped.

"Sorry, just fallow me hon."
I did. I dealt like a freak, people watching me and smiling.
Except one boy.
He just stood there, with the same emotion my sister had that I didn't know.
Then he walked I side with us.

He kept at a distance but never lost that expression.
I tilted my head and he blinked.
He looked about 14, and handsome and well built.

"This is your room." The wife said.
I looked around and immediately went and fealt the blankets on the bed.
I gealt the pillows, curtains and rug.
I sniffed the air.
Clean.

I turned and saw the wife husband and boy staring at me.
I fealt ashmed.

I vomited again.

The husband went and cleaned it up.
The wife said it was okay.
The boy stared.

"My name is Raylyn and my husband Clide, this is Evan, he's my nephew. He's staying here for a while."

I nodded.

The husband and wife left and Evan said one thing to me before he followed.
"Welcome."

I nodded and unpacked as he left.

-

Laughter woke me up the next morning and I curiously went downstairs.
Picking my head around the corner I saw the husband flipping pancakes behind his back and the wife smiling and clapping her hands. Evan was drinking orange juice.

Upon sight of me the wife greeted me cheerily. "Good morning hon. Do you like pancakes?"
"Yes." I say.
"How many do you want?"
"Two?" I say uncertainly.
"You can have more if you'd like. Evan eats about five!" She laughs at this and the husband joins.
Evan eats his pancake.
"Good morning." I say to him and his eyes widen.
"Good morning. Did you sleep well?" He asks and I smile.
"Yes."

My pancakes were served then and I are them.
I had four more.

"How about we get you some clothes tomorrow?" The wife asks.
"Sure." I say.