Choices

Chapter 1

""Watch out!" Were the last words I heard my mother say to me. Today last year was March 2nd, 2016, and I had just gotten my licence. I had been waiting for that day since I turned 16. I guess the excitement roaring through my veins got out of hand. We were driving on a hill and singing along to songs on the radio. It felt so good to be so close to my mother. She worked Monday through Friday. From 9am to 5pm, so after work she'd take a shower and go to bed. We didn't go out much. Saturdays were usually spent cleaning and Sundays were days we devoted to God. I couldn't complain. I had food on my plate, a roof over my head, clothes on my body, a bed to rest my head, and a slightly used car to get where I needed to go. My mother was a hard working single parent. I am so grateful for the mother I had... Sometimes I think about what would be different if she were still here with me and all of us. I miss her so much. There's not a day I don't think about her. In about 4 months, I'll be turning 18 and I'm on my own. As you all know my mother didn't have siblings, so her best friend, Alice, took me and my little sister in as two of her own. I'm so thankful for you Alice. Everything I do now is for my mother. I know that she'd want me to be success. I know that my mother is so proud of me. I have a 3.9 GPA, staying connected to God, and I'm on my way to a grand future. A year has passed since God called for my mother. I ask for forgiveness that I have talked more about myself instead of reciting memories I have with my mother like everyone else has. And I also want to thank everyone for coming here today on this beautiful day to show my mother we all here still care about her and won't forget her. Thank you so much."

I was the last person to speak at the dinner party for my mother. Everyone knows how much my mother loved to have a good time. Everyone began walking out the back door to start the dinner. As I was about to walk out of the living room, from the corner of my eye I seen my mother sitting in the recliner. I turned to completely take a look, but there was nothing there. It's probably just in my head. I went outside and seen Alice and my younger sister, Sophia, at the end of the table with a seat open next to her. I walked over and took a seat. Everyone stared at me waiting for the prayer. We thanked God for the food he's provided for all of us and prayed for peace over my mother's body. After the dinner Sophia washed the dishes, I cleaned up, and Alice took a few people home.

"Stef?" Sophia called to me from the kitchen.
"What?" I replied.
"Can you wash the rest of the dishes I have to pee?" She asked.
"Yeah I'm coming."

I watched as her 14 year old self walked up the stairs skipping every other step. She's a spitting image of our mom. She has her glowing caramel skin, 5'6 height, deep brown eyes, plump pink lips, perfectly sculpted face, long light brown hair, and a beauty mark on her right shoulder the size of marker point. I on the other hand am on the shorter side. I'm 5'4, round faced, plump pink lips, glowing caramel skin, long ombre hair that consists of dark brown at my roots to a grayish blondish white at the tips, and hazel eyes. I have a few of my mother's traits. Instead of having a birth mark on my right shoulder it's on my left shoulder. I have my mothers curves, size 10 pants, and small feet. My sister has more of a slimmer look with a average size foot for her height.

It's been hard to keep our heads up when the only parent we had around is gone and it's my fault. Yet my sister and I have been doing really well under these conditions. I'm a senior at Washington high and my sister is a freshman. I'm single due to the fact that I'm not looking for a relationship. Sophia on the other hand is not. She has been with some jock for about a year. He's not good enough for her but she'll discover that when the time comes. At this point, Sophia had came back downstairs and I was sitting in the living room done with the few dishes.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked.
"Huh?"
"I asked what were you thinking about."
"Oh. Nothing important just thinking back on today. By any chance did you recognize the boy sitting across from Maria?"
"I think he goes to Washington. Why?"
"He looked familiar."
"I see. You like him." She cooed.
"Ew bye he's cute but not looking for a relationship remember."
"You're still on that?"
"Yeah." I confirmed.
"Oh my okay"
"Oh well"
"Why?"
"It's what mom would have wanted."
"How do you know that? She probably wants us to live how we choose to. I chose to do good in school. I chose to continue going to church. I chose to be a good person. I chose not to let this bump on the road prevent me from getting to my destination."
"Alright do as you please then."

With that being said she turned on the tv and sat in the recliner. I left to my room and into my personal bathroom. I stepped into the shower letting a million drops of warm water hit my skin. I could feel the dirt and sweat getting cleaned away. Not sure what I love more showering or sports. After about 30 minutes I got out. I turned the shower off and dried my skin. Lotioning my skin is my favorite part. I walked to my drawer and grabbed all black underwear and a big white tee. I seen fuzzy black socks and I couldn't help but slip into them. Looking at my bed I hear him calling for me. I slipped in and grabbed my phone and seen a text from an unknown number.

"I'm sorry for your loss but it was nice seeing you
today you look good. Oh btw it's Samuel. 🙃💕"

I nearly dropped my phone. He must have been the boy from earlier. How could I have not recognized my first love? Wait pause how did he even get my number?