Habibet Albi (Incomplete)

Chapter 1: The Espinosa's

DON'T USE ANY OF MY CONTENT OR I'LL GO BRUCE LEE ON YOUR ASS. WELL MY SHITTY VERSION OF IT.

"I desire the things that will destroy me in the end." ~ Sylvia Plath

FINDING AN OPENED Trojan condom wrapper on the carpet of your little brother's bedroom was the last thing Phoenix needed. Examining the square packet with her face twisted into a grimace she threw it into the overflowing trash bin by his bedside.

While she finished gathering Hakeem's dirty clothes with salad tongs and tossing it into the hamper she debated confronting him about the condom. Coming to a conclusion she realized how awkward that situation would be and she'd rather avoid that. As long as he was using protection and not impregnating other girls who was she to intrude? On the other hand he could be putting himself at risk for potential stds she thought as she picked up a discarded pizza box full of crusts.

Once she had completed piling all the dishes from this morning's breakfast she flung herself against the sofa. The apartment was silent which was seldom. Hakeem was out with his boys, Janeiry and Carmela were at the mall and Josiah was taking a nap in his racecar bed. It was relaxing to just be able to lay down and not have to obey anymore demands from adolescents and a toddler. Her eyes fluttered shut. I'll just take a quick nap.

A hard knocking on the door came. Phoenix bolted upright and gasped in surprise. Are you kidding me! She reluctantly got up, groaning as she did so. Her bare feet padded along the cold wooden floorboards. She felt goosebumps rise all over her body.

She peered through the peephole and saw an unfamiliar but unmistakably male face. Reflexively she jumped back at the face before deeply inhaling through her nose. Her hands undid all of the locks on the door before viciously throwing it open.

"What do you want?" she demanded, annoyance drenching her tone. Her arms crossed firmly over her ample chest.

The guy standing, towering before her. He appeared about six foot two. She felt like a shrub adjacent to a tree. His eyes flickered briefly down to her breasts then back to her face.

Phoenix being a naturally observant person noticed that and glared at him. She pulled up the neckline of her top, not doing much help. Nothing ever concealed her breasts they were like watermelons. She always wanted to get a breast reduction but never could afford one.

"I live in the apartment next door and our mail was mixed up." He explained. His voice was deep and demanded your attention, yet was soothing. It reminded her of water crashing onto shore.

Phoenix stared at him, her eyes darted down at the mail in his large basketball player-like hands. The Vogue magazine Carmela was subscribed to and Hakeem's Sports Illustrated magazine stood out in recognition. The new issue of Deadpool and Batman also caught her attention and she snatched the mail out of his hand.

Without even looking behind her she stepped over the threshold, back into the apartment and slammed the door shut in his face.

Not long after Josiah ran out of the kitchen with a gallon of milk and chocolate syrup with a bunny rabbit printed on it. "Mommy get me some chocolate milk!" he yelled in his adorable high pitched voice.

Phoenix's heart contracted. Josiah always called her Mommy even though she was his sister. Their mother had died three years ago when Josiah was a nearly a year old, he doesn't have much recollection of her. "I'm not Mommy I'm your sister." She corrected in a strained voice.

"Then where's Mommy if you're not her?" he would always inquire after. His big hazel eyes just like her own staring at her expectantly.

"With the angels in Heaven." She'd say trying to choke down the tears and blink away the moisture in her eyes. She didn't believe in the afterlife. Her faith in God wavered away like a candle flame in a windy room. What point was there in believing a God who never answered your prayers? Even if there were one he seemed to be indifferent towards humankind.