Self-Seeker

17

Approaching the main desk of the hospital, Genesis asked the receptionist where Jazmine Morris was situated. It felt weird on her mouth calling her sister by her marriage name.

"Ah yes. Mrs Morris is in a private room on the upper level - meaning she can choose who she permits to visit her. May I ask for your name please?"

Knowing Jazmine, Genesis's name was definitely not on that list. She had to think fast. "Sure, my name is Audrey Parker. I'm her sister in law." She lied as she executed a very believable American accent.

"Ah, your name is right here on the list. She's in room 301, you're welcome to help yourself to refreshments." The kind lady offered, Genesis was glad she hadn't caught onto the fact that her accent had changed within seconds.

She thanked the receptionist for her help before approaching the elevator. There wasn't a chance she was going to have refreshments from the unsanitary place. She could've easily found another way in, a back door or something, but it had been a long time since she'd used somebody else's identity - even if it was for something as minor as visiting her sister in hospital.

The room was at the end of the corridor, it was secluded and noticeably vacant through the window. Genesis automatically spotted Tyler snoozing on a chair inside, next to him was a table where she located the gift basket she had sent to their house yesterday morning, the basket that got Jazmine in this position in the first place.

Genesis pushed open the door, the hinges making an irritably high-pitched creaking sound – a similar resonance to her dear sister's voice. Nearing her bed, she took Jazmine's slender hand in hers as she took a seat on the edge. When Genesis pushed a strand of hair out of Jazmine's immaculate face, her eyes fluttered open; followed by Genesis' hand being slapped away.

"You evil little bitch. You did this to me! How could you?!" Jazmine began to raise her voice, waking Tyler up.

"Genesis, you shouldn't be in here." He stood from his chair, taking a defensive stance, it was quite comical actually.

"That is where you are wrong Morris. I should be here. I'm her family." She turned back to face Jazmine. "And family take care of each other, no matter what. Just like you left Dad to 'take care' of me. Isn't that right Jazzy?" Genesis stroked the side of her face; her eyes were distant as she recalled the Moment where the sister she once looked up to left her to fend for herself.

"You can't keep holding that against me. Besides, you asked for it. You killed our mother! You deserved everything you got!" She spat, pushing Genesis off of her but Genesis quickly regained her balance, a silent tear slipping out of her eye.

At the time she was just a child. She couldn't have known. She couldn't have prevented it. Genesis had spent years upon years trying to convince herself of that, but she knew it wasn't true. Yes, she had been young, but it was her fault that their mother had been in the situation in the first place. She was the reason for her death. Genesis murdered her - and she received punishment beyond compare for it. But she was also betrayed by the one person she believed she could count on to help her through the pain.

"Perhaps I did deserve it, Jazzy. But everything that's coming to you - you deserve that, and a hell of a lot more." Genesis ended, turning to walk out of the door.

She paused by the frame, remembering one last thing, "Oh, I hope you liked your flowers." She glanced over at the gift basket on the table. "Jasmines - they were always your favourite." Genesis finished, closing the door behind her with a smug smile on her face. But the day was nowhere near over yet, there was a lot she had to do.

***

It was late Saturday afternoon, which meant Deana would be at her apartment drinking her sorrows away. They were good friends once, so Genesis knew her every move. Deana had abandonment issues as her father left her when she was fourteen, luckily her aunt took her in and raised her to be the two-faced whore she was today. But due to the lack of parental figures in her life, she often turned to alcohol for comfort.