The Work of a Legacy

The Aftermaths: Selina

Dear Alex,
Will you wait for me?
Selina

"Put those dishes away when you're done with them," mama reminds me, already scurrying out of the pungent kitchen with yet another plate of food. Days like these always lasted for an eternity, putting sauce smeared dishes in the dishwasher and taking out steamy clean ones. It was an endless cycle that took up all of my days, now that I was out of the competition. Working in the kitchen of my mom's restaurant was my only hope of a job.

It had been two months since I was on Chanced. I had no way of contacting Alex other than pen and paper, due to the lack of internet connection in this hellhole. By now, they were televising my failures and embarrassments all over the world. By some chance, I lived in the one area in the world that didn't watch tv. Still, there would be the occasional out of area customer who would refuse to leave without a picture, and I had to resist the urge to grab them by the shoulders and demand to know what was going on with my Alex. What they showed and what they hid.

Suddenly, I felt a firm hand on my shoulder.

"Selina."

My heart rate spiked for a split second before I turned around and, for the one thousandth time, was faced with disappointment.

"I'm worried about you, Selina," mama whispered, her sunken in, wrinkled eyes looking into mine in concern. Her sun spotted skin was covered in wrinkles and veins, and her once tall and proud posture had long turned into a crouch.

I cupped her chin in my hand and smiled reassuringly. "I'm fine, mama."

A sigh rattled through her lungs. "You always say so. I know the truth."

I almost laughed. If she knew the truth, she would not be pitying me.

"You need to learn to be more independent, my daughter. Always basing your happiness on what others think of you or treat you. Always getting too invested, too soon. It's not healthy."

"You don't know what you're saying, mama. I am fine."

"I know what I'm saying!" She spat in anger. "You look ready to take your life! All because of someone you knew only a month."

My heart began to race again, this time in panic.

"What do you know?" I asked shakily.

"What don't I know?" She smiled. "It's okay to love who you love. I know you can't help it. But you can control how fast it goes."

"I couldn't help it," I repeated, tears welling in my eyes.

"No. How is this one different?"

"I... I don't know."

She nodded, obviously not satisfied with my answer. "Think about it."

The days shifted by at the same walking-through-caramel pace. I stopped looking through the kitchen window for Alex. I gave up on ever seeing any of them again. I had never gotten an invitation to the premiere, so my only chance at ever seeing any of them again was-

My head snapped up.

The reunion show!

I let dishes fly as I raced towards the giant pile of papers on our dining room table, sifting through them until-

"Aha!" I hugged the white and gold paper to my chest, tracing the words "formally invited" to my chest.

September 18. Only a week and a half away.

"You're going to need something to wear," mama commented from the hallway.

A/N- heyyy guys... it's been forever, I know, and this is so short. I'm sorry! There's more to come, I swear. I haven't given up.

(This chapter is dedicated to my lovely girlfriend, even though she deserves so much more!)