bittersweet

beginning

    I walk home from school, with the hot sun shining on my suntanned, freckled skin. I finally get to leave the horrors of san luis middle school. And if you couldn't guess already, I'm not too popular. Yeah yeah, I know I sound cliche.. But I'm just a normal girl, so nothing to unique about me I guess...
     I finally reach my house and take in the cool air conditioning of my home. I set my backpack on the red chair in my kitchen. Everyone was gone except Ma and little Bailey. Bailey was watching her favorite show, Teen Titans Go!, her face nearly pressed up against the T.V screen. I sit in the cool plastic chair in the kitchen and grab my homework. My mother turns from her cooking and asks me softly, "How was school today, C?" C is was my family calls me, "Make any new friends?" I smile and reply with, "Ma, you know it's not exactly easy for me to make friends..." She laughs and gets back to her cooking. I love my mother. She always treats me kindly unlike people at my school. So, I always feel safe when I'm at home, like nothing is there that can hurt me, like this is my sanctuary. I wish I could be homeschooled, but we don't have much money to hire a tutor.. We can barely pay my tuition.. I always ask my mother if I can help with anything, since I know she's having a rough time. But she's always telling me not to worry and that everything is going to be okay. But I know it's not. I know that there is barely enough food on the table, I know that Papa has to work extra and Ma has to work early. I KNOW that she's always stressed. But she doesn't show it. Is it perhaps... Because of little Bailey and I? Could it really... No. Never. She.. She would never lie to us, would she?