Revealed

3. Solane

The car had no licence plate and was speeding away. I'm on the sidewalk, replaying the last five minutes in my head over and over again. Then, I run past the corner store, the one that had just been robbed, with complete fear filling my lungs. It feels like a 300 ton weight just fell on my back. A flood of guilt drowns my body and I continue shaking as I run. About 4 blocks away, police cars start to speed past me as well. They're going to the scene. My heart can't help but jump at every sound I hear around me. My reflexes are on their toes right now.

What. The. Hell. Just. Happened. Here I was, at 9pm, walking home, as a witness to a robbery. There's no way I would be able to tell Mama. I can't. What I did was a crime. I should have stayed and reported what I saw. I should have been the one to call the police. I should have helped the poor man who had no option but to empty his pockets to a bunch of ruffians. I'm a terrible person. I try telling myself that I'm only human, and not everything can be held against me. It doesn't work. In the eyes of the law, I'm guilty as charged.

When I reach my house, I go straight up the stairs to try and get to my room quietly and without questions, but Mama catches me.

"Solane? Won't you eat?" asks Mama Dee who is peering at me through the stair railings.

"I'm actually okay. I had a lot to take in today."

"What do you mean?"

My teeth begin to chatter like it always did when I was guilty. "I mean that I grabbed a bite on my way home. I definitely ate more than I could chew. I'm stuffed! I even feel bloated for the first time!" I bite my lip.

"Oh, that's fine! You should have just said so," laughs Mama, "What did you eat?"

On the spot lying. I'm terrible at that.

"Oh you know... just the usual! Uh... wh-what's the name again? I totally forgot! But the food was really good. I'll find the name for you tomorrow."

"Oh okay. Sweet dreams then sweety. You have school in the morning, so don't stay up too late on your phone."

"Sure thing, Mama."

She bought it. My heart relaxes a little. "Okay, goodnight." I say finally before heading into my room and locking the door.

I throw my stuff on floor next to my door and sit at my dresser. Looking into the mirror, my reflection stares back at me. I notice how my makeup is running and had been ruined by the rain. Pulling out a makeup wipe from the package in my first drawer, I clean away the now mud on my face before plopping myself and my phone in my bed while once again replaying what I saw.

I can never forgive myself for what I did. I committed a crime. No more college, no more friends, no more future. That's exactly what should happened to me. Maybe I'm reading into the situation too deeply. Maybe not.

What I don't get is how some people be so selfish? I never understand. But I have to get over what had happened somehow. It wasn't going to get any better with me constantly remembering the incident and blaming myself for it.

I'm going to have to face everyone in school the next day.

I'm gonna have to fake it.