Acid

Chapter One: Beginning Of The End

THE MUSIC WAS blasting from the second floor of the old rundown apartment, basically shaking the ceiling. She honestly, needs to turn that shit down. I mean, how am I ever going to get Poppy to bed if she's getting all hyped up? Holding Poppy in my arms, grazing my finger against her chubby legs, I slowly start to organize the pink baby crib. With my one free hand, I fold the soft rose petal blanket with lines of yellow, along with her bright yellow pillow. She's so particular, just like her father, she only ever sleeps if it's exactly how she wants it. Gently turning on her favourite lamp, I rock her in my arms as we both stare at the ceiling, watching the purple glowing stars prance around, as the lamp slowly fades to new colours, after 6 seconds. I could feel her head going limp as her little body slowly stopped moving, allowing her to drift asleep. Well that took long enough. Longer than Taylor Swift's relationships, jeez! Slowly tiptoeing to the door, I reach my hand out to touch the rusty handle, as I close it softly behind me, to keep it from creaking. Sighing I break from the door and bolt to the old wooden stairs.

"Rae! Turn the music down!" I raise my voice as I check towards the nursery door.

All of the sudden the music turns off, and the clanking of high heels could be heard walking across the wooden floors. Glancing up the stairs a figure of a woman could be seen from the top. She wore a tight small black dress that barely covered her butt, as well as allowing all her curves to show her hourglass figure. Her long blonde hair gently went down her back, almost like waves hitting the shores.

"You look like a hooker," I said as a joke.

"Wow you're too nice" She said rolling her eyes and walking down the stairs.

"Sorry, I'm only saying the truth..." I pause for a second, remembering "Don't you have work in the morning, Rae?"

"Work? Ha, they can wait!" She said laughing as she reached the bottom of the stairs.

Following behind her I begin to lecture, even though she's old enough to be my mother. It's funny how the roles can change.

"Rae we're running out of cash, I can't be the only one providing anymore! It's hard enough to hold a steady job and go to school at the same time!" I say frustrated.

What I said was true, even though I didn't want it to be. I've been checking out our bank accounts just to keep on top of things. At this rate, we won't be able to live in this old apartment for much longer. We've already been spending more than we have, recently. She immediately changes her posture, soon sitting on the stairs and covering her face with her hands. Her blonde hair falling gracefully over her shoulders.

"I got laid off" Her voice muffled.

"Jesus Rae!" I say, flinging my arms in frustration.

"I know it's bad but don't worry I'm going to fix it!" She says in a soothing voice as she jumps up from the stairs, her eyes focused on mine.

"Rae if we don't have a stable place to live, they will take Poppy from me!" I pause, tears starting to well up in my eyes, blurring my vision.

"Don't worry" she paused " I promised your mother that I would keep you safe"

"If my mother wanted me safe she wouldn't have let Mike kick me out!"

Rae is my Aunt. She's my mother's sister. When my father couldn't take my 'bad behaviour' he kicked me out. I can remember it like it was yesterday. The way his low voice echoed off the walls with disappointment, as he carried on about me not being good enough for 'our' family. I guess I know why he did it... No, why am I making excuses for him? I guess I still thought that he would at least reach out to me in some sort of way. I guess it's good to know that he never really cared, but what I did was wrong as well. Great now I'm having a pity party!