The Sentries

Chapter One

Boom, chack chack

Boom boom, chack

Boom, chack chack

Boom boom, chack

The deep beat of Brazilian funk blasted through my speakers, as I washed the dishes in a hurry.

I felt compelled to clean everything.   As if cleaning, was a way for me to rid my mind of all my insecurities, fears and the what ifs. It was the only way I knew how to deal with my nerves.  It has always been the only way.

Every day for the past six months, I follow the same routine. I wake up, go to work, come home,  clean then head over to the hospital.

I looked down at my hands. The sponge scourer on one hand, and the last plate on the other. 

The thought of seeing my grandma in the state she was in, made my chest tighten.

My hands tremble.

My grandma was all I had, she is my best friend. 

What if... NO! I  reprimand myself for even letting my thoughts wander there. The last thing I needed right now is to dwell on all the negative things that have happened to me in the last couple of months.

I needed to be strong. I needed to hold it together for her. So that when she is able to return home she can be proud of how I handled myself.

I reached for the liquid soap. I couldn't help but notice my forearm.

I paused. There it was. My birthmark. It seemed to stand out today more than any other day. It was in the shape of a square, its colour resembled a birthmark. But its perfectly straight edges and equally long sides made it look more like a tanned coloured tattoo than a birthmark.  

I resumed cleaning the last plate. Once I hung the last plate to dry, I  noticed that the time on my phone read 16:06.  I had about 10 minutes to get ready, leave and catch the bus on time.

Once I finished, I gave a quick wipe of the kitchen counter.  Picked up my phone from the kitchen counter and then I headed to my room, so I could change from my work clothes.  I hurriedly removed my work clothing as I walked towards my wardrobe, and I nearly tripped in the process of removing my tight black pencil skirt.

I then held on to the door of my wardrobe, and I carefully removed my skirt. Not wanting to repeat the same mistake. Once I removed the unnecessarily tight skirt, I threw it towards my bed and proceeded to look through my wardrobe for hospital appropriate clothing. Not set on anything uncomfortable, I chose to wear my navy tracksuits with white trainers. 

Once I put on my tracksuits, I sit on the bed and reach under my bed for my white trainers. I hazily shove my feet into them and tuck my laces into my shoes. I was never one for tying my laces.

I head towards my dresser for my phone and I checked the time again, it was 16:10.

Fuck.

I slipped my phone into my side pockets and headed out of my room. In a hurry, I headed towards the front entrance whilst simultaneously tying half of my shapeless wavy short black hair into a bun. 

Remembering my speakers that were still blasting music very loudly. I detoured to the kitchen and turned my orange speakers off.

I grabbed my keys from the kitchen counter and headed out of the door.

Once I exited the apartment building, I deeply inhaled the polluted air of my city and made a mental note to later search beach holidays away from the noise pollution of the city.