You Are Something Else, Juniper Zwinggi

Chapter 6

I told Emily everything. Everything. That I'd known Jake since we were kids, that I was always in trouble because of partying, that I had a twin brother, that he'd died in the accident that scarred my face, that I was the reason he got out that night, that my mom wasn't talking to me, that I felt like dying every time someone mentioned Pat's name. I told her that everyone blamed me and that's why I didn't tell her until now. I wanted to tell Jake but didn't know how to.

We sat on that couch for what seemed like forever and when I was finished and my eyes swollen from crying and wiping them, she hugged me. She hadn't said a word the entire time and to be honest I was scared of what she'd say.

"I knew you had a story to tell," she said still embracing me. "Thank you for telling me. You've been carrying this burden by yourself for a long time. Let me take some of it. Hm?"

I began ugly crying and hugged her tight. At that moment I felt my shoulders get a little bit lighter.

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I expected Emily to walk on eggshells around me after my cry-fest confession. She didn't though. She treated me like she always had and I couldn't have been more thankful.  I felt some shred of hope.

We made it to mid-term week and spent most of our time studying, sleeping, and eating junk food to keep us going. I got a text from Jake on Tuesday inviting me to his party on Friday, I actually accepted. Thursday was Emily's turn on the mini-rotation at the animal hospital so I got to have the remainder of the week off to play with the dogs and rest. 

Emily had met up with Miles for dinner so I wasn't expecting her to be home until late. They'd met at the volleyball tournament but really hit it off at a party a couple of weeks later. I thought they looked good together and he was sweet so I approved. By ten I was dozing to a random movie on Netflix. Luka was half lying on me and half hanging off the end of the couch, asleep. Summit was on her bed under the TV.

My phone vibrated on my chest and it startled me awake. Looking at the caller ID I was shocked. It was mom. In Texas it was passed 1 AM, that was late for her. I'd texted her the day before, telling her I had finished my mid-terms and that I thought I'd done well. But, I couldn't imagine her calling me because of that.

"Mom? You okay?" I asked standing. Luka and Summit followed me through the house.

"What do you think, Juniper?" she said with a slur I knew too well. It sounded just like mine when I had too much to drink.

"Have you been drinking?" I asked surprised. She never drank and if she did it was a single glass of red wine at a social gathering.

"Why? Does my voice sound familiar? I bet this is just what you sounded like when you called Patrick to pick you up that night and every night before that," she seethed. It felt like a blow to the stomach. "You think I didn't know about all those parties you snuck out to? I was counting the days until you'd come to me pregnant, crying for me to fix it," she hiccuped and I knew she was crying. I listened taking in every word. My friends I could handle, but these words coming from my own mother was too much. "Instead, you killed your own brother. Stop sending your messages. You are not welcome in my house again," she moaned mournfully and I covered my mouth. "I wish it had been you."

I dropped my phone on the ground, not wanting to listen anymore. There were black dots swimming around my eyes and I couldn't catch my breath. The tightness in my chest felt like someone was squeezing my insides. Luka nudged my hand nervously and whined. My knees buckled from underneath me and I caught myself on the stair railing. He barked loudly a few times just as the front door opened.