Peace of Mind | Dave East

1"Graduation"

Aaliyah POV

I grabbed my sister and ran up the stairs to my brothers room, quickly locking the door. Double checking if it was locked to comfort myself she wouldn't be able to come in.

This day couldn't be any worse. I can't believe she lied again. "She told me she stopped. She told me this wouldn't happen again. She told me she would never get like this again!" I thought to myself.

I just prayed and prayed my brother would make it home from work soon.

                                          
Monday

"Aaliyah! Aaliyah!" My best friend Destiny called.

Quickly looking in my locker mirror making sure my concealer and foundation hadn't sweated off. I tried my best to cover up the bruise on my right eye this morning. I don't usually wear face makeup but recently I've been wearing much more of it to cover my bruises and marks.

Destiny didn't really know much about my situation but she knows about one incident that happened to me in the past.

I wouldn't say that my mom is abusive but the alcohol takes control of her causing her to get more physical and rowdy with us. She was sober last year after she went to this rehab facility but recently she took a hard hit when she got fired from her job at a dance studio when she got into an altercation with a child's parent.

My mom was a dance instructor and she taught me how to dance at a very young age. It's my passion to dance although I also want to become a home designer.

The dance studio is my sanctuary and I don't know what I would do without it. It's actually where I met my other best friend Sierra. Sierra is my lifeline and I don't know what I would do without her. We have been best friends for a very long time although we don't go to the same school. At first it was just Sierra and I but in fourth grade Destiny came to my school and I eventually introduced them and we all became really close.

My best friends and my siblings is the only people I can trust and rely on. I don't really talk or have any family outside of my mom.

My dad left my twin brother Eric and I when we were really young and for my little sister Savannah, her dad left my mom as well. I guess you can say, nobody really stays with my mom.

I love my mom with all my heart but every time she drinks it breaks a little piece of my heart. I just can't wait until I graduate and I'm going to pursue my dream to be a dancer and get my sister out of the house with her.

I closed my locker and turned around to face Destiny. "Hey girl. What you been up to?" I asked her.

"Nothing much, just the usual. I went out to shop for a dress to wear to graduation and I called you last night but you didn't answer." She informed me.

"Oh yea I was busy yesterday and you just now buying your dress? Graduation is on Friday ." I replied.

"You know I'm late to everything. But you was probably on the phone with yo nigga."

"Who?" I asked. She know damn well I ain't got no nigga.

"You know you got hoes left and right." She said.