𝐮𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥

♛ 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐩 8

Always accessorise

"Hi..." said the man at the door staring at me with confusion. Then suddenly he seemed to realise who I was at about the same time I realised he was Aunt Rhonda's husband, Uncle Andre.

"You must be Ayanna," he continued, "I'm your uncle Andre but you can call me Dre," he finished with a friendly smile. He lifted a hand for me to shake. Something about his firm grasp and warm smile was reassuring.

"Who is it?" Aunt Rhonda shouted just as I entered and the door shut. Dre told her it was me and she came rushing out of the kitchen with my mum. She was in her apron.

"Honey, where have you been?" my mum asked looking worried.

"Out," I snapped instinctively with an immediate twinge of guilt. 

"You better have a better explanation than that," Aunt Rhonda said looking more annoyed by the second. "You've been gone all day," she said her voice rising. Dre put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down. My mum, whose eyes hadn't left mine, seemed to have retreated from the conversation. Though she hadn't moved.

"I lost track of time," I replied walking towards the kitchen, I needed to get away... And I suddenly felt famished. I was not sure why she was freaking out so much. The lady needed to take a few pills.

"Lost track of time?" aunt Rhonda questioned sounding astonished. She moved out of Dre's embrace and followed me to the kitchen where I now stood in the centre. "Sweetheart, we've all been worried sick," she said.

"Wow, I didn't realise any of you actually cared," I said coldly.

"We do care about you," my mum finally said, looking me straight in the eyes.

"Shocking as it may sound," Aunt Rhonda added. Reese's words flashed into my head. Maybe I am selfish. I looked down at the green tiles of the kitchen until it blurred in my vision.

"Sorry," I finally said looking up at them all. From the look on their faces they weren't expecting an apology. 

"It's okay, honey," Aunt Rhonda said giving me a hug. My mum stayed behind but I could see the relief wash over her. 

"We're all watching a movie in the living room, if you want to join us," Dre said after a while with a small smile. Aunt Rhonda grabbed popcorn from the microwave. It looked so golden and buttery, my mouth watered in response. My body suddenly felt the hunger from all those skipped meals.

"Can I get something to eat first?" I said quietly.

"Oh of course," Aunt Rhonda said quickly. Dre put a hand around her hips and they walked out of the kitchen, my mum trailed behind, then she stopped.

"I'm glad you're okay," she said. I didn't respond. I wasn't sure if I was ready for mother-daughter bonding. 

I made myself a sandwich quickly and gobbled it up, the silence filled only by the distant noise of the TV. I savored every bite, letting it fill me up. When I finished I washed my plate. Then went back and washed all the plates in the sink too. I guess it was the least I could do.

Then I walked down the corridor to the living room, I cracked the door open slightly. The light from the TV was all that lit up the living room. I saw them all seated on the couch laughter in the air. Nia was on her dad's lap and Cady sat next to Dre putting her leg on top of his, the twins sat at Dre's feet and Aunt Rhonda rested her head on his shoulder. They seemed to be tied together by an invisible string, or bond – family.