Breathe (Anthony Trujillo)

38

Song: Nera-Irama (Italian)

I groan rolling over and sitting up on the edge of the bed, gripping at my sides, folding my body in half in pain. Knowing exactly what it is, I go into the bathroom and search the cabinets.

"Dammit." I close the cupboards cursing under my breath. I grab a pair of new underwear and long pajamas and change into them, laying out toilet paper in my underwear. Japan just had to pop in for a hello.

I put on sunglasses and a hat before going downstairs, I grab my truck keys, glancing at the messy house, irritated by my OCD. I quickly walk out the front door, ridding myself of that itching feeling. I get in my truck and pullout down the driveway. I notice Jake has more security guards at the gate, more professional buff looking ones.

Feeling a sense of security, I pull out of the driveway and start for the dollar store. Turning on the radio, I listen to a morning talk show, they ramble for a minute or two, laughing and joking around.

"Hey, did you hear that the girl that got kidnapped 3 years ago, was found a couple days ago?" I hear a woman's voice, my heart rate quickens. Surely that isn't about me, it couldn't gotten to that extent. I turn the volume knob, listening intently.

"Really?! That's amazing, so many people were talking about, what was her name again?" A male voice speaks.

"Um, Tish Brooks I believe." I feel the color from my face practically drip off. Did it really get that huge.

"It's a beautiful story, yet so heart wrenching." The same woman who brought it up, speaks again. "Beautiful in the fact that so many people care so much for her, and go out of their way to keep her name fresh to the public, horrible because she was kidnapped obviously, but also the unimaginable pain she must have had to endure."

I set my elbow on the black rough casing of the drivers door and lace my fingers into my hair stress fully. "I heard that they starved her for months so her body wasn't easily recognizable." A new voice pitches in. I shut of the radio, not wanting to relive all of this stuff.

I pull into the dollar store parking lot, grabbing a ten dollar bill from my glove department and walking into the quiet store. As I walk to the woman products aisle, I see my face on a poster taped to one of the metal poles holding the buildings structure. I read the poster.

I AM MISSING, PLEASE FIND ME

My name is Tish Brooks, I was forcefully taken from my home on Friday, November 10th 2018 (It's now 2021 in this book)

Height: 5'8"
Hair: Shoulder length, black with blue tips
Age: 23

Before I finish reading the poster, I feel myself ripping it from the pole and crumpling it into a ball. The cashier giving me an odd look.

"No need to call anyone, I'm the girl." I shove the paper ball into my hoodie pocket and grab what I came for, paying and leaving as fast as I could, knowing the cashier wants to ask so many questions.

I toss the box of tampons to the side and start my truck, taking off back to the house. When I pull in the driveway, I grab the box and walk into the house, where I am immediately yanked into a hug.

"You scared me?!" Anthony frantically looks me up and down. I give him a blunt look holding up my box before walking up to his room.

Ass much, Tish? I face palm myself before getting myself situated. I take a couple menstrual pills and sigh avoiding looking into the mirror. I subconsciously run my fingers over the formed scab on my forearm. I turn walking out of the bathroom with my head down, I change into shorts and a t-shirt, before going back downstairs.