Gloaming

The Smile

Kenya's point of view
---------------                                         After Janet's comfort I felt confident that I was going to lose my life happily. She was like my second mother, and cynthia was like my sister.

Losing her hurt, but I have to move on. My survival depended on my happiness.

I know it's cheesy but it's true. Humans become more vulnerable when they are sad.

I can't be sad in this world, especially now.

I love Cynthia- or should I say "loved". I really don't want to.

After my decision to stay happy I decided I was going to try walking.

As I get up the pain spreads all over my body and I can't help but groan. Instead of giving up I continue to stand.

Little beads of sweat begin to form on my forehead.

I keep groaning constantly and clenching my teeth but yet I keep going.

I start to put one foot after the other and the pain almost goes away, or I just get used to it.

Walking becomes easier the more I pace back and forth around Cynthia's bright pink room.

Sometimes I wonder how Cynthia has stayed in this room for 17 years, the pink is suffocating.

After pacing across the room for several hours, I'm covered in sweat and my voice hurts from groaning.

I decide to make a big move.

I was going to walk to the kitchen

I take step but step.

I'm slow, but the pain is almost gone.

When I enter the kitchen, I see Janet, at her bright red mahogany table, sobbing over a portrait of her family.

"Janet?" I say weakly, attempting to grab her attention.

I'm holding onto the hallway wall, my body against it, my breaths heavy.

Janet looks over at me, and wipes her tears quickly.

She stands up in her seat, surprised to see me up.

"Oh honey, does it hurt?" She says in a worried tone.

"It does, but I need to do this." I say while trying to catch my breath.

Janet runs quickly to her kitchen cabinet, she grabs a kitchen towel.

She scampers to me and starts to dab the sweat off my face.

"I miss Cynthia" I tell her.

"Me too" she replies back, still focused on dabbing every last bit of sweat on my face.

Words are powerful.

Right as she finishes dabbing the sweat off my face we hear someone pull into our house.

"To the bathroom" she whispers.

I really didn't wanna get robbed again.

We both run to the bathroom, except I'm walking due to my injury.

We get to the bathroom and lock the door with a single click.

We stay there for what feels like an hour. We start to hear footsteps in pairs around the house.

I hear a little girls voice. Her voice sounds soft. Like cotton.

We then see the knob start to turn.

Janet clamps her hand on my mouth.

Her hand smells like bath and body works in a nutshell.

The door flings open and we see Cynthia. Janet jumps up and hugs cynthia so tight for the longest time.

But then I see someone else behind her.

It's a little girl.

Her eyes are doughy and round, her lips are plump, like cherries, and her hair is chopped short.

She's clutching Cynthia's back, trying to hid her face.

I smile at her.

She smiles back.