Finding Our Souls

2

The next day, I can feel the heat of the sunlight on my skin, my eyes closed yet I can see the red bright veil of my eyelids. I let out a loud yawn, turning my pillow to feel the cold side and comfort. How awesome is it to know that it's a Saturday morning and you don't have to job today, just a glance of me would give an idea of how good it feels. Out of nothing, the idea of the sun on me strikes up,

"WTF, where's the gloomy weather!?" I exclaim, turning on the radio on my phone.

Radio: No cyclone is in force in Nebraska. The hurricane decided to change its path overnight and is now heading to the south and all th...

I literally can't listen to bad news completely, I mean that sucks knowing what you don't even want to know. An email pops up out of the blue,

'Dear Ms.Milson, we have the pleasure to inform you about your outing which had been scheduled for Monday, we request you to be on time tomorrow at 08 00 and take your leave from the office as well as your entry to the natural park.'

Alright so, today there's much to do, I brush my teeth, freshen up and change myself, I wear my jacket on and leave home, yeah I really need to buy stuffs like mosquito spray, ropes, etc.

I take the bus to town, I get to the hardware store I usually visit to get the important materials and then at noon I head to McDonald's for lunch.

Busy enjoying my meal, a kid makes his way to me and says,

"Hello, is this seat taken?"

My mouth was stuffed with food and I couldn't talk, I nod a 'no' and look at the kid,
He sits in front of me waiting.

I swallow my food and begin,

"Who are you here with?"

"My elder brother who's gonna leave me to the kids playground right after" he replies with his eyes fixed on the guy at the paying counter.

"How old are you young man?" Sharing my chips with him.

"I'm 9 year old, thank you" he said taking some chips.

Right after eating the last potato stick in his hand, he makes his way out of the food outlet waving at me, he follows a tall guy who left the outlet when I was drinking my cola.

I wave back at him and continue eating my meal, yeah right I'm slow af when Im eating out of compulsion. I clean my trash and leave the outlet. Personally, I don't agree with the 'it's their job so let'em clean the shit' I mean it's also our fucking duty to do our best to help the waiters. Im kind of a rude person but I definitely got enough manners to do this much, there ain't no shame in that the way others say, I still remember the time I went out with that monster and he left the table without cleaning his mess saying he ain't getting paid to do this.
*Pathetic*

__________________________

The only thing left to do was to meet her aunt, she takes a taxi and drives to where her aunt resides.

Joelyn rings the doorbell and waits, as soon as the door opened, she clung herself onto Marisa and hugged her tightly.

Joelyn: "I missed you so muuuccch aunt"
Marisa: "I missed you too baby, how you been?"
Joelyn: "Good, but still... wounded by memories"

Marisa invites her inside and asks her to take a seat.

Marisa: "I understand, shhh forget it all cause all it's gonna do is hurt you more, just try to get over him and focus elsewhere"
Joelyn: "I know what you mean, but it's not easy to come across him nearly every week and try to behave like nothing ever happened"

Marisa sits next to Joelyn, wraps her arm around her and rubs her shoulder.

She considers Joe like her own daughter and she understands what she's going through.
Marisa squeezes joelyn in her hug and the girl winces at this act of her aunt and the latter notices.

"Joe? .... let me see your arm"

Joelyn: "Aunt Mari, I'm fine, you know I came to see you and almost forgot to tell you that I was to leave early"

"Joelyn show me your arm" Marisa insists.

Joelyn knew that when her aunt called her name in full, it doesn't seem to be good news. She raise her sleeves and exposes her bruised arms to Marisa who gets disheartened at the sight.

Marisa grieves looking at Joelyn miserably.

"Why do you do this to yourself dear, why? Just because he was a fucking whore, why do you have to harm you for him?"
Marisa sobs.

Joelyn stares with a blank face while tears whelmed up her eyes.

She sits there feeling like trash for making her aunt cry.

"Joelyn why do you do things like that, what would I tell your mother when I die? That I couldn't be a good guardian to you? That I couldn't take care of you?"

"Aunt I'm myself destroyed, I don't see any future for me anymore, I live life when I'm out, as soon as Im alone it starts getting suffocating, the air I breathe starts to lack and I no more want to see the outside. I surrender to the pain and memories he left me with and accept whatever atrocities I've been through, I wish I could die everytime I'd see him." Joelyn expresses but this time no tears appear.

Marisa stands up and hugs her niece after kissing her forehead.

"Joelyn, I want you to stay for the night, tomorrow you may go to your home from here. Come, I'll take you to your room."
Marisa leads Joelyn to her room and puts her to sleep so that she does not feel alone.

#POV of Marisa

I can see her sad, even when she smiles, I can see it in her eyes, she's not happy, everytime I join my hands and pray to god, she's the one for whom I ask happiness for, I can't see her in pain, this girl couldn't have a perfect childhood and I wish I could change her fate. But what is meant to be will be, and I'ma always be here for her.

Marisa caresses the hair of her niece until she falls asleep along with the young lady.