A Neighbor's Dilemma

A New Home?

    "Thank you so much Emi!" I set down a box full of my clothes. Rex,  my dog, jumps on top of the box and lays down.

    "Don't sweat it, sisters have to help each other out!" I gave her a small smile as sweat rolls down my face. Emi grabs a small towel from her purse and hands it to me.
  
    "Uhm, Erin,  do you want to go to my apartment? I want to show you something. Plus, I could go for some of my homemade tea."

      "Sure,  I'm exhausted." Emi and I walk out of the house and on the route to the apartment complex Emi lives in. As I climb the stairs, my foot slips and I hit my ankle on a metal rod. Emi runs to me helping me up.

      "Are you ok?!" I grab her hand and shake off any dust off my skirt. "I guess it was a wrong day to wear wedges." We arrived at the door when someone suddenly opens it.

      "You're late." A young boy stares at Emi, eyes full of hate. He was skinny and pale, maybe 2 or 3 inches taller than me. "I know,  I know." Emi pushes me inside. I bump into the boy and quickly apologize. "Erin, could you wait here for a minute?" Before I know it,  she closes the door, leaving me alone with the quiet guy.

      "You're bleeding" I look at him confused. He points at his ankle when I realize the pain flowing in. He pushes me to a chair which I sit in and heads towards the bathroom. He comes back with rubbing alcohol, tissue paper, and a bandaid.

      He pours some rubbing alcohol into the paper, "This'll sting" He gently puts the paper on the cut. I squeal and shut my eyes tight. As the sting eases,  I open my eyes. That was quick I thought. On the cut, the bandaid was lazily put on. "Thank you" I stand up and bow towards him.

      He turns a light shade of pink and turns to face the wall "N-no problem" I sit down beside him. "My name is Sakamoto" I turn to see his hand outstretched. I took it and shook "My name is Erin, I'm 17 and just moved in a walking distance away." He looked surprised. "Nice to meet you Sakamoto!"

      He let's go of my hand and says in almost a whisper "I'm also 17..." Emi opens the door and calls my name. "Erin, can you come out here?" I stood up and walked outside. She closes the door and instantly goes on her knees. Her hair, as thin as a pin falls onto her shoulders. "Can you please take Sakamoto in? "

      I stood there in shock. "I-is he your son?" She looks up. "What? No! A friend of mine had work far away,  but didn't have enough money to bring her younger brother. So she left him with me." She gets up "But my mothers condition has gotten worse and worse. I have to see her, but like my friend, I don't have enough to bring Sakamoto"

      She pushes a small white box into my chest. "Please!" I consider the idea.  He doesn't look like he could do harm, but then again, you never know."Uhm... " I open the white box to see a pink flip-phone. I agreed. "Sure, tell your mom I said hi." She hugs me with tears in her eyes. "Thank you Erin!" As we walk in, Sakamoto is staring at both of us.

      "I have to move again!? And with someone I've hardly met?"