The Earthly Queen: The Woman of Worlds Apart

Chapter 3: (Eris)

Something in my gut tells me just to roll over and go back to sleep. But I won't. I can't. It's my ultimate duty to make the coffee like I do every morning. To ignore the tiredness. To go out and serve rich shitheads for pocket change. This is my life.

"Eris, get up, make the coffee" mom says drearily to me. There it is. I hate that collection of words with every fragment of my being.

I can hear Aunt Rosa grunting with early morning stiffness and arthritis.

I'm twisted into an impossible yet comfortable position under my mountain of blankets. I pull them up over my face in an attempt to smother myself. "I hate my life" I moan so low nobody other than myself can hear. They can't hear me say that. I'm the optimistic one. If I crumble, everything will go to shit, I know it.

Reluctantly, I drag myself out of bed. The rush of arctic cold air makes me gasp. The cold floor is like a sheen of ice under my bare feet. I break out in goosebumps.

I stumble down the stairs like a drunk, swaying dangerously. My friends all complain when they have to get up in the morning for college classes. Considering its four o' fucking clock right now, I would love to give them a good slap. They have no idea just how lucky they are.

I argue with myself and try to be positive. When I walk into the kitchen, dimly lit by several bluish white nightlights, I immediately stub my toe on a chair in the cramped room and swear under my breath. Ok, nope, optimism gone, today is going to utterly suck!

The coffee maker is pre-set for each morning like the dishes for easy preparation. I get a cup of water and turn it on.

I collapse into a chair. The barely lit atmosphere and homey sound of the percolator hissing and bubbling makes my eyes droop. They close and my brain just begins to feel comfortable in this state of being when Uncle Harry walks in and switches on the light. I gasp and sit bolt upright.

Uncle Harry looks just as dead as I do. Randall and Charles both walk into the kitchen like zombies. Mom and Aunt Rosa walk in shortly afterwards. Natalie is the last one to drag herself in like a marionette with the strings cut.

Without even needing to get up i open the fridge and pull out a highly caffeinated energy drink - the cheapo brand that tastes like drain cleaner of course.

"For the love of God, give me one of those" Natalie begs. I toss her one and she guzzles half of it down greedily.

"You look even more tired than usual," I note.

"Were you dreaming of your boy toy all night?" Randell asks, playfully taunting.

Natalie gives him her death glare. He's not a 'boy toy.' he is a sensitive and wonderful - "

" - Slab of meat," Randell interjects.

Natalie flips him off. "Look, is it too hard to fathom that we may actually have a sort of chemistry together? That we may be perfect? He's a quarterback and really likes me."

"You mean your boobs" Randall mutters. Natalie goes red and a screaming match starts.

I rub my temples. "PLEASE!" I shriek, pounding my fists to the table. I've lost my temper. "JUST SHUT UP! BOTH OF YOU!"

The room goes silent. I never go off like this. I see everyone staring and sigh. I slump back in my chair. "Sorry."

To make up for the outbreak I offer to make breakfast for Mom who really isn't up to it.

I dip into the cupboards and see absolutely nothing worth eating. I know for a fact there isn't anything in the fridge. The food situation has reached a new critical.