Salted Wound

Chapter 9 Anastacia- Sep 5, 2018

"Zamari, for the hundredth time, please get off your phone," I say, frustrated. He sits two feet across from me and is scrolling through his phone as if I'm not there.

    "Hm? I'm sorry I was currently watching the newest episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians," he says. "This can have some involvement with history one day. You know with Kanye and all?"

    "We're supposed to be working on math!" I exclaim. He ignores me. As per usual.

    "Wouldn't it be weird having people constantly be around you, and having them record every event that happens in your life? Like, imagine yours. I can picture it right now," he looks up at me. "Small town girl living her best life, but having the burden of tutoring some dumb kid in her class. That's the dramatic part by the way. But it's all alright because after this she is going off to some fancy-ass college and become the president of the United States because she knows everything," he pauses. "Now that's a show... nobody would watch."

    I scowl at him and roll my eyes. He seems moodier today- emphasize on moodier.

    "You're annoying. Now I'm not the one who has a test in Watson's class on Friday, so you choose what you really want to do," I say handing him the papers.

    "Some bullshit test I'm not gonna use in the future. I'm not gonna leave high school and look at triangles and find the degree of each angle," he throws his pencil.

    "Then what exactly are you gonna do after high school?" I ask, frustrated.

    "I'm sorry, I'll let the office know to send you my e-cap reports so you can look over that, too," he snaps. "Better yet, I should just write you a documentary about my life, if you're so dedicated to fixing it."

    "I am not here to fix anyone's life. I am here to tutor you and to help you do better in school." I answer.

    "Well, maybe I don't care about school," he gets up and starts packing. "And maybe you should find someone who wants to try." He swings his backpack over his shoulder. I watch him walk towards the door and I look at my phone. It's not even one.

    "Hey, it's not time to leave," I point at the wall clock.

    "Well, it is for me," he says and in a quick motion, he's gone.

I throw my phone on the table and put my head in my hands. I close my eyes and try to breathe right. The good thing is I only have to deal with him tomorrow and no more Zamari till Monday. I sit up and realize that because of today's tantrum I can leave early. I can stop by the house and make myself a sandwich before work. I pack my things and head home.

Estrella

    I sit on the edge of the tub, the house eerily quiet in its emptiness. Tears slip freely down my face as I scrub at my swollen eyes with one hand and hold my nauseous stomach with the other. I glance at the light pink and white piece of plastic in the sink and hopelessness descends. I've never felt so alone in my life and my hands shake at the thought of telling anyone. I have no way to pay for a baby, I barely have a job that barely pays one bill, and I'm not a nerd like my sister so I can't make it through college on scholarships. I probably can't go to college at all now. Despair claws its way up my throat, and I'm sobbing again. A million thoughts crowd in my head and a million tears crowd my eyes all at once until I can't catch my breath. What will Adrian say? How am I going to finish high school? What about abortion? Mom would never approve of it, but then again there's no way I can tell mom about this without her hating me for this tiny piece of Adrian growing inside me. The thought of having an abortion makes me feel a little sick but the thought of dropping out of high school to get a job and raise a child is just as bad. Fresh tears continue to course down my face as fast as my racing thoughts and I wrap my arms around my middle as I can physically keep myself from falling apart at the seams. Suddenly I hear the front door slam, and I look up in confusion. Nobody should be home right now. I hear someone call my name.

Anastacia

I push the door open and throw my bag on the couch. The house is the same as I left it this morning. I slump to the kitchen and dig through the fridge and find a bottle of orange juice and take a long sip of it. I walk out of the kitchen and make my way down the hall and I hear movement coming from the end of the hall in the bathroom. That's weird, no one should be home at this time.

"Ma?" I call out. No answer.

"Estrella?" I try. It stays quiet for a moment, but then the door budges open. Estrella is at the door, mascara running down her cheeks. Her nose looks like a cherry and her eyes are swollen and puffy. I rush to her side.

"What the hell happened? What's wrong? Why are you home?" I swarm her with questions. She doesn't move, she just shakes her head and more tears spring to her eyes.

"Hey, it's okay," I start and bring her to my arms. She sobs for a minute then pushes off of me.

"Sister talk?" She asks, hiccuping.

I look at her feeling confused but nod. She moves to the right and lets me walk into the bathroom. I move to the sink and look down and see 2 unfamiliar sticks. It takes me a few seconds to realize what they are and I feel all my blood leave my body. I tremble picking up one of the sticks and there was a positive sign. Clear as daylight. I turn to her and I see Estrella in tears again. I put the pregnancy test down and pull her to me again and she becomes a hurricane. I hold her close to me like I did when we were young. My cheeks are wet from tears and I let them fall down her hair. My sister is pregnant.