“Alysia Marie Jensen, if you are not done packing your shit in fifteen minutes I will come up there and throw it out the window” Lindy screams at me from downstairs.
What an empty threat, I muse to myself, anyone that has ever met my guardian Lindy knows she is the laziest person in the world. So hell if she thinks she is going to come up here.
“I am coming Lindy” I yell back sealing the box closed.
Before I exit my room I decide to check my reflection in the mirror. I sport a sea foam green sweat shirt and faded blue jeans with light pink flats; my shoulder length chocolate brown hair is curled as usual, everything looks fine except for my eyes they are such a deep blue they seem to stick out like they don’t belong. Looking away I take a deep breath grabbing the box off my bed and exiting the room.
Once I reach the bottom of the stairs I hear my little brother Andrew racing down the hallway. I put down the box on the coffee table I stretch out my arms catching him and twirling around. His adorable eight year old giggles fill the small living room. As I put him down I realize there are tears brimming in his eyes despite the small smile that dances across his lips.
“Don’t cry Andrew, I am only going to be gone till Christmas then I am back for three weeks” I try to cheer him up.
“But its August that means you will be gone for three months” he whines.
“Hey you’re my baby brother you can’t be smarter than me” I tease him.
“Hey no changing the subject you’re still leaving me behind” he says mimicking my tone.
I feel a lump in my throat but I swallow it, no crying you promised, I remind myself.
“It’s not forever, once I turn eighteen you can come live with me remember” I say.
“But you’re only sixteen remember that is still two years away” He reminds me.
“I know but I promise those two years will go by quickly” I say, trying to convince myself more than him. I hate this, I hate leaving him behind. I wish that with emancipation came the right to take my little brother with me.
“I’m going to miss you” he says wrapping his skinny arms around me and burying his face into my hair. I hug him back tightly trying to get as much time as I can with him before I have to go.
My time is cut short by the sound of heels clicking against the tiled floor. I turn around to see Lindy standing in the door way, her over bleached hair is in a knot on the top of her head, and her face is fully painted with all the makeup she owns. Even though it is only eight in the morning.
“What are you still doing here?” Lindy sneered.
“Just saying good bye to Andrew” I respond holding back all the awful words I want to say to her.
“He doesn’t need a goodbye just give him a toy and some food and he’ll be fine. He’s like three right children’s memory don’t start developing until they’re at least four” She says lighting a cigarette in-between painted red lips.
“He’s eight Lindy and would you mind at least not smoking while he’s around” I seethe. I am so done with her I would very much like to get in my car and drive away never to see her again. The only problem is that she is still Andrews’s legal guardian and I can’t do anything unless she fiscally harms him.
“Holy shit when did the little rug rat get so old?” She asks ignoring my plea about her smoking.
“Like you care” I sneer.
I turn to Andrew “Andrew I have to leave now okay” I say holding back my tears “I want you to go upstairs to your room and continue working on that scrap book I gave you. Then before you know it I will be back for Christmas okay”
He nods and runs upstairs. I try especially hard to hold back my tears as I pass Lindy with my box in hand. I make my way to my car putting the box in passenger seat.
Once I get in my car the tears begin to fall. I cry for a good ten minutes before I start to drive. Beginning my 30 hour drive to Aspen from New York.
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Disclaimer:
Everything that was just said about emancipation has not been verified. I have no idea if it is true or not that you cannot have custody of a child once you are emancipated. All I know is that you can get emancipated once you are sixteen.
Anyway I hope you all liked it, if you did please vote and share it with your friends it would mean the world to me.
