Life

Chapter 2

I woke up this morning, looked out my window and saw the breath taking sun rise. It whispers to me every morning saying "Julia, you live for beauty like this. This is life," it motivates me every morning simply seeing my bulky yellow friend out there. I look at my clock and its already 7 o'clock. I stumble out of my room and turn the lights on. Time to began breakfast. Oatmeal for grandmothers heart, and berries and apples for mothers liver; God knows how that thing is doing. Morning breakfast consist of very uninvolved small talk and short awkward glances. We have a genuinely small table so we usually all grab our food and scatter about to our own separate places of comfort. Breakfast is one of those rare times when we're all too tired to move. I like it.

Slowly creeping into the kitchen my grandmother kept repeating " I'm having all these damn weird dreams again Gena! Imma tellin' you those aliens are gettin' to me!" " Mom, will you please stop shouting I have the WORST headache. Julia! Please bring me some water. Thanks dear." All I could think to myself was "Of course you have a headache. You're hungover. You're hungover every morning." But of course I got her the water. Grandmother looked at my mom through her thick glasses and finally let out "Gena, I'm telling you those aliens are after me." "Oh Jesus Christ Ma, with this again. There are no aliens. there are no monsters, and there is no boogy man. You're 87 Ma. You're old.--" "Yeah, yeah I know I'm old. But when I'm gone because those aliens got me, you'll miss me."

My mom got up hugged me and left for work. I babysit my grandmother but I don't mind because she makes me feel connected with something other than the dish soap. I looked at her, but she still wasn't done with her food. That's peculiar because she usually is the first one done. "Grandmother, you alright?"

"Julia, we need to talk honey,"

I begin to do dishes. "Yeah what's on your mind?"

"I'm going to keep this short. Yesterday when your mother took me to town it was so we could go to the doctor. I-- I hadn't been feelin' good lately. I was weak, and I coughed up blood the night before. Well honey, things aren't lookin' to good for your dear grandmother. They runnin' all types of test on me. I'm getting old. You know that, I know that, the whole damn world knows that. When it's my time, it's my time. The only thing I want for you is happiness. You have my spirit. You have my heart. I want and need you to get out of this house, and figure out who you are, and explore and have fun. I love you dearly. You're my bestfriend. Remember what ever happens, you will be okay."

I didn't blink. I didn't move. If I did I would collapse. My world is spinning. I need some air. I run outside to see the sun. I yell at my friend " You're suppose to be beautiful but now I see nothing!" What am I gonna do without the only person who makes me feel human. She is beauty, she is life. I need her. Who would I be with my drunk mother? My grandmother keeps me going she's the only thing I have. She's my only friend.

I came back inside but grandmother has escaped to her bedroom. I'm gonna let her stay there. There's a mist of sadness, I can feel it, setting over us. I don't need to add to it.

When mom came home it was a bit awkward, I didn't mention anything to her. There was no point. Ever tried to argue with a drunk? It's not worth it.

Laying in bed I looked at the moon. It was full tonight. So small, round, and bright; lit by the Sun. Without the sun there would be no moonlight. The moon needs the sun. I am the moon and my grandmother is the sun. When the sun dies out the moon is still there. It's dark and cold and no one would see it. Sounds a lot like me. I am the moon.

Don't judge me for making friends with the Sun and the moon. I've never left home, they're both things that I've watched and seen my whole life. The sun sees all my morning quirks and hidden smiles that I have in the morning before the day begins. The moon however sees all my secrets that I carry with me in the darkness. They still haven't left.

"You're gonna make it out of this house one day julia. Hold on." And at this thought I fall asleep.