Our Stay With It

Mercedes

Yin and yang: the belief that there is bad in the good and good in the bad. This is probably the only saying that has no exceptions; it applies to everyone. All of those people in society who are thought to be perfectly kind, teach Sunday classes, and are nice to everyone, well sorry to break it to you, but they have a bad side. And those groups of people known as "druggies" or "emo's" or "goths" well, they're people too. They have feelings and feel compassion just the same way everyone else does. Catalina is the very definition of yin and yang.
She's a girl that's been called a badass since the 4th grade and has probably stabbed two or three people. Catalina mades me look like a nun. Unlike me, she doesn't crack inappropriate jokes all the time, but there's a glint in her eye and a certain way that she holds herself that says ,"I give about as many fucks as Miley Cyrus." She's also cynical and a tad bit masochist. But despite her obvious idiosyncrasies (like the knife collection) she is good company and, so far, a good friend.
"Hey dumb ass I'm talking." I blink out of my stupor. "Sorry" I apologize sheepishly. She shakes her head at me. "So how long have you been here?"She inquires. "About a month or so, but I don't know. I try not to think about it." The constant deaths of my roommates usually occupy my thoughts. "How long have you been here, Catalina?" She avoids my gaze and says, "I wonder when the next food delivery is." She entirely avoids my question, but I don't press the matter. It may be a sensitive topic, and I don't want to get stabbed today.
"I don't know, but I hope it's soon." About once every 6 days, a bundle of food comes with large plastic jug of metallic tasting water.The food is decent and the meat is fresh. I can't put my finger on what the meat tastes like though, it seems to be pork but it's tougher and a bit sweeter. Just the thought of food makes my stomach groan loudly. Catalina smirks, "Someone's hungry." "There's no more food left and I was asleep when it came by so yes, I am starving." I explain. "Here, I have some left." She offers me what looks like cheese. I bite into it and moan because it's so creamy. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."I say in a hushed voice so the others don't hear and take it from me. I wonder where she got the cheese. I don't remember there being any in the last load? "Thank you so much! But I think I am going to go back to my bunk now." Her eyes widen a fraction. "No"! She blurts out. " I mean, I think you should stay here, you know, for body heat." I nod, agreeing. "You might wanna get your friend over here too." She adds.
"Hey Stephanie!" I call out. She looks surprised that I called out for her. "What." She quips. "Do you wanna come over here to sleep?" She looks excited at being invited. She climbs up and huddles close to us. We make a tight fit, but the warmth and human contact is comforting, almost a foreign feeling after spending so much time being alone. I drift off to sleep easily for the first time in what feels like forever.