I'm still hurting - Sally Face (agere)

-2-

Updated 9/27/24

Ms. Kate and I walk to the elevator, this place is very rundown, but I suppose it could be a lot worse.

"Floor two please" she speaks the least aggressively I have ever heard her, I press the floor number.

We don't say anything else to each other as we make our way to room 202. I feel the nervousness building in my stomach as we approach the door, I remind myself of all I have had to go through and how this can't be much worse. A new stupid set of foster parents will not ruin me. Ms. Kate's arm extends to knock on the door, she glances at me and gives me a reassuring smile. She's never been nice to me I don't see why she's trying now.

A woman opens the door and a smile spreads quickly across her face.

"Ray, she's here!" The tall woman yells as she turns to look behind her. A man with bright orange hair and a large mustache comes up behind her and smiles just as big. His bright features compliment her very dull ones, mousey brown hair frames her face.

"Hello sweetheart, we are so happy that you are staying with us!" the man, presumably named Ray, says in a hopeful voice. I just look down at my shoes and don't say a word. I need to feel out the situation before I show any kindness or understanding.

"Calliope don't be rude" Ms.Kate whisper yells at me.

"Hey," I say in a monotoned voice. The woman steps back a bit and the man, Ray I think, comes out of the apartment and grabs my bags.

"Thanks, but I can get them," I say confidently.

"No need Calliope, I got them, go inside and take a seat on the couch" he replies.

"Don't call me that," I say quickly and shock flashes through his eyes. "I mean call me Callie, not Calliope please," I say in an apologetic tone. He smiles again and points to the couch.

"I'll get the rest of the bags and you and Janis can sit and talk"

"How are you doing today sweetie?" Janis asks as Ms. Kate and I sit down.

"I'm doing fine I guess, you?" I reply.

"Doing just lovely darling, would you like some tea?" She says but then quickly averts her concentration to the opening bedroom door on the other side of the room. A young Slouched boy seemingly around my age steps out, he has glasses and bright red curly hair that matches Ray's.

"oh hello, uh who's this?" The boy says to Janis, his face getting red. Apparently, he wasn't expecting company.

"You know how I said we may get a random drop in foster child, since I just renewed my license, well This is Callio-, yeah this is Callie." Janis smiles "You two are going to get along great." she is very optimistic.

"Oh okay cool, I'm Todd," He says as he turns to look at me. He has a slight lisp but it's probably from his braces. He doesn't hold eye contact very well.

"I'm Callie," I say back.

"I gathered that," he says with a big grin.

Ms. Kate looks at her phone and then quickly stands up. She hands Janis a thick stack of papers, and then she looks toward me.

"Stay out of trouble kiddo, I'm sorry," She says with a pitiful look on her face.

"Bye" was all I said back, she doesn't deserve kindness it took her to find out about all of the pain and suffering I've felt for her to just be nice to me. Her lips fold down and she leaves the room while waving at me.

"Callie, unfortunately, for now, you are going to have to share a room with Todd," Janis says after a few minutes of silence. Oh my god. I do not want to share a room with a teenage boy again.

I don't want to fall back into the same cycle as before.

-

We took all my stuff and unpacked my bags in Todd's room. I got 3 of his 6 dresser drawers. he, and even though I tried to decline, is letting me stay in his bed and he will sleep on the floor for now. He seems sweet, but I don't trust him, and I do not want to be his friend or give him that impression.

"Sal, you sound crazy. Calm down, I know, I know, Larry is a lot to handle, dude, just come here and ignore him for a bit. Let him get high and chill," I hear Todd say into his phone.

I walk over to his bed, well, my bed kinda, and sit down and grab my AirPods and a book.

"You read?" Todd says sitting down next to me. His closeness to me makes me slightly uncomfortable, but I ignore it.

"Yeah, I love reading". He smiles at me and nods his head

"Yeah, me too," He responds. He gets up and waves as he leaves the room with a really dorky smile on his face. I lay down on my side, face the wall, and turn my music all the way up and continue reading. I need lots of mental stimulation to focus.

I slowly grow tired and grasp Noodle, my only constant. Darkness slowly consumes my mind, and I drift to sleep.