The Safe Space

chapter 1

I was so excited to be finally moving out of my parents place. Well,,I wouldn't call it moving out,I was going away for school.it was the so long freedom I had craved since forever. I was finally going to experience life as an adult

Although I had tried as much to convince my dad that I should get a place of my own outside school, he immediately frowned on the idea.

       "Little bug,,,living by yourself offcampus is not the best idea right now" he gave me one of those sweet apologetic looks.
    "I just dont think you are ready yet. Plus it'll be a lot easier to settle in if you lived inside school,,,,huh,,,what about that?" He said triumphantly,,as if what he said would have closed the debate.

Deep down I knew he did not want to admit that keeping up with the expenses would be too much. But I understood that already. Something my Mama  and   papa  did great was bringing me up. And not to brag,,but they did good

******

I was kinda nervous. Walking down the hallway I saw all kinds of people,,,from straight up geeks to the overconfident soccer players,, and students got to dress up in whatever they chose.

            
       "God gracious ,Temeho dont you start dressing up like these girls. Look at....."

"Come on Mama, stop it" slightly embarrassed I tried to quicken my pace. I didn't want , on the first day of school to be known as the girl with the hysterical mom.
I shrunk a little when I noticed few people were looking our way. I blew it.I couldn't even start off on a good note.

"Look Mama ,dont be overdramatic. Its just clothes, nothing harmful."

"No hija,you must always embrace our culture and dress like our people. It's called respect."

We walked on in silence because I knew the next thing I'd utter will be twisted against me.

"Jesus Christ ,now look at that girl she barely has clothes on!! Should this even be allowed in school"

I was so  done with my mothers complaints.After all she was gonna leave in about an hour or so and I had atleast four months to myself.
I must say ,I was impressed with how the girls carried themselves around.

            "Here we are. Room 42B " papa gently pushed the door so he could enter with the huge box he carried. My roommate was already settled , I could see her well made bed with dark covers,, her books were arranged on the table.

She lay on her bed , reading a bronchure,,,it was the school's I guessed. She wore rather heavy make up on her face,,,it wasn't pretty. And she had a lot of piecings too,, on her nose, plenty on her ears , and besides her brows too.

Mama frowned when she saw her. You can guess , I didn't have any piercings.

She didn't even turn when we had entered the room. She just lay on her bed , reading her bronchure with a blank expression on her face.

"Baby are you sure you want to share a room with her. We can change if you...."

"Stop it mama , you are embarrassing me. "

Although we were whispering I hoped she didn't hear us . I took a quick peek at her as I was unpacking my stuff , just to make sure .
She hadn't turned a bit . Phew , that was close. I did not want to start off on the wrong side with my new roommate .
"Not on the first day of school " I whispered to myself

*****

After we were done unpacking and settling in, I escorted my parents to see them off.

"I will miss you little bug " papa said as he kissed me on the forehead .

He always called me little bug ever since I was little . I could see him trying to fight tears from coming out.

I knew I had promised myself I would not get emotional because we had been over this . We had been prepared throughout summer , how I'd soon leave for school , and we had all promised not to cry.

"Papa ,we promised not to get all mushy, remember? " I chuckled a lil but this sight also made tears well up my eyes .

Papa was a strong man and seeing him all soft and defenseless made me wanna cry . But I couldn't . Not today . I wouldn't want to make myself look like a p***y.

"Am sorry little bug , its just that you have grown up so fast , " he chuckled.

"You too are so dramatic , "

We both turned to face Mama , laughing . She was always the humorous one .
We all came in for a big hug before they got into the bus and took off.
I stared at the bus until it was out of vicinity , I couldn't believe it was finally me,, on my own.

*****