I'd Sell My Soul

Chapter 1: The Westside

Allison's POV
I loaded the last box on the trailer and slammed the door shut before latching it. I used the sleeve of my black Northface windbreaker to delicately wipe a tear from my right eye. I'm tired of crying. That's all I've done for the past few weeks after hearing about my sister's death. Farrah was the best older sister a girl could ask for. She assumed responsibility for me at a young age. Our mother was a drug addict and our father was unknown, so our Aunt Carla raised us after mom was sent off to prison. I was only eight and Farrah was twelve. Farrah was the one who did my hair every morning before school and made sure my homework was looked over. Aunt Carla was a great guardian, don't get me wrong but she wasn't a mother. She wasn't knit-picky about the finite details like having my hair curled on school picture day or making sure I had pepper spray on me for my first date. That was all Farrah. So when Farrah got pregnant at nineteen with Sophie, I swore up and down, I'd do anything for Farrah and Sophie. So I went to college, earned my degree, and got a high paying job in marketing. I sent half my paycheck home to Farrah every pay cycle and visited home when I could. I tried to do right by Sophie. But no matter how many Christmases with all the gifts under the tree or the birthday pizzas, I could never protect her from her mother's death. And I most certainly couldn't protect Farrah from Calvin Haggard driving home from the bar that night after too many beers. But the only thing I can do now for my deceased sister is simply return the favor and assume responsibility for Sophie, even though I'm not certain of my motherly instincts. Nevertheless, I shut the door of the moving trailer and wiped my sorrowed tears.

"So this is it." Brandy rubs the back of her neck and shifts her weight.

"Don't think of this as the end. I'll bring Sophie with me to visit you frequently. She needs more strong female figures in her life. You, a female computer engineer, perfect role model." I half smile. The grief I feel is making it too difficult to give a warm smile.

Introducing Rebecca Rittenhouse as "Allison Ali Monroe"

"I can't believe this. We've been roommates since freshman year at UW. I can't help but feel this is a chapter coming to a close." Brandy sighs and stares down at her feet. I close the space between us and wrap her in a hug.

"I'm going to miss you so much." I say as another tear rolls down my face, refusing to let Brandy go.

"I'm going to miss you more." Brandy says quietly. We pull away and wiped our tears. "Text me when you get to Colfax so I know you got there safely."

"I'll do you one better and send a selfie of Sophie and I." I chuckle as I hop in my Subaru.

"Goodbye Allison." Brandy waves from the sidewalk.

"See you soon, Brandy." I shake my head as I start the car engine. I pull away from the curb and guide my car down the road, watching Brandy disappear from my left side mirror. I merge on to the I-5 heading south. When Seattle fades away I let out a small sob. I cover my mouth with my right hand almost as a way to tell myself to shut up. No more crying. Sophie needs a strong guardian, not a blubbering mess. I wasn't able to keep it together at the funeral two weeks ago but in my defense neither was Aunt Carla or Sophie, or anyone in that church for that matter. It all happened very sudden, everything surrounding Farrah's death. Aunt Carla called me the morning after the accident, I called out of work and flew to Spokane where I rented a car drove to Colfax. Together we identified the body which in my opinion, no family should have to experience, and we planned the funeral in a matter of days. We then learned of Farrah's will. An example of her thoroughness once more, a parting gift. It had been drawn up when Sophie was five, as to why that particular year, none of us are sure. Directly after the funeral service I left Sophie in Aunt Carla's care and returned home where I gave my boss my two weeks notice and began to pack up my apartment and find a way around my lease. September has been a long month and October doesn't look promising seeing as it would've been the month of Farrah's favorite holiday; Halloween. I remember the costumes Aunt Carla made for us. Farrah always chose the most bizarre costumes. One year she was a fairy pirate, the next a koala wearing a princess dress, the year after that a border collie carrying a swan. The more ridiculous the better. I was a simpleton compared to Farrah, but I didn't mind because she always either had the coolest stories to tell me or the most interesting people to introduce me to. I used to thank my stars for Farrah every night after mom was taken away, now I have no reason to pray at night. Instead I beg at night, for life to give Sophie a break. History managed to find a way to repeat itself, Sophie's father was a deadbeat, never known, and her mother was taken from her. It's the same story of Farrah and I. So I beg for life to give Sophie a break. I beg she goes to college and makes something of herself and moves far far away from Colfax. That was always my plan and it's her best bet. Even though I don't want to go back to Colfax I will, just for three more years, until Sophie is out of high school. This isn't the last time I see Seattle. I will move back when Sophie goes to college. Colfax was never my home it was my prison. The hills barred me from having a real life. I swore I'd get out of that town and I did however, it isn't fair for me to rip Sophie away from her friends and all she knows in the midst of her mother's death, I promised her she could finish out high school in Colfax and just like I promised Farrah I could care for Sophie, my word is good.