Welcome to Harlem

We're getting married

Yup, I'm here now.
I'm doing well, to any of whom it may concern. Anyways let's jump straight into it.

The doorbell rang for the third time . There was still no answer. I leaned my forehead against the door in frustration and closed my eyes. I felt a little rumble in my abdomen.

This was a really crappy time to be having cramps.

I was about to knock once again when the door suddenly swung open, revealing my aunt Cheryl in her gray bonnet and marron dress.

She looked haggard; her usual vibrant grey eyes looking dull and hollow with dark circles underneath them. She looked like she'd aged ten years since I last saw her.

"Abby, so nice to see you! It's been ages"
She said , engulfing me in a hug . Letting go of me, she looked around, as though searching for someone. "Where's your mother?" She asked , confused.

I sighed. " It's....it's just me. I left home", I stuttered a bit , wondering what would happen next. What if she sent me back? What would I do? Surprise now etched on her face.

"Left home? What do you mean left home?"

"I moved out", I said slowly. There was a new expression on her face which I couldn't quite pin point . Was she mad? I thought, a little scared.

" What? Why? Oh goodness, come in come in and tell me what happened" she said, looking at me apologecticaly as she began to help me with my bags . A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I nodded solemnly and followed her lead inside.

*****************************************

"And you know what else aunt Cheryl, she told me it was for my own good. And that the moment I step foot in here my life would never be the same. Can you believe that?" I ranted , the tea I was handed earlier by my aunt still in my hands untouched. I had narrated everything to her as she sat there and listened intently. I was still livid and needed to blow off some steam.

She was still quiet. Suddenly, she looked at me and smiled. "I understand you Abby. I know my sister and she can be a bit of a -excuse my words here- pain in the ass at times but she means we'll. I just think she was over doing it,.. like by a lot. But I want you to know she's still your mother and you should respect her and love her. And I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you out;no, not at all. You're always welcome to stay. But if you'd like to go back home now, it's also fine. It's your choice", she smiled at me.
"And please, call me Cheryl, not aunt Cheryl" .

I smiled back at her. I loved aunt Cheryl so much. She was the complete opposite of my mom.

"I understand. Thank you for this. I appreciate you not hesitating to help me. And .....I don't want to be sorta like a fee loader but, I think I would like to stay here for a while. You know, clear my head and wait for things to settle down at home. " I said.

"Don't mention it sweetie. Pick any room and it's yours. I'll help you settle in later.
Right now I have somewhere to go. Make yourself at home , I'll be right back" and with that, she walked back upstairs and came back with her purse before stepping out.

I looked around. Aunt Cheryl had always been a little strange to me. She lived in a huge house, all alone way on the other side of town. Mom told me her husband died exactly a year after they got married and she never remarried after that. He was a very famous real estate agent and had a lot of money which she got after his death. The odd thing was,I never knew anything about him. How he died, or even what he looked like. There weren't even photos to serve as a memorandum for him; absolutely nothing, like they wiped any trace of his existence in her life. I didn't understand that, but I would never dared ask.

I settled on the attic, because why the hell not?

I always wanted an attic room . The idea just seemed so cool to me, so I was going for it. Weirdly enough, when I got there, the place looked already furnished. There was a huge canopy bed in the middle with drapes swinging at its sides . The place was so spaceous and airy , since there were a lot of windows. The wooden floor creaked a bit as I walked further into the room to examine it. The wooden walls were painted white and a very depressing gray, much to my distaste. A rack filled with some old clothes stood at one side of the room and a large brown working desk sat at the other. Aside from that, the room was basically empty.

I sighed and dropped my things beside my bed and dropped myself into it.

I didn't realize it when I drifted off to sleep.

*****************************************

I had woken up earlier and now I was sitting in front of my laptop deciding on which movie I was going to watch because I was super bored. I had contemplated on calling Tessa but later discarded the idea. I wanted to be alone today.

I was ready to watch "Shrek" , because.... well...why not? But then suddenly the doorbell rang. I swiftly jogged down while adjusting my hoodie . Opening the door, I was surprised to see my brother and his girlfriend standing there.

" What are you doing here ?" I asked, confused.

"I should be asking you that question" Ron said , walking past me into the house with Liz following closely behind. I stood there holding the door ajar and stared at them for a bit before joining them in the living room.

"What's going on Abby? Mom told me what happened. How would it look when people find out that you're living with your aunt when your mom is very much alive and well to do. It makes it look like she's treating you badly or she's impossible to live with" .
"She is impossible to live with" I interjected. Ron gave me a hard glare.
"You're being dramatic, and ridiculous", he said ,his voice a bit stern.

"Am I? Of course, you wouldn't understand. She never did the same to you. She always treated us both very differently and I refuse to believe you don't know that. You were never held back, even as a child. You don't know what it's like to feel like your opinions aren't valued or have your freedom sat on constantly."

His gaze softened and he pulled me into a hug and patted me on the head lightly. I hadn't noticed that I stated crying. There was always that great feeling when you finally say something you've always wanted to. After a while he pulled me away from him .

" I'm so sorry I let you feel like this. Like I was more important than you Abby. I never realized how much mom didn't treat you right. Starting from today things are going to change once we get back. I'll talk to mom and-
"I'm not going" I cut in. "I m not going back home. Not now. Please don't make me go Ron. Please" I pleaded . He sighed deeply and nodded ok.

Liz cleared her throat loudly, probably signalling Ron to do something. He walked us over to her and we sat on the couch next to her. He took her hand in his and ran his thumb against the back. They looked at each other silently like they were speaking with their eyes. They then turned to me.

"Well , Abby... I had wanted to tell you and mom together but since this incident has gotten in the way of that, let me break the news to you like this.", Ron spoke first and glanced nervously at Liz.

Was it what I was thinking it was?

"I came back home to tell you guys that...Liz and I, are..well we're getting married"he fumbled continuously.

I blinked several times.

Wait, he's getting married??!

.
How do y'all see the story so far? Leave your opinion in the comments.

That'll be all I guess. Love you,
Byeeee

❤️E.D