Illicit Affairs

twenty-one. home sweet home

By the next day, I've settled in.

I'm pacing around my room in the afternoon, worrying about how I'll manage with the dinner in the evening.

I hold onto a pink pillow from my bed, trying to feel something. My childhood bedroom hasn't changed at all. The light pink hue of the wall remains the same, and the cluttered sight of my old toys and trinkets are in the same corner of my room. A small clear vase of roses is still on my white night-stand, and I question how they must still be alive until I quickly realize that my mom must be in my room trying to update the flowers whenever she can.

I stand in front of my large mirror, finding that it's free of dust which only confirms my thoughts that my mom has been barging into my room to clean. The dark brown hardwood floors make creaking sounds underneath my foot, and that sound is what makes me turn around the second my mom walks in.

"What do you need?" I ask, trying to remain polite even though I want to tell her to get the hell out.

In her monotone voice, she says, "are you getting ready for dinner?"

I mumble out, "I'm trying to."

She hums a quiet tune, and from the pocket of her sweater, she pulls out the small bottle of perfume. It's the usual scent, the one that I had gotten a smell of yesterday. Now, without my permission, she sprays it away on me without warning. The honey reminiscent smell completely overpowers me and the natural scent of my room.

I can't help but let out a few coughs, and my mom shakes her head, commenting, "you're so dramatic."

She walks over to my closet, picking at every single one of my shirts. She reaches the end of the line, and starts looking at the set of fancy dresses.

"It's just dinner here at home," I tell her, wondering why she's being so formal about this event.

"A young girl like you always has to look nice in case you get proposed to."

"What?"

I can't even believe what she's saying.

She's already willing to throw me off into a marriage without even caring about what I think.

"You and Cole have been dating for a long time. The proposal could happen any day now."

I start to wonder if Cole even knows about this. Before I can think about it for too long, my mom shoves a red dress into my arms. I look down at it, realizing that it's one I've worn before.

The dress is a textured tiered fit and flare dress in a deep red shade. It has long bouncy sleeves, and it ends right above my knees, which is satisfactory to my mom who doesn't like it when I show too much skin. I like the dress, I'll admit that, but I just find it annoying how my mom is currently forcing me to put it on.

"Get dressed!"

I want to get dressed, but I wait for my mom to leave.

"What now?" My mom rudely asks.

I feel impatient as I tell her, "can I change in private?"

"Fine," she says, muttering under her breath a bunch of comments about how dramatic I am as she walks out my room.

I make sure to lock the door so that she doesn't surprise me again, and I walk over to my mirror. I stand in front of it as I take off my striped shirt, not feeling ready for what's coming next in my few days at home. I slip off my grey sweatpants, and I throw it to the floor.

I gently put on the dress, and I feel nice as I look at myself in the mirror. I hear my mom starting to knock on the door, but I don't let her in. I take the chance to snap a quick picture of myself in this new outfit to Aria.