Dear Janet, You're Ugly

A Bunch Of Nothingness

Janet's POV

"God it feels so good to be back"! Amy squealed pulling me in for a hug. She had been gone for two weeks due to a family emergency. Let's just say I was enjoying a little quiet. Minus Erin who would annoy me every chance, he got at work.

"How was Texas? Is everything good"? I ask shoving lettuce into my mouth. Amy checked her reflection with her pocket mirror and fluffed her hair a bit.

"Ah, it was nothing major. My dad freaks out over the smallest things" she shrugged. A thought came to mind instantly.

"How come Erin didnt go with you"? The curiosity had been burning inside me but I didn't have the balls to ask him myself. We were close before but the same could not be said for the present.

"He was scared that if he went dad might convince him to stay. So like the good daughter that I am I went instead and did a little damage control" she smirked.

"I don't get why he is so dead set on staying here. It's not like he would be missing out on anything". I shrugged shoving more of my salad in my mouth. Living in a small town sucked ass, everyone knew who you were.

One mishap had you become the talk of the town.

"He's just trying to get back what he lost. It's complicated" she answered with a sheepish smile. But I didnt understand it one bit. Here I was trying to escape and yet here he was trying desperately not to leave.

Humans are extraordinary.

After lunch, the rest of my classes went by rather quickly. Soon I was on my way to work, the sun was out today even with the cold weather out. The holidays were soon approaching and every year I always spent it with Ms. Freckles and we would have our little celebration.

Just the two of us.

I arrived at the cafe and quickly got to work. Since we were fully stocked up with baked goods I helped Anthony at the cashier. The afternoon sometimes was slow and not many people were out. But with the holidays coming more orders would start coming in.

I let Anthony take his break while I worked as the cashier. Erin was nowhere to be found and it was nearing dark out. The door jingles as another came in, a young girl with blonde pigtails and big doe green eyes.

"Hello welcome to  Half Baked Cafe what can I get for you"? With a small smile, I watched as the little girl pulled a white envelope from her coat pocket. Her small hands carefully placed it on the counter.

" You are Janet, right? A lady said to give this to you. Could I have a cookie"? My hands shook as I examined the letter. It was the same handwriting as before addressed to me.

I gulped deeply before handing a cookie to the little girl. "Thank you," she said with a toothy grin before skipping out of the cafe.

She didn't even pay for the cookie.

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

I took my time going home. The letter burned in my backpack as I walked slowly, dragging my feet. I knew when I got home I would have to sit and read the contents of that very letter. It frightened me to the very core, even more so knowing that I didn't know what to expect.

A deep realization came to me. I was being watched... more like followed by strangers. Sure they might have been my "long lost family" but what gave them the right to do this? Budding into my life as if I wasn't happy with what life has given me.

I stopped walking, staring straight ahead of me. My life wasn't easy but I didn't regret a damn thing about it. I clenched my hands tightly, balling them until they were red and blotchy.

I was angry

Who the hell did these people think they were? I stomped the rest of the way home until I reached my room. Sliding my coat and backpack off, I immediately grabbed the letter and angrily tore it open.

I read the remnants of the letter. My hands shook and my vision became blurry. The salty taste of my tears ran down like a waterfall. I sobbed hard more than I had in years because I couldn't understand it.

Life had a funny way of showing you reality. I wished for nothing more than an escape so that I could not feel the pain I felt in my heart. My sobs grew louder and deeper and I cried for all of the things I had endured.

I cried until my body became numb and the tears no longer fell. All that was left was the silence of my cries. The sadness lingered, and the feeling of being alone.

I didn't think one day  I would ever fear being alone. But as I sat in my room, my body sprawled out against the softness of my grey rug. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole and never let me out.