by Safa Shaqsy
“Let me order us some coffee,” Kent said, and winked at me.
WHEN I GOT HOME IN the afternoon, and went to my bedroom, after telling Dad that I got back, I saw a text from Ned, and no texts from my girls’ group, except for one text from Jane.
Ned: How was your day?
Me: It was interesting
Me: How was yours?
Ned: I was working on our comics before the end of this week, so we can print it
Ned: Did you search for available printers?
Me: Oh god...
Ned: You forgot didn’t you?
Me: I’m so sorry
Me: My mind was wrapped up
Ned: That’s okay :)
Ned: I’ll make a few phone calls to help you out
Ned: I know you’ve been staying with your mom to take care of her today
Ned: So you don’t have to worry about it
Ned: Okay?
Me: Ned, that is so sweet of you
Ned: What are friends for? :)
Ned: I wish we had the time to meet up today, but I know what you’re dealing with everyday
Me: I’m so sorry
Ned: No need to apologize
Me: I feel like a crappy person
Ned: We can meet any other day, right?
Me: I guess so
Ned: Alright, how about tomorrow? :)
Me: That sounds wonderful
Celia sent a heart sticker
Ned: Ah, the heart stickers
Ned: By the way my friends will be there
Ned: If you don’t mind
Me: The ones I met before in your house?
Ned: Yeah, they like you a lot
Ned: They feel you’re a very good person
Ned: And I couldn’t agree more
Ned sent a heart sticker
Me: Yeah, I don’t mind
Me: Oh, that’s so sweet of them
Ned: We’re going to build some sculptures and maybe play some basketball in the back yard
Ned: We have a small one that fits our small yard
Ned: It’s just a little warm up we do sometimes
Me: Sounds cool
Me: Umm, Ned?
Ned: Yes?
Me: Tomorrow I need to tell you something
Ned: Oh, uh
Ned: That sounded like my ex
Me: It’s not that bad, just something I need to be honest about
Ned: Well, good, because I want to talk to you as well
Me: About what?
Ned: You’d know tomorrow for sure
Ned: I’ll bake some homemade pizza tomorrow
Me: Cool, see you tomorrow then
Ned: See you
I opened a text from Jane later, and texted her back.
Jane: Max is so angry at you
Jane: I think you went too far
Me: Me? NO!
Me: She’s the one who went overboard
Jane: You need to call her and apologize to each other
Me: She doesn’t understand
Me: I’m not ready to talk to her yet
Me: Still mad at her
Jane: Celia, Max is your best friend
Jane: If you let this gap go on for a while, you might lose her
Me: Jane, stop it
Me: She’s an adult, she can handle it
Jane: Please, Celia
Jane: For the sake of our friendship
Jane: I don’t want this bond to be broken
Me: I’m not talking to her until she apologizes
Me: She’s salty most of the time
Me: It’s about time she realizes that
Jane: That’s how Max is
Jane: She IS salty
Me: I know, but I’m just so mad at her right now
Jane: I understand
Jane: Maybe you both need time out
Me: Yeah
Jane: Oh, by the way
Jane: The guy she was crushing on was playing on her
Jane: She was heartbroken
Me: WHAT?
Me: When did this happen?
Jane: Yesterday
Me: She hadn’t told me
Me: Why?
Jane: Because she knew what you were going through, and didn’t want to hurt you more
Me: But that wasn’t necessary!
Jane: Yes, I know, but that’s what friends do
Celia sent a heartbroken sticker
Jane sent a hugging bears sticker
Me: I feel like giving her a hug right now
Jane: See? You still care for her
Me: Maybe I’ll give her a call tomorrow
Jane: It’s better if you do
Jane: She really cares about you
Jane: I care for you both as well
Jane: Don’t ever forget that
Jane: We fight, and we make up
Me: But I need to give her a bit of time
Me: She’s probably still angry
Jane: Do what you feel is right
Me: Well, I better get going
Me: I need to prepare dinner
Jane: Talk to you later
Me: Later!
Before I closed our chat, another text came in.
Kent: Boo
Me: Yes?
Kent: Are you free tomorrow?
Kent: I was thinking of meeting up somewhere
Me: Sorry, but I have other things to do tomorrow
Kent: Shit
Kent: Cool, then
Kent: We can plan for another day
Me: Yes, we can
Kent sent a kiss sticker
Celia sent a heart sticker
Kent: Take care for now
Me: You too
Chapter Seventeen
I KNOCKED ON THE FRONT door of Ned’s house with my knuckles, carefully not to sound too eager to go inside, and rush towards him. I cleared my throat and fixed my curly hair. The sun was sitting on the orange horizon, and the streets were calmer than the morning. I took a deep breath, and wore a smile.
I hear footsteps rushing towards the front door, and with a click, the door opened. I saw Ned’s grin when he saw me, with his blue eyes sparkling.
We stared at each other for a moment and he finally said, “Hey.”
“Hey,” and waved my hand momentarily.
“Oh, yeah, come in,” he shook his head to his senses, and moved out of the door to let me in.
I entered the living room where his friends were sitting around a table, playing cards. Tyler turned from his wheelchair, and waved at me, “Hey, suga.” While Paul peeped behind the cards he was holding that covered his blushing face. Meanwhile, Lucas sat with a cigarette between his fingers, and between his lips. He winked at me and said, “Hola.”
“Hey,” I replied.
“Celia’s going to play with us today, so consider her as part of our team,” Ned announced.
Paul uncovered his face, and asked, “With a cat woman costume?” and that made Lucas and Tayler look at me with interest.
Ned glanced at me with nervousness, “I’m sorry they act that way,” He whispered to me.
“I’m not wearing any cat woman costume,” I bashed in a whisper.
“You’re not wearing any,” Ned confirmed to me, “She’s not wearing any!” he said a little louder to the group of guys.
“Oh, man,” Tayler snapped, “You’re together aren’t you?”
“What about boobs?” Paul said with excited eyes and that made Lucas tap the table with his palm and chuckle like madness.
Ned held his palm facing them, “There’s no boobs, okay? No one’s seeing any boobs!”
He looked at me if I was okay, “They’re messing with you,” Ned confessed, “That’s what they do to every person joining our team.”
I doubted when he said that. “Weren’t there like, only four of them.”
“Yeah, five of us now,” said Ned.
Tayler wheeled towards me, and offered me his hand to shake, “Yeah, that’s right. Welcome to our
team, Celia.” He said, with more gentle welcoming voice.
I shook his hand for a moment, “Thank you.”
“So, basketball anyone?” Ned asked.
“Yes!” Paul punched the air, “Basketball!”
“Alright, let’s do it,” Ned said, and sprinted towards their back yard, through the back door with the rest, except Tayler.
Before I walked behind them, he said, “Hey, Celia?” and made me stop to listen to him, and when I gave him my attention he looked up at me and said, “Don’t lose him, and don’t break his heart. He’s a good guy.”
Don’t break his heart.
Don’t lose him.
The words echoed in my brain many times, while I watched Tayler roll himself to the back door. I followed him with an empty feeling in my stomach, and instantly thought, what was I thinking? Kent was still in my life sneaking to my window, and stealing a few touches. I let him be there, I let him be around me. I had to let that go, I couldn’t hurt Ned, he was too good to me.
The team parted into two’s and Paul got the ball. He bounced around and twirled on his feet before shooting for the basket, and he didn’t score. He grunted, and drummed his chest, “I’m a gorilla!” he shouted.
“Celia’s in my team,” Lucas suggested, “As well as Tayler.”
We started playing, but before I got the ball, Lucas took his shirt off, and revealed a semi-hairy chest, and armpits. He raised his arms up in the air and howled like a wolf, “We’re the wolves, and you’re going to blow!”
I didn’t know what was worse, Lucas nude, hairy chest, or the weird cheesy names and the freaking howling?
I got the ball.
I was swiftly moving on the ground, and aiming for the basket, but Ned slapped the ball and it bounced to the ground.
“So that’s how it is, huh?” I dared.
“Yeah!” Ned said, “Let the best win.” And drummed his chest like a gorilla.
I chuckled, and felt a push on my shoulder, “Move! You’re going to make us lose!” and felt his spit on my neck. I moved and received the ball from Lucas, and ran to the basket, but Tayler, blocked my way with his wheelchair, and waved his hands up high to catch the ball. I almost hit the basket, but when the ball fell down, Ned took the ball, and he was on his way around the court.
He was going to aim.
I ran as fast as I could to stop him from shooting the basket.
We both ran towards the basket, and our shoulders clashed together that made me bounce, and fall on the ground on my side. My arms never felt so painful before, and when they heard my arm collide with the asphalt, they stopped and towered over me.
Ned kneeled down, and lifted me up in a sitting position, and checked my bleeding elbow.
“This is not good, we need to clean this up,” he said, and lifts me up with him, and walked through the backdoor to the kitchen. He placed me on the kitchen chair and opened a drawer. He got a first aid box and opened it on the table.
He took a cotton ball and dabbed some antiseptic on it, then started carefully dabbing on my injury. He cleaned my arm, which felt a bit painful, and placed a Band-Aid on the area. The guys were still breathless from the game, and stood in the kitchen watching Ned was panicky and attempted to bandage my wound.
“Wow,” Lucas blurted out.
“Well, at least you didn’t fall on your boobs,” Paul pointed out.
There was a silent second then we all burst into laughing.
ME: FUCK!
Jane: What’s wrong?
Me: I forgot to call Max
Jane: Take it easy, it’s still before midnight
Me: Isn’t it a bit late?
Jane: Nah, she’s probably looking for a rebound
Me: Oh my, I feel so bad
Me: I’m scared that she’ll hang up
Jane: Come on, it’s Max
Jane: On a second thought, you should be scared
Me: Shut up!
Jane: Woops
Jane: Sorry
Jane sent a confused smiley sticker
Celia sent a middle finger sticker
Me: What should I do now?
Me: Call her or not?
Jane: Better to call and see what happens
Jane: Let’s hope she’s in a better mood
Me: She’s rarely in better moods...
Jane sent a wooden cross sticker
Jane: Pray
Me: God, I hate you sometimes
I looked at the screen and dialed her number on my phone. “Shit!” I muttered to myself.
The phone rang.
And rang.
And rang.
Then hung up.
I dialed again and listened to the ringing. “Max, don’t do this to me.” I wasn’t sure who I was talking to.
After two rings, she picked up the phone, with a heavy raging breath, she shouted, “I don’t want to talk to you!”
“Max, please, you’re overreacting!”
“I’m overreacting? Who’s the one who’s always in the limelight?” She argued, “I don’t even know you anymore.”
“But I didn’t change!” I yelled over the phone, “If you can only reason with me...”
“Reason with you?” She snapped, and laughed out loud, “You don’t know what I was going through. You’ve been like this since your mother...”
There’s was a nausea in my stomach when I heard her say that, “Since my mother what? Say it!” I shouted.
“See? It’s always my fault! Our fault!” She said, and hung up on me.
I threw the phone over my bed with rage. I had so much anger, so I fell on my bed, and sobbed. How could all those things happen simultaneously in my life? I didn’t deserve to be punished. I knew I was a good girl, doing the best I could, being the best friend, sister, mother, girlfriend.
I heard knocks on my bedroom door, and heard Dad asking behind the door, “Everything okay? I heard you yelling?”
I sniffed, and kept quiet.
“Celia?” He called.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I refused.
“Okay, but do you want me to bring you dinner?” he calmly asked.
“Not now,” I said with fading voice.
I heard his footsteps go away from my door, and I laid my cheek on the pillow, staring at my phone, and thinking about who to call. I picked up my phone again and wiped the tears from my eyes, and dialed his number. The only person I needed at that time. I was comfortable talking to him, and telling him about my struggles. My pain led me to press the number, and he picked his phone.
He heard me crying over the phone, “Boo? What’s the matter?”
“We need to talk,” I said.
“Can we talk tomorrow? I’m kinda busy right now,” said Kent.
“Okay, let’s meet up and talk,” I suggested.
“Okay, boo, tomorrow,” Kent said.
Chapter Eighteen
THE NEXT MORNING, DAD and I took Mom to her doctor’s appointment a few weeks later. They did some texts on her to check if her body was reacting to certain medications and if they had any side effects. When the sunlight penetrated through the doctor’s office window, I felt a sense of calmness and at peace knowing that not every day is dark and depressing. And there were people who had beautiful lives beyond those walls. Probably normal families, with pets and a few kids playing in a park. I always had this beautiful image in my mind when we were on vacation together, and Mom was okay. That picture was placed on the kitchen counter, and was never moved.
The framed picture was there, reminding us where we came from and how we got here.
The here, I don’t like it.
I took a deep breath and started paying attention to the doctor’s words.
“Her condition looks stable, though she needs to continue with her medications, and her text results are good. Nothing to worry about,” he said and looked at the papers on his desk.
“Good?” Dad started, “You consider this...good?”
“Dad,”
I called to calm him down and get him back to his senses.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Williams, but for a condition like hers, it’s a rare thing to see no progress with the brain shrinking,” the doctor said, “We can schedule another appointment next week to see how things go with her.”
Dad bit his lower lip, and sighed, “Okay,”
“As for you, you seem stressed, do you sleep and eat well?” the doctor asked, “I can prescribe you pills if otherwise.”
“No, I’m fine,” Dad refused, “I just want my wife cured, okay?”
The doctor hesitated with his words, and said, “Let’s hope for the best.”
We got up and Dad pushed Mom’s wheelchair to the exit.
WE GOT HOME, AND MY siblings were sitting in the living room, arguing about nonsense again. Dad stopped pushing the wheelchair, and took Mom upstairs. It was her medication time anyway. I walked in the living room and I was surprised when both Adam and Amelia stood up and came up to me with almost teary eyes. How could I tell them that there was no signs of Mom’s condition reversing?
Amalia tugged my shirt, “Is she better now?”
I averted my eyes, and shook my head slightly, “She’s...”
Amelia’s eyes teared, and hugged my torso, and sobbed into my shirt, “When is she coming back?”
I rubbed the back of her head, “I’m sorry, Mimi, but she might not.”
She hugged me tighter.
Adam stared at us, and for a moment, I thought he was about to punch me with his balled fist, but he stomped all the way to the stairs, and up to his bedroom.
I stepped back, and cupped her face, “You need a life. Don’t worry about us, okay?”
She nodded, and sniffed.
“Okay, go play upstairs.”
I heard her footsteps going up stairs.
Then I heard it.
The scream.
I felt my blood rushing through my veins, and my heart racing like a rat’s heart.
The voice was recognizable.
It was Mom’s.
I ran upstairs with shaky legs, and fear of what I’d find there.
And I found them.
Mom hysterically screamed and threw pillows and bedroom items at Dad. He dodged most of them, but the rest hit his body, face and head. Dad was bleeding, and I couldn’t scream when I saw the blood, because I had to stop the madness. I had to do something. I had to stop Mom.
I sprinted towards Mom, but she resisted me, and pushed me away, but that distracted her for a moment, until Dad came and held her hands behind her back.
