i remember that night at the convenience store, when i was younger.
i got into trouble at the sleepover that i was in at my friends house.
it was a stupid reason, really.
i was 9 at the time, my friends and i were talking about things like boys and having boyfriends which i wasnt really interested in. but i remember my interest grew when one of the girls pulled out her tab and searched up a video of two girls kissing. her mother caught us and called the other parents.
heres a thing: my parents are really really religious, im talking like going to church strictly every sunday, no dating just straight into marriage when im the "right age", no drinking, no smoking, no tattoos, no nothing. so i could only imagine the look of horror on my mothers face when she had to wake up to a call at 1:25 AM in the night to hear that her daughter is participating in unholy activities like watching women kiss each other.
its the worst thing that could happen.
it may lead to "thoughts".
my mother sent my sister to immediately pick me up from the sleepover and unfortunately that night it was raining. just what i needed. my friends house was 7 blocks away from my apartment so my sister came without her bicycle. but it was raining heavily so my sister and i stopped at a convenience store for the rain to calm down.
there were around 4-5 other people there mostly on their phones or just looking around. a girl trying to reach the top shelf to get a bag of chips caught my attention. i walked over and stood on my tip toes and got the bag. i gave it to her and she looked at me.
my breath was taken by her appearance. she was oddly very pale, wavy white hair, had a light dust of freckles on her face and her eyes were so captivating and beautiful. they were a pink-ish colour. she was albino, like my older sister.
she snatched the bag and ran away behind the counter. i frowned and went back to my sister. she sighed and ruffled my hair.
the old lady who ran the convenience store tapped my shoulder and offered me a chocolate bar and smiled. "she's a little shy, dear."
i take the bar and thank her. and look outside the window to see the pitter patter of rain.
around 20 minutes pass by and the rain finally stopped. i once again thank the old lady for the chocolate bar as she waves my sister and i off while we were heading out the store.
"wait!" i heard a voice screech. i look back and find the pretty girl with her hand stretched out holding a badge. It was a badge of a bunny. "sorry, i got nervous but thank you for helping me." she says before handing it to me and running to the old lady and hugging her.
i smiled and walked home with my sister eating the bar. "seren." she says. i know this tone, it means something bad is going to happen. "whatever dad and mom say, just forget it. they always talk about nothing good. ill try to get you out of trouble soon, okay?" i nod and enter the building
we entered the house where i opened the door and find my mother sitting in her robe and praying with a rosary. her eyes immediately turn to me as i enter.
"leave the room, rosa" she says to my sister. "mom its not that seri-"
"i said leave the goddamn room, so do it before things get ugly." my sister sighs, looks at me with a look of sympathy and leaves the living room.
my mother stands up and walks to me. i felt a harsh sting on my face and my face turn side. she slapped me.
"imagine what others would think of you and what you have done."
its always been me caring about others, but what about myself?
