Obsessed

PARENTAL

A few days passed and things were back to our version of normal.

My baby brother, Jordan, was in my room along with Kizzy as we sang and watched 90's music videos on Youtube.

"Just shake ya rump! All I wanna do is ah ma zoom zoom zoom and ah boom boom!"

That's one of my mom's favorite songs. Me and my sister were always laughing, dancing and having fun with her.

"Shake ya rump!" Jordan yelled while jumping on the bed.

Me and Kizzy laughed but were interrupted by the fun police. Sheila stood in the doorway with her arms crossed, looking annoyed as usual.

"Jordan, come here. Zena, why are you playing this mess for them?"

I got out of bed. "Come on Sheila, shake ya rump."

She looked at me skeptical but I knew she wanted to dance. I shook my butt in front of her.

"Stop frontin' like you don't be killing them hoes on the dancefloor." I smiled, joking around.

"Come on, Ms. Sheila!" Kizzy shouted, hyping her up.

She smirked then started dancing with me and we all laughed, having a good time. We high fived and I could feel she needed that. I know being a military wife was a lot for her, that's why she's in a bad mood most of the time.

"I'm going to order something, what do yall want?" She asked and we gave her our orders.

Later, we all sat in the living room, playing a board game. Sheila has never been this friendly with us before and I begin to wonder if this was a new beginning for us. Soon my dad walked in.

"Oh, honey...we were just having some family time. I ordered a pizza and some wings if you're hungry."

"Hey Dad," me and my sister said in unison.

"Hey girls. Sheila, I need to talk to you."

My father didn't look too happy and Sheila instantly got up, following him into the other room. We cleaned up the game and I took my siblings into my room...Jordan fell asleep next to me.

"Is Dad mad at us?" My sister asked.

"Nah, he's probably just having a bad day."

I turned my TV on as we snuggled up in the covers and joined my little brother in slumber.

The next morning, I got up for class. Once I was showered and dressed, I made my way to the kitchen. My Dad was the only one home.

"Morning, Pop."

He gave me a sad smile then kissed me on the forehead.

"Good Morning...How's school going?"

"Great! The semester's almost over."

My Dad looked so somber it wasn't like him. I knew something was wrong so I waited for him to speak up.

"Zena, I need to tell you something."

"Okay."

He took a deep breath. "Your mother overdosed a few days ago. She's in a coma."

"What?" My mind couldn't make sense of what my Dad just said.

"Mommy, didn't do drugs."

"She did, sweetheart. That's how I got custody of you and your sister. She was a functioning addict but after she filed for divorce....it got worse."

How could I not notice my mother was a drug addict?

My hands began to shake and I felt lightheaded. I took a seat at the kitchen table while my Dad got me a bottle of water. My mom was always the fun parent, very active in our lives but would also party too.

When they got a divorce, we still remained close and would stay over on the weekends or holidays. Then one day, my mom said she was moving to another state and once she got settled in she would send for me and Kizzy....that was a year ago.

"I tried to shield you two from your mother's problem, I guess it worked too well cause now you're confused. I'm so sorry Zee."

"Is she going to be okay?"

My Dad slowly shook his head and I burst into tears. I held him tight and screamed in his chest. He wrapped me in his arms like I was a baby.

"I know, I know, baby girl...I'm so sorry and I'm not going anywhere."

***

After my mother's funeral, me and my sister drove five hours back home. My Dad didn't come, but I'm not surprised. My mother, Dena, looked so much older than the last time I had seen her but still beautiful.

The next few weeks, I was still grieving but it didn't fully hit me yet that my mother was really gone. Kizzy stayed to herself and Sheila seemed to be bothered by this...I tried to explain to her the reason for my sister's behavior.

"She just lost her mother...give her some time."

Sheila is an adult and should know this. I guess common sense isn't so common.

"I've been taking care of Kizzy ever since your mother bailed on you two. Now she acts like I don't exist."

I stayed calm, ignoring her and walked away to check on my little sister.

"Hey, Sissy Pooh, can I come in?" I stood outside her room.

It took a few seconds then she opened her bedroom door. I went inside to console and talk to her. Kizzy vented how much she missed our mom and I truly understood her frustration.

"I wished Sheila would just leave me alone." She wiped her tears.

"Yeah, she just wants to be there for you. She just has a weird way of showing it."

We talked for another hour, hugged, then I gave her some time to herself.

The next day everything seemed good as we all went back to our normal routines.

"Kizzy still was to herself but at least Sheila wasn't bickering."

I spoke too soon when I heard my sister scream. I went running towards the sound and saw Sheila hitting on her like she was fighting a grown woman. Kizzy was ducking and trying her best to cover her head.

"Stop!"

My fists immediately intervened, knocking Sheila to the floor. I continued to wail on her head and face until I saw blood.

"Bitch, don't you ever touch her again!"

Jordan was crying while Kizzy tried to console him. I got up with blood on my swollen knuckles.

"Get out, get the hell out!" Sheila screamed while she laid on the floor with blood in her mouth.

She slowly got up to get her phone but Kizzy grabbed it, slamming it on the kitchen floor.

"What are you doing?!!" Sheila cried.

I needed some fresh air so I grabbed my keys and phone then walked out the house. I jumped in my car and sped off, my heart was racing as the vision of her hitting my sister replayed in my mind.

Why did she attack Kizzy?! She's fucking bipolar!

My adrenaline was pumping causing my foot to press hard on the gas. I pulled over and tried calling my dad but no answer. After sitting still for 20 minutes while taking deep breaths, I started worrying about my little sister. I didn't want Sheila trying to attack her again.

Deciding to go back to the house, I drove off thinking of my next move. I'm a 20 year old college student, I have no place of my own or enough money saved up to get one.

"Ugh, my dad is going to be pissed."

I pulled up to the red light then my phone rang...it was him. My hands shook while answering.

"Hello..."

"Zena, where are you?"

He sounded calm but then again that's how he always sounded.

"I'm on the road. Dad, please listen..."

"Bring your ass home...now."

He hung up before I could say anything in return.