Citrus Girl

Prolouge

Victoria sat on the porch with her grandma, staring out into the green thicket that had pines taller than anything she'd ever seen.
Her grandma was sitting next to her, her small body curled up into a wooden rocking chair that was bound to be worn out, while sipping chamomile tea she brewed for the both of them.
"Victoria honey, are you alright?" Her grandma asked, interrupting her awkward listening to robins.
"Yes grandma."
Her mouth curled downward into a frown. "Are you scared for high school? Is that it?"
Victoria shifted her gaze from her, back down to her tea. "Mhm."
"Well I'm sure you'll do just fine, I promise." Her grandma said, but it didn't feel real. Nothing has ever felt good since she heard the news their moving to Oregon, she wanted to stay in Nevada, she wanted to stay in Reno. But her parents wanted "a fresh start" without even considering her own feelings.
"No I won't." She wailed.
Her grandma chuckled before taking another sip of her tea, her eyes locked on Victoria. "As long as you don't upset your teachers I'm sure you'll be fine honey."
"It's not about that." She slumped.
"Then what is it?"
"My friends." Victoria began. "I'll be leaving them and going to a place I don't even know for the rest of my life. I might not even like it there, I don't even like it right now, it's rainy and cold there I hear!"
Her grandma stared back down at her tea, Victoria looked up at her, expecting sympathy from her, but there was no reply.
And there it was again. The sound of robins and blackbirds came back, chirping melodies and the gentle wind intertwining between thin pine trees.
"Are you gunna live?"
"What?"
Victoria stared at her. "Your disease." Even talking about it brought a sickening churn to her stomach, making her feel queasy even under the gentle warmth of the sun.
Her grandma's eyes seemed to dull. "No. I mean. I won't live after all if you think about it. I'm at the age of 83, with amoeba." She pulled her gaze away from her, staring off into the trees.
Victoria could tell her grandma could sense it, that she could sense that her wisps of despair were eventually sinking into her, and her grandma was trying to wash them away.
"I don't have the money for treatment. Your father doesn't have the money for it either." Her grandma said, then let out a low scoff.
"Everyone has to go at some point."
Victoria clenched her teeth, "Will you at least give me some advice before I never see you again?" She cried.
"5 words.
Make friends,
Find your light."