Every Day has a Memory

Chapter Ten

Alicia offered it to me. "Consider it a peace offering," she joked.

I didn't laugh, just took the plate—but left the door open and sat facing my sister. "Sit down if you want." I gestured at the stretch of beige carpeting gradually spreading through the hallway.

She did.

Then we just sat in silence; me, eating the sandwich, and Alicia, texting on her phone. It was a peaceful silence, yet I could tell she wanted to say something. It was written all over her face: She wanted to ask that one annoying question that she knew I hated, but I knew that she wouldn't ask because I hated it.

But goddamn, I felt so bad for leaving her in the lurch like that.

Especially since she made me a sandwich.

Damn her and her morals.

"I'm okay," I mumbled, swallowing my bite, and focusing on the crust of my toasted bread. "I just needed to get away from Mom's nagging for a while." I set the crust on my plate—they were usually my favourite part, but I didn't feel that hungry anymore.

"Fair enough," Alicia agreed tentatively. She brushed a strand of her blonde hair from her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. "You want to talk about it?"

Looking at my sister, I hesitated. Her eyes, identical to mine, bore straight through me, as if I was translucent. Fact was, though I told everyone that I didn't want to talk about it, I wanted to do the complete opposite—I was weird like that. I would come off all staunch and brave, but inside I was just broken and scared.

Alicia knew that, even if she didn't admit it—I knew she knew.

I handed her back the plate. "Mom thinks I'm suicidal," I stated, flat out.

It was never my specialty to be able to start a "deep and meaningful conversation", I was more the kind of person to just say it how it was.

"Are you suicidal?" My twin asked.

My eyes went wide. "No! I'm not fucking suicidal!" I pointed at my wrist. "I got a fucking tattoo! I am not slashing my wrist. I'm fourteen and stupid, not fourteen and mentally sick." I rolled my eyes. "God, Leese, why would you ask me that?" I was hurt that she thought I was reckless enough to kill myself.

"You don't really have the best history, Micah..."

"What are you—" Then I thought about it.

She had a point.

My face flushed. "I'm not suicidal," I snapped, my voice low.

"Okay, then what were you doing in the bathroom?"

"Getting peace and quiet because my room currently has no fucking door." I said it like it was obvious, but really, I guess she had a right to wonder. "I wasn't cutting myself—look." I forced my arms towards her so she could see that I was scar-free.

Alicia's eyes scanned my arms, then flicked up to meet mine again. "But you're feeling okay?"

"I'm fine," I sighed. "Just annoyed. Mom really needs to lay off, she's pushing me close to breaking point."

"She's just worried," my twin assured, reaching out to pat my hand tentatively. "This'll blow over soon, but it's only been a couple months. Mom has a right to worry."

I understood that, but that didn't at all mean I was okay with it. Mom needed to have more faith in me—I was getting over my little moment of grief, and though it was always going to hurt that Gran wasn't around, I was doing okay. She needed to see that I was doing okay.

Alicia sighed heavily. "But, for now, you don't have to do anything. We can just talk." She gave me a slight smile.

And I returned it.

This was why Alicia was my best-friend.

Hey guys! Sorry for the exceptionally long wait, I'm getting worse with writing this story. I have exams and stuff in a few weeks and I've not really been in the mood to write with so much drama going on, but I've finally written it.

There's only going to be about eight or nine more chapters and an epilogue.

And I apologize for such a poorly written and short chapter—My computer has been a complete and utter bitch to me these last couple of months, so yeah... I apologize in advance for the crappy chapters following.

Please vote and comment if you like the story! Remember I take all constructive critisism into consideration, so feel free to let me know if you don't like it :)

Much love,

Jelani xx

~oe