NEXUS

Chapter 1

Beautiful. That is what the sight from the top of my roof was. Just, perfect. The sun was leaving blazing clouds at it's wake as it set. Marking an eventful and productive day for most people witnessing the divine work of art. But not me. No. It was just another day filled with questionable decisions and regretful moments spent not fully sober.

I deeply inhale the joint I had rolled before retreating to my safe spot. A spot that has kept me calm, collected and indifferent most of the times. A spot that doesn't judge the things I admit out loudly and doesn't present me with pity whenever I cried. A spot that watches silently and doesn't intervein as I hasten my limited time on this shitty earth. A spot that gives and doesn't take.

My train of thoughts are interrupted by the loud calling of the witch herself. Fuck, not this again. I shut my eyes briefly to enjoy the last fleeting moment of peace before it's lost forever. Slowly opening my eyes, I release an exaggerated sigh that turns into a groan and put out the joint on the discoloured window pane before carefully placing it there.

Unceremoniously clambering through my window into my dark room, I head straight for the body mist to cover up my 'unwarranted behaviour'. Her words, not mine.

I will not be having the same argument with her. It's like she gets off on making my already miserable life even more miserable. Maybe every stepmother is fated to turn out evil and conniving? We all know Cinderella's story. But I am no Cinderella nor do I have a Cinderella complex.

In fact, I don't even believe in fairy tales. All it does is give guys a superiority complex and girls the need for a knight in shining armour. Bullshit.

Exhaling loudly, I make my way down the flights of stairs to the kitchen where the bald patched brunette she devil is busy taking out what looks like a blob of shit and slime..? from the oven. "What are you doing home? Don't you have animals to kill or something?" I punctuate my rhetorical question by crossing my arms.

"I don't kill them, I help them. I'm a vet not a grim reaper." she retorts without facing me. It's got jokes. "And that?" I inquire, unable to conceal the disgust in my voice. "Is your plan to kill us finally in motion?"

"You don't always have to be rude, you know?" she says without turning from her revolting creation. She is probably rolling her eyes.

"It's your father and I's anniversary and I wanted to surprise him with his favourite cake. I also wanted to ask if you'll be joining use for dinner." Not a welcoming question. I raise a brow in surprise.

Her hatred for me was painfully obvious from when she married my father a few months ago to this day.

I'd like to feign ignorance and say that I had no idea why but my actions would beg to differ. I mean, adding hair removal cream to ones shampoo and thrifting off their expensive shoes would inspire strong dislike in anyone. Understandable.

My father was showing her more affection and kindness that he ever did my mother. Since I cannot verbalize my emotions like a normal person, I decided to make her time with us a living hell. Also understandable... i think?

I was positively sure she would be gone by the time I was done with her but bitch seemed to be more resilient that I thought. Equally impressed and infuriated.

My face devoid of any emotion I reply "I'm sleeping over at a friend's." A 'friend'. I roll my eyes and manoeuvre around the kitchen island in the middle and position myself to her left. Leaning over to better examine the 'cake'.

"What the fuck? I know he is into disgusting shit, but this takes the cake." I remark with a slight smirk on my face internally laughing at my stoned jokes. Shit, I get rather hilarious when I'm high don't I? I straighten up and tower over her 5'3 height and speak, "tell my sperm donor I said hello." With that I abandon the two things that look like they stepped out of a horror show.