Her Miracle

CHAPTER 13

A bright light shone right in my face, I squinted at it as I adjusted to my surroundings together with its brightness. I lay on a soft fluffy couch. I rubbed my face with both my hands, still feeling disoriented about where I was. Surprisingly, the sun showed itself today. A good way to start a Sunday, indeed. With the sun… I chuckled at my joke silently.

I looked around to see the living room empty. A blanket was draped around me to keep me warm. There were no signs of Titus. I think I fell asleep in the middle of the movie. We watched a movie here in the living room with their huge-ass flat screen. The movie was The Princess Bride.

“Titus!” I called out.

Titus chuckled as if it was his first time seeing the movie. It was one of his favorites, he said. Not all guys would admit they’d like this movie out loud. Good thing they had a dryer that dried my clothes in no time. Getting drenched in their pool was the least of my thoughts with how chilly it was last night.

“Titus? Where are you?” I repeated.

My stomach growled. I didn’t know what time it was. And it’s been a few minutes, there were still no signs of Titus. I grabbed my bag that lay on the floor and fished out the phone that I haven’t checked in 2 days. It was useless anyway.

“s**t. Low battery?” I hissed at myself, shoving it back inside my bag.

The thought of Titus asking me to stay has been whirling inside my head even up until I fell asleep. I don’t know if I’d benefit from staying. Shouldn’t he be supportive that I’d be leaving? I mean, I get it that he has a point but what if I wouldn’t be able to make amends. And be more hated than I already am.

I still needed a miracle. A day of exuberance to feel I’ve been renewed as a person. It will always be simpler to leave.

I got up and folded the blanket neatly, placing it on top of the couch. My jacket stayed hung at one of the chairs, I wore it as soon as I straightened my clothes. But I’m not denying it that after opening up to him, I feel lighter. The heaviness was lifted off than its usual.

Compared to Aiden, Titus didn’t call me out. He even encouraged me more. Aiden is just really a two-face asshole brother. I didn’t want to imagine how messy our front and back yard would be once I got home. Fingers crossed, they’ve cleaned it themselves.

“What if Titus is a joke? He might be just like the other guys... who leave after a hookup. Well, we didn’t hook up… Maybe I was a boring person?“ I muttered under my breath as I looked around.

I went through the hallway to check the kitchen, washroom, and dining room. There was nobody here. No signs of him. I went back to the living room and grabbed my bag. The house was empty and silent. There’s no one in here. Titus didn’t even bother to wake me up if he leaves.

“Titus?! I’m leaving! Thank you and Bye!” I screamed as loud as I can, making sure if he might be around the house.

My sore muscles acted the moment I got out of the house. Work and all the swimming did this to me. To top it off, it was the best fun stuff I’ve done for a long time. This week, Titus has done a lot for me. He’s been there at my worst moments.

The trees swayed as the wind blew. A hint of warmness on its breath. Yes, we need the sun today. So bad. At least to be the brightness in my dark life. I was walking now on the street that led to my house. It’s called Esmond. Ironic how they called it Esmond since it has old English roots that mean ‘graceful protection’. I never felt protected up until now. They never called it Esmond anyway. They only call it Esmond for formalities.

They just called this part of town the colored posh village. Maybe people were posh. But most people weren’t posh. They were middle-class families who work hard for a living. The posh village was an over-exaggeration.

I was getting closer to my house as I reminisced on Esmond street. I walked and jumped up and down like I was a free woman, with a sing-song hum going under my breath. For the first time in months, I feel the light. I felt different. I felt like I was a soul in someone else’s body.

I see our driveway. I was right all along. Red cups were littered everywhere together with bottles of beer. Pieces of plastics and puke were in our front yard. I groaned and balled my hands into a fist. I swear to god my brothers are too much. They’re supposed to be the older ones and yet the most irresponsible.

We might be living in a ‘posh’ village but seriously… this is just disgusting. My brothers hosted a party and always have the audacity to not clean up when it's over. Who’s immature now?

My mom's car was in our driveway. I have to prepare for the worst. She sure will let me clean this all up. My brothers were the real spoiled brats. I didn’t want to generalize guys to being lazy. Dad wasn’t. He was the most hardworking man I’ve ever met. He never was distraught with how much my mom was working and how much she earned.

He still did his best even if their income had a gap. My dad told me that ‘It doesn’t matter how much you earn as long as you love your job. You love what you're doing and you have the passion for it.’

He was my best adviser in everything. We’d have ice cream whenever we feel stressed out of if ever either of us was. It was our comfort food and up until now, I lived it.

A voice interrupted me from my thoughts. “Andrea Mallori Miller! Where have you been?”

My mom’s eyes widened, together with her tightened jaws. Her veins seemed like they were going to explode at any second with all the rage inside of her. I look up to her, meeting her eyes filled with anger.

“Mom?” I acted stupidly. I knew where this would lead to. I’d end up cleaning. It always was the cycle.

“Where have you been? What? You’ve been sleeping at some guy's house and getting laid? Are you really that selfish? I don’t care what you do in your life as long as you’re able to do this cleaning stuff at home!” She screamed like no tomorrow.

I bit the insides of my cheek. She’s making a scene. This is what my neighbors lived for. Once they hear this, this catastrophic event would be broadcasted in the entire town. It’s not her who’s going to be put to shame, it was always me. I’m always the bad daughter who doesn’t follow the rules.

“Why are you silent? Are you guilty that you’re sleeping around? I can’t believe that you’re a slut. I don’t have family members who are slutty. Oh, I remember, I don’t have a daughter.” Her voice amused. That was how great her hatred towards me was.

No matter how many times she’s been throwing her tantrums at me like a child. I understood every single one of it. I’m tired of this non-stop process. For some, it’s really easier for them to loathe at others than themselves. They’ve been living a life filled with hate.

I did my best not to talk back. I’m done. I’m tired. All these arguments would be deemed useless. It’s better not to talk and defend yourself when your own mom already perceived you as someone else.

“What, Andy? Aren’t you going to answer me?”

“No, mother.”

“You’ve been such a b***h lately and now you won’t answer? Wow.” Her voice was sarcastic.

How am I even being a b***h to her when I haven’t seen her the entire week other than the dinner we had together? I don’t want to think she’s delusional. But she already is becoming one. She’s terrible being a single mom. She sort of became dependent on the life we had when dad was with us.

I took a breath. I couldn’t take it anymore. “Mother, first of all, Just cause I didn’t sleep at home, it doesn’t mean I’ve been sleeping around. Second, I’m not a slut. Stop passing on your frustrations to me. Maybe you’re the one sleeping around and is sexually frustrated. Third, how did I become a b***h the entire time when I’ve only seen you once this week.”

She looked dumbfounded by my words. I wasn’t surprised that I got it all out. It wasn’t everything I felt towards her but this is what needed to come out at this moment.

“And now you’re talking back?”

“That’s always the problem with you. If I don’t talk back, I’m the b***h. If I do explain myself, I’m still the b***h. Where’s justice in that, mom?”

She placed both her hands on her hips. This was clearly stressing her out more than ever. I stressed her out more than her surgeries or her patients who couldn’t stay still.

She was about to talk when I rushed me. “I get it, mom. I know how this ends.” I walked past her to the front door.

“Where are you going?” Her voice sharp and irritation was evident.

I turned to face her. “Of course, I’m going to clean this mess your sons made. You’ll end up instructing me. Why not do it first before you tell me to? It sounds more annoying.”

My life as Cinderella. Being abused by her stepmother but in my case, by my real mother. We were the same. Our dad's passed away. I didn’t have two evil stepsisters. I had 2 evil legit brothers. Lucky for her, she gets to be saved by her prince. Princes don’t exist in real life. I don’t want to be saved. I want to save myself in my own way through a miracle from the skies above.