OAKDALE: Coming Home To You

★Anna With candy in my mouth, I laid on my stomach, my phone in my hand and my legs swaying in the air. I had read it through, and maybe the candy in my mouth calmed me or just that, I had already anticipated the results before me. Muscle and joint pain, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, headaches, change in appetite...it all corresponded. I never liked the idea of googling symptoms as I feared the outcome and it's exaggerations. But now staring at my screen as my symptoms matched all I've felt over the years, I laughed and turned to lay on my back. My face fell and I smiled, "goodnight Anna", I said to myself and switched off the bed lamp, placing my phone carefully beside it and drifting off to sleep. That was many weeks ago, but every night, getting up after only two hours of sleep, I'd stare at the symptoms yet again. It didn't start today but I consoled myself, reassuring myself that it was just stress. I've had a ton of shoots and interviews, and silly parties, events, commercials, loads of them. I couldn't be depressed. I had no reason to be depressed or did I? I was just stressed, wasn't I? but yet I killed the engines of my car and looked up. I really wanted to go in. If I could fly in without anyone noticing, I would. But if words of it were to get out, my family would have my head. Apparently, I couldn't be mentally sick for society sake, but I was getting worse. I pulled my gaze from the building back to the screenshot on my phone, "Arrggggghhh!!!", I felt worse. I bumped my head severally on my steering wheel, obviously with my tinted windows up. From across the road, I stared up at the psychiatrist office again. My whole being was itching to go in. I wasn't myself. I haven't been myself for six good years now and I knew it. Things had gone so out of hand after my aunt's death, but my family cared less about the trauma it might put me through. I blinked and I blinked again. Shaking my head as though to bring forth the reality that had gone to rest at the back of my head, I muttered to myself, "you know you just can't". I sighed with a shut eye and a loud exhale. I drove off. My life was far from beautiful, and my countenance fell even more as I approached the house. I just didn't understand why they had us living together most of the time. I barely get to spend a week at my family's house before returning to this place. But I approached and the gates opened, I drove in. I hadn't gotten so close to door when I began to hear their chatter and laughter. "Fools", I snickered but went in without hesitation. "Anna!", the fool blurted out my name with a drawl and a smug smile and I felt like poking out those eyes that stared at me. I didn't respond. My eyes only did a quick roam around the living room which was already a mess. He had his useless friends come around with sluts that were half naked and entertaining them. But I said no words to none of them as I walked past, onto the stairs and into my room. The sight alone was disgusting to behold. This was enough reason to be depressed!! Yet this was my stupid life. I had been betrothed to a fool. But thanks to Gina. I have a month to live away from all of them. Away from him. Away from my family. My box was already packed and by the side. My excitement to leave had me packing a week before today. I couldn't wait. With Gina, I could be seriously happy. I could actually laugh and be jolly like a 24-year-old should be! I stripped myself and walked into the bathroom. Staying out till late hours was the only way I could survive. Sorry, my name is Anna Presley, you could call me pretty, because I really am. A 24-year-old model that has been tied to the fool downstairs - Chris Harrison. We first ran into each other whilst in college and there was nothing to like about him until my family - my power hungry family - found out the Harrison's son was my course mate and they've been dying to get in contact with Chris's family. That was where my problems started. We got engaged in our final year and life has been hell for pretty little me. "Anna!", he barged in without a knock but I didn't bulge. I had my eyes closed as I sat still in the tub ,allowing the warmness of the water work it's magic. "The least you could do is respond wifey", I could feel his smirk even without opening my eyes and I sighed. "Doesn't that sound weird on your lips, Chris? Leave". "You joining us down?", he asked and I wondered if this fool had a brain at all. "No Chris. I'm not. Make sure to take care of your sluts", I mumbled enough for him to hear me, but he didn't leave. His footsteps got close but I didn't open my eyes, until his lips met mine and his palm ran across my breast in the water. My eyes burst open. I pushed him off . "Are you crazy?!!!!", I wanted to yell that. I wanted to pull his hair out. Cut his balls and feed 'em to dogs!! Kill him and sell his parts!!. Yet my lips sealed tight, my heaving chest continued in a rhythm as I could feel my parents' glare even in their absence. I couldn't oppose Chris. They made me a slave to him. He chuckled at my weakness. "I guess you're leaving tomorrow. I think I should come with", he smirked and walked out. "Arrrggghhhhhhhh!!!!!", I kicked and boxed in the water. I wanted to cry but I was too angry and irritated to do so. I slipped into the water and allowed it cover me up, but less than two minutes, I sat back up gasping for air. So much for someone who wants to die - I could imagine my conscience mock me. Regulating my breathing and sitting still in the water with my eyes closed again , I inhaled, but I was already irritated. "Damn you Chris!!!!!!", I'm sure I yelled in my head even though my lips made no sound. I rushed my bathing and stepped out clad in just my towel. The moment I walked back into the room, I rushed to lock the door. I didn't want to see anymore of the fool. Sitting before my dresser, I did well to take care of my skin, it was so needed. I picked up my phone to call Gina. We've been best friends since middle school. Got separated in junior high and now she's getting married. Why can't my life be so much like hers? Like a fairytale. But thanks to her fairytale life, I have a month to plan a wedding. This is the best sendoff I could give her after being away for eight years. I called her. "Hey", the lines connected and her voice reached me. "You still picking me up tomorrow morning right?", I asked and she laughed. "Goodevening to you too Anna. And yes. Yes I should" "You should?" "I will, Ms. Presley", she mocked and I smiled. "I'll call you when I'm close, okay? I hope you haven't selected your wedding dress?" "I said you don't have to Anna. Please!!!!" "Let it be my wedding gift to you Gina. You rejected all my gifts", I rolled my eyes even though she couldn't see me. "A car and a house?? Really Anna?" "What?!! What else would you have me give you? A kiss? Prayers??" I scoffed and a tiny voice in the background reached me. "Is that Lisa?", I asked and the little princess giggled. I guess Gina had me on speakerphone. "Hi Aunt Anna" "Hey Lisa. Guess who's coming around tomorrow morning?" She gasped, "Are you?". I giggled, that was the first sign I'm gon' have a blast in Oakdale, "yes. Yes I am, princess". "Yay!!!!! I'll wait. I don't have to go to school tomorrow". "Yes. You do", Gina cut the little girl and I could feel her pout. "See you tomorrow Gina", I laughed and ended the call. They'd make a lovely mother and daughter. Georgina Thompson is an elementary school teacher and as fate could have it, she was getting married to Lisa's dad. A really lovely story actually. He was always so busy, that Lisa had to spend most of the time at Gina's place while waiting for her single dad. Anyone could tell sparks would fly soon, we just didn't expect the little princess to want Gina as her mom after her birth mom left her father when she was only a year and a month old. I really wouldn't mind getting married to a divorcee, if he'd treat me the way Ethan treats Gina. "God yessss!!!! Please! Please! Yes! f**k me! Chrissss!!!!!" I was brought back to reality. "Ewww!!!", I felt nauseated. I hated our families for keeping our rooms close. I had different moans for lullabies almost every night. "Yes! Yes!! Please!!!!", the slut continued. I quickly turned off my lights and rushed into bed having the pillows over my head, but the smacking sounds of their genitals penetrated through my doors and through the pillow, reaching my ears. I knew the fool had his door wide open but the slut's scream had me wondering, was it still s*x??? "Oh yes!!!!!" I don't know if anyone else be hearing this, but all I saw were the many reasons I had depression. "Chris you goat!!! Arghhh!!!!". I stretched for my headphones and that was my safe passage to Dreamland. At least, I'll be leaving tomorrow.