Riches and roses

One

I didn’t think my day could get any worse, waking up on the floor when you really slept on the bed was bad enough. I groaned and rubbed my sore arms as I sat, how the hell did I end up on the floor? This has never happened. With a sigh I stood and walked like a zombie to the bathroom and stared at the mirror, I almost didn’t recognize myself, jeez! It looked like a rat had spent the night in my hair. I stared at my face in the mirror surprised at the dazzling beauty in front of me, gray eyes stared back at me, my messy auburn hair gave me a gothic look and there was my body, I always got many stares from guys after I have passed them, i would hear whispers of: ‘Bubble butt’ which embarrassed me. I just wanted to be normal not draw looks from guys. I slipped out of my clothes and settled in the bathtub, sighing as the warm water soothed my skin. It seems like we lived luxuriously, but this house was built by my dad and it was the only thing he had before he died. We were as poor as church rats. I am currently jobless and have to carter for my sick mom and younger sister, who was in a music school and needed money to continue her studies overseas.

I finished from the bathroom and dried my wet hair, and put on a black shirt on blue Jean, my style. My door opened and my sister, Ava, poked her head in, we could have passed as twins except that she had blonde hair and blue eyes and where I was timid and reserved, she was damn care-free and bold, she liked wrapping guys around her finger, something which I detested.

“Mom’s condition is worsening,” she deadpanned. I stared at her, sadness and frustration washing over me.

“What happened” I asked and Ava stared at me, her blue eyes hardened as she took in the clothes that I wore.

“She is not talking, it took her a full minute to say Ava” she answered and stormed off.

That’s one thing about Ava, she also has a quick temper, but she is very cunning. Sighing, I walked to my mother’s room and choked down a sob when I saw her. My once beautiful mother now looked twenty more years older. She looked terribly thin and pale, her auburn hair, which I inherited was loosing its color and I could see it getting white.

“Oh God” I whispered and took her head, it was cold to the touch.

“Di…..ana” she rasped and closed her eyes, asleep, a tear dropped from my eyes, and I steeled my resolve, I am going to get this woman to an hospital, I don’t care the job I do.

“Everything is gonna be fine mom” I kissed her forehead and walked out.

The sun was damn high today and I wished I had worn my hat, My phone dinged and I stared at the message and I laughed in joy, a woman stared at me like I was mad and steered clear, but the truth was I didn’t give two f***s, I was gonna work in an aviation company, and I knew secretaries weren’t paid that much but it was still something and With a little bits of saving I could buy mom drugs and later take her to an hospital. Grinning like an i***t, I boarded a cab to the company.

The company was the largest I had ever seen. A large skyscraper rising hundreds of feet into the sky, besides it was a large factory, I guess that’s where they make the airplanes and other means of air travel. The message in my email indicated that I was to resume tomorrow, but being the curious type I wanted to see how the company looked, with a grin I turned around, heading for home with a new bounce to my steps.

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When I got home, I was greeted by the smell of good food, probably Ava’s handwork but that was not where my mind was. With the biggest smile on my face, I entered my mom’s room, she was sitting while Ava silently watched her eat.

“How is she?” I asked Ava and she smiled, and stared at me.

“She’s fine, where did you go to?, I guess you went to find a job, How was it?” She said and I grinned.

“I got one” I said beaming, “I get to work as a secretary in an Aviation company”

“Name?” Ava asked and I stared at her cut by surprise, I didn’t even know the company name. She grinned at me

“You don’t the name? Jeez sis! Really” she laughed and I smiled, Ava was damn funny, we fought a lot but when we were on good terms we became almost best friends

“When are you starting” Ava asked.

“Tomorrow” I replied, mom had been silent the whole time me and Ava conversed, I guess she must be gathering strength to speak. She finished the last of her plate and she smiled at me.

“Hi mom, how are you doing today?” I asked and she stared at me.

“I Am…..fine dear” she replied and gripped my hand, it was still weak but it was better than nothing.

She closed her eyes and tears welled up in me, here was a once hard headed woman, strong and bold now reducing to a weak, sick person, choking back my sob, I staggered to my room and plopped on the bed. I wondered about the aviation company, It still felt damn like a dream, ever since I had graduated from a university, I had never gotten a job even with the certification I had, that was how bad it was.

Ava barged in and dropped in the bed beside me, she stared at my auburn hair, neatly brushed.

“Did I brush that?” She asked

“No you didn’t” I rolled my eyes knowing what she meant and she smirked.

“Don’t just scatter the poor thing, anyways I look more beautiful than you big sis, you are a bit of a nerd, are you? Maybe you cut some slack” she said and I smiled, there she goes again, Ava always think everything was competitive with me, but I could not help but smile, I love my family and tomorrow was going to be the beginning of the end of our problems.