Chapter 1
ꨄ K Y R A ꨄ
"BYe, sister Grace," I smiled again at the tenth person that exited the church before taking a glance at my wristwatch and then at Mom talking to Pastor Ben's wife.
She was going to see her tomorrow. How long did the conversation have to take? Not like I wasn't used to this routine but my schedule was really tight and a lot of activities had her in it.
I force a smile again to cover up my frustration when the pastor's wife stares at me with a broad grin, I'm guessing Mom told her something about me which is fine, I get that a lot.
Finally, Mom rounds off her conversation with an "Amen," to a farewell prayer and a quick wave.
Soon, we're both seated in the front seat of our car buckling our respective seatbelts.
"That could've gone on for three years," I groan, turning on the car radio.
"Sorry baby but it's not my fault you don't know how to drive," She protests, turning on the ignition and slowly manoeuvring the vehicle away from the church's parking lot.
It's not my fault that the instructor for my driving test had poor hygiene, I just couldn't bear it anymore so I pulled over and vomited on the sidewalk. Now I was twenty-two with no driver's licence but just a mom-chauffeur to save money for a taxi.
I keep rotating the knob of the radio until I approach the perfect spot.
"Yeah,now that's what I'm talking about!" Mom squeals as Kirk Franklin's Revolution comes on.
Seconds later we sing along at the top of our voices letting the song flow through our bodies like electrocuted psychopaths then we stop at Starbucks for two cups of bubble tea, shop for a few things at the supermarket and finally arrive at our perfect little home.
Though a lot of people would argue that home isn't just a place but a feeling and if that was true I'm sure mine's a home.
I never got to see my father so I bonded with my mom, we were so close that most people mistook us for sisters; my brother usually made fun of how Mom duplicated but guess I just got lucky.
"I'll just heat up a few things for dinner, go freshen up," Mom urged.
"Okay," I smile, making my way to my bedroom through our little staircase.
When I arrive, I shut the door behind me and drop my Bible and church journal on my study desk before letting out a sigh after my eyes landed on my packed luggage.
I was ready to leave next week, not fully ready but almost ready. I'm not even gone and I already miss my mom. Adulthood deserves to be executed but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
I could always visit her, at least I don't have to bother learning how to drive a plane.
My phone starts ringing and I pull it from my purse to view the caller ID 'Jeremy', I swipe across the screen and I lay on the bed with the phone next to me.
"Hello," Jeremy greets.
"Hi,"
"How's it going?" he asks and a clunking sound emanates from the phone speaker, he's probably setting the table by now.
"Jey, do you think this is a good idea?"
"Hold on... don't tell me you're planning on reconsidering, Kyra you've dreamed about this all your life you can't just..is it because of your mom?" Jey questioned, I can tell he's putting his hand on his waist with that funny looking apron he got from his mom's wardrobe.
"Sort of," I mumble, picking up the phone and placing it on my ear. "Do you think she'll be fine without me?"
"Not a hundred percent but she'll do great, your mom loves you and I know she wants what is best for you and right now pulling off that internship at Immortal Fashion House is what you need and I know you'll do just great,"
My lips curl into a smile, "Thank you,"
"Nah, don't mention it. Oh do you want me to drop by tomorrow? You mentioned getting lava lamps for your apartment,"
"Yes, I almost forgot about that!"
"Glad you remembered, see you at nine then?"
"Sure,"
After ending the call, I prepared myself for a shower letting Jey's words of encouragement feel my head. Jey was the youngest son of a pastor at our church and I only got to know him ten years ago during summer camp.
I wouldn't call him my 'best' friend but we were close and because he was the only friend I had thanks to older brother's strict policies and over protective nature. I know my brother cares for me but sometimes he goes overboard with his judgments.
I run the shower for a while before stepping into it, relaxing my nerves and drifting back to the song the choir delivered this morning.
"Kyra! Dinner's here!" Mom called from downstairs, awakening me from my state.
I quickly step out after turning it off, "I'm coming!" I yell back before abruptly searching for a pair of pink shorts, a matching pink sweatshirt and soft indoor slippers.
I had no time nor energy to start moisturising my heap of curls so I just wrap a towel around my head and pull my MacBook from my desk including my tablet and stylus just in case I feel motivated or inspired to create another design.
With that, I head back downstairs blessing my nostrils with some Chinese noodles and freshly cooked ramen , "You ordered food?" I quiz, dropping my gadgets on an empty chair.
"Yes, I did,"
Shocking. I didn't hear when the delivery guy came by.
"But mom, we never eat out,"
"I know, I just wanted to treat you to something nice before you leave. I couldn't understand the blog online so I just bought some instead," she smiles, taking her seat and dishing out hers in a bowl she rinsed a few seconds ago.
Mom slid the bowl to my direction and I grabbed it and unwrapped the chopsticks from the small piece of cloth it was in.
"Oh," I mutter in realisation, "You should have ordered sushi too," I snorted, taking a full slurp of mine.
She laughs in response and then we finish our meal before snuggling up on the couch, to watch a movie after bickering for a few minutes we finally agree to watch Runaway Bride for the fifth time this month.
We both hum to the intro song when the movie begins and I rest my head on mom's lap while going through my flight details again as if it was going to disappear or magically change overnight.
It was my first time travelling abroad which was quite exciting but yet it made me nervous. I had been to the airport a few times but that was only to bid Brad my brother goodbye when he came by.
He left immediately when he was 18 to search for a life in the States and from the look of things, it was going well on his end. Now it was my turn to leave my mom alone here while I am across the country.
I had planned everything perfectly and even picked an affordable but fully furnished apartment to make things easier. I decided to pay the rent for two years at once just to avoid any stress.
Just then, I receive an email notification on my laptop. I lazily click the icon and read the heading.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
Dear Miss. Brown,
It is with utter grief that I inform you of the sudden termination of your housing deal with Green Living, shortly after your purchase I felt the need to give it to another bidder. Thank you.
Yours truly,
Mrs. Morrison.
"What?!" I yell, alerting my mom immediately.
I sit up and go through the email again, this doesn't make any sense. Closing the tab, I try visiting their website only to be face slapped by a dreadful notification - the site you've entered does not exist, I keep trying all to no avail. This can't be happening.
"Is anything the matter?" Mom asks.
I partly ignored her as I dropped my laptop on her lap before bolting to the telephone close by.
Flipping through my journal, I hastily inputted the number the agency gave me. A few rings and I got no answer, I called again and still nothing.
"No, this can't be happening!"
I was duped. Robbed in fact.
How could I be so dumb and foolish enough to trust those high pitched voices being over the phone, she sounded so convincing, so trustworthy, how could she give my apartment to someone else? Or better still nothing like Green Living existed given that their website URL wasn't working. Maybe this was a bad idea, I would probably become a hobo when I get to New York.
"What are they saying? Are they going to refund the money?" Mom queries, she had gone through the email already.
"I don't know," I croak in between, trying so hard not to cry.
I knew my life couldn't be going this easy, nothing has never gone easy for me so thinking this would is stupid.
"Aw, come here love," my mom gestures, dropping the laptop on the table as I approach her.
I snuggled up next to her as I sobbed quietly on her shirt. She's always supportive but how can she be so calm about this?!
"You know, I did tell you that they sounded off. I mean, who would rent a well furnished apartment for just 300$?"
"And 99 cents," I add followed by a series of loud crying noises.
"Okay and 99 cents, but still...maybe this is the universe telling you take another course of life, when one door shuts another definitely opens,"
I let her words of motivation seep into my head as I hugged her tightly until she dropped an atomic bomb directly into my ears.
"Maybe you could stay with Brad,"
