Her first emotion should have been panic but it wasn’t. An overwhelming sadness enveloped Susan instead. She wandered around the house like a zombie. The only items left behind were all hers.
Sure, her mother beat her and she was left to fend for herself but at least there was someone here. At least there was something familiar. Now it felt like a tomb, empty and echoing. She was left behind again.
Then her unborn child kicked. She wasn’t completely alone. They would survive. It’s what she and Missy learned to do since before they could walk. This would be no different. Her grandparents and aunt would make sure Susan got to school and had money for lunch. With them, there was always a price to pay for what they did. She would have to work off her debt to them. It’s how the world worked. Nothing ever came for free.
Luckily tomorrow was Saturday so Susan had time to think. Maybe this was a good thing. Maybe her sister would come back now. She sure as hell couldn’t go there. Instead of going out with her friends, she decided to go to bed early. It would take a while to fall asleep since it was a very hot day. No air conditioning meant laying in a pool of your own sweat. Not a great way to rest.
Sleep finally came but sounds of shuffling woke her way too soon. Susan lay there as quietly as she could. Memories of being robbed in the night while their mother was at work flooded her mind. One-time, heavy breathing loomed over her as she pretended to sleep. Only when the person left did she open her eyes. This had to be the same situation. Only the sun was up.
She kept her eyes tightly closed while footsteps came closer. A dip in her bed told her someone sat next to her. She held her breath. But when a light hand touched her shoulder, Susan nearly screamed.
It wasn’t until the person spoke that her nerves finally settled. It was her stepmom sitting there trying to wake her up. “Come on, Susan. We need you to get up and get your things together.”
Susan shot up. “What?”
“You’re coming with us.” She pat Susan on the arm then stood. “I know it’s not what you want but you can’t be here alone. We can stop at a pay phone to let you call your friends and Missy. They’re all welcome to come visit anytime.”
As soon as her stepmom left, Susan broke down crying. Now she was the one leaving everybody. Now she would have to go to a new school where no one knew her, and they would all judge her. More upheaval, more isolation. She wanted her sister. At least they could visit.
Groaning, Susan got out of bed and headed straight to the bathroom. Her baby seemed to love sleeping on her bladder. She stopped mid-stride when a hand from inside her body rubbed up and down against her belly. It filled her with overwhelming joy. Everything had to better where she was going. It just had to be.
