Chapter 27
Mireya
Play - Fourth of July by Sufjan Stevens
Tattooed skin
The sky is still dark when I pull into Edna’s drive.
Milo is asleep in the passenger seat and for a second, I consider waking him up.
But instead, I sling his backpack over my shoulder and carefully gather him into my arms, nudging the car door shut with my foot slowly.
Blue is also taking a nap and I don’t want him to get up before going back to the campus.
My little brother is not so little anymore. He’s getting heavier but I still find myself swaying him gently as I cross the courtyard, the same way I did when he was small.
Edna opens the front door, and the warmth inside brushes over us. “Come in, come in before you catch a cold,” she says as she opens the door wide enough for us.
I place Milo down onto the sofa, and she returns with a woolly blanket.
“He’ll probably sleep for another hour or so,” I tell her as she throws the blanket over his little body.
My arms fall limp at my sides as I let out a loud sigh. I stare at the ceiling as Edna stands before me.
“Will this ever get any easier?” I ask her as I close my eyes for a moment.
Her fingertips as she brushes a lock of hair behind my ear, and my hands slowly unclench.
“No, but it will be worth it in the end.”
“Will it?” I ask her, trying to keep my voice steady.
She gives me a warm smile before glancing back at Milo. “I promise, Reya. Do you want some warm tea before you set off?”
I shake my head at her suggestion. “I can’t…I don’t want to be late.”
She moves in front of me, arms surrounding my body. I’m ten years old all over again.
She knows, she always knows. I close my eyes as her hands settle on my back. “You remember what I taught you?”
“One foot in front of the other,” we whisper those words together as I open my eyes.
A long sigh escapes my lips as I turn to look at Milo once more. “I’ll be back on Friday,” I say to him, even though he’s fast asleep.
“Be safe, Reya,” Edna says as she shuts the door softly behind me as I make my way towards my car.
I sit behind the wheel, and stare through the windshield at the sky.
Don’t fall asleep. It’s okay to be tired.
Then my phone buzzes. Edna’s name lights up my screen.
7 minutes.
I stare at the message, a small smile pulls at my lips before I can stop it. Seven minutes. All it takes to remember how to breathe.
I place my phone down, and turn the key to ignition. The drive was long and boring, and I made it in time before the final morning bells.
I park the car and hurry out, grabbing my bag from the backseat and Blue’s carrier. He’s still asleep as I walk to the dorm. I have half an hour to get ready so everything happens quickly.
A shower, a turtleneck pulled over my head and under the uniform to hide the bruises, a few minutes on the floor with Blue before I fill his bowls with fresh food and water.
Blue immediately leans into my hand when I’m done.
“You’re a spoiled brat, you know that?”
His tail flicks as I press a kiss to the top of his head and stand back up. “Give me five minutes, okay? Your mom needs coffee before playing a bit more with you.”
I grab my keys, and head downstairs to the cafeteria, waiting by the counter until they hand my cup over. The warmth of it settles into my palms as I make my way back upstairs.
When I open the door, I jolt as I notice Hayzel sitting on my bed, stroking Blue, who is too busy purring. Traitor.
“Shit. Hayzel, you could’ve called or texted like a normal person?”
She gives me a creepy smile as she tilts her head to the side. “Why would I?”
I glare at her before turning toward the mirror. The turtleneck covers most of what I need it to. My fingers still move to my hair, pulling it forward over the marks. I don’t want her to see them.
That’s when I feel a light and gentle touch on my back.
Hayzel comes into view, standing beside me, glancing at our reflection, “And yet, you say I am the vain one,” she says with a smile.
“You are vain…” I tell her, a small laugh escaping me.
“Come, Reya,” she continues, taking my hand in hers, “I got something for you.”
I allow her to pull me towards the end of my bed, taking a seat on the edge and watch closely. Hayzel bends over to retrieve something from the side. She then hands me a silver thermos with small doodles all around.
“Fireflies…” I whisper.
Hayzel smiles, nodding her head, “I thought it might, you know, cheer you up a bit.”
She extends her arms, and I reluctantly lean forward to hug her.
“Thank you,” I murmur the words in her hair as we squeeze each other tightly. “You’re still vain, even though you’re my best friend.”
“You’re welcome, now hurry up and finish getting ready. I don’t want Ms Green glaring at us again.”
I scoff at the thought before releasing her and she smiles at me as I blink back the tears that threaten to spill. “I am ready, woman.”
Hayzel nods her head before getting up and walking towards my door. “Nope, you forgot your pin. I’ll wait for you in the hallway,” she replies all proud of herself.
I close my eyes once more as the click of the lock echoes through the room, smoothing out any of the wrinkles on my jumper before attaching the pin to it.
My fingers linger on it for a second as I try not to think about the weekend. Not now.
My bag is waiting by the door when I turn around, but I barely make two steps before Blue circles my legs. I crouch down, smiling. “You’re going to be good, right?”
He blinks in response, and a laugh slips out of me. I press a kiss to his nose and grab my bag.
“I’ll be back soon, love you.”
I step in the hallway, and see Hayzel leaning against the wall with a smile.
For a moment I mirror it, trying to push everything away. The classes, the exhaustion, the pretending, all of it. I keep moving because there’s someone waiting for me at the end of this. And I’d do anything to make sure he never has to go through this.
All for firefly.