Sally
I lay awake, my eyes fixed on the ceiling as the thunderstorm raged on outside. The flashes of lightning illuminated my room, casting eerie shadows on the walls, but I didn’t flinch. I was lost in my own world, my mind a million miles away.
The sudden beep of my phone broke the spell, making me jerk upright. I lifted the device, my heart racing with anticipation, hoping against hope that it was Colby on the other end. But my excitement was short-lived as I saw Yvonne’s name flashing on the screen.
I sighed inwardly as I read her message: “So I guess you’re really back. I’m supposed to come confront you in your room right now, but my brother begged me not to.”
I rolled my eyes, feeling a mix of frustration and anxiety. How was I going to face the others now that they knew my secret? The weight of their expectations and questions hung over me like a dark cloud, threatening to suffocate me.
I dropped my phone onto the bed, my mind whirling with thoughts of how to pass through this new reality. The storm outside seemed to mirror the turmoil brewing inside me, and I couldn’t shake off the feeling that my life was about to change in ways I couldn’t yet imagine.
The next morning, I found myself on a bus heading home, my mind still reeling from the events of the previous day. I sat by the window, my eyes fixed on the passing scenery as my thoughts swirled with anxiety. How would I face my family? What would they say when they saw me?
As the bus pulled up to my stop, I gathered my belongings and stepped off onto the sidewalk. The familiar sights and sounds of my neighborhood enveloped me, but my nerves remained on edge. I trudged towards home, my feet heavy with trepidation.
Just as I approached the house, I saw Allison waiting for me on the porch. Her face lit up with a warm smile as she rushed towards me, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug.
“I’ve missed you so much!” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. “Where did you go? I’ve been waiting. Your mom said you’d be coming home today.”
I whispered an apology, feeling a pang of guilt for worrying her. “I’m sorry for keeping you worried.”
Allison pulled back, her eyes shining with tears. I gently wiped them away, trying to comfort her. But then her expression turned serious, and she said, “Everyone knows you can talk at home, Sally.”
I nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. Allison’s next question caught me off guard. “What about school? Does anyone know yet?”
I hesitated before responding. “Not yet. But as for Harry… I think he’ll soon spread the news.”
Allison’s eyes widened, and she asked, “Talking about Harry, what happened to him? The last time I saw him, he was unconscious.”
I felt a surge of concern, and Alison’s next words only added to my worry. “Oh! I remember, He’s actually at the hospital. I think he’ll be discharged this evening or tomorrow.”
I simply nodded, then held her hand.
“Let’s go inside,” I said to Allison, and she nodded in agreement.
As we entered the living room, I was surprised to see Colby lounging on the couch, watching TV with Yvonne by his side. When did they arrive? Oh, well. Maybe Jerry texted them too because he had texted me, saying he wanted to see me this Sunday concerning something important.
When I asked how he knew that I was back, he replied, saying Yvonne told them. Ugh! That little witch!
Colby was resting his head on her shoulder, and his eyes looked sunken. He let out a weak cough, and I wondered if he had caught a cold.
Yvonne turned to me with a sarcastic smile on her face. “Oh, you’re finally here, Sally. We were starting to worry.”
I scoffed, then turned my eyes to Colby. “What’s wrong with him? Is he okay?”
“He’s not that fine, but I think he’s better now that you’re here, Sally.”
I rolled my eyes, feeling a mix of emotions. “What about my mom?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
“She’s upstairs,” she replied. “And she wants to talk to us soon.”
Just then, Yvonne turned to Allison and said, “Allison, can you leave? This is kind of a family meeting. You aren’t allowed, duh!”
But I quickly intervened. “No, Allison can stay.”
Alison, however, shook her head. “No, no, don’t worry about me. Besides, I actually think she’s right. I think you guys do want to have a family meeting soon, so I should leave.”
I nodded, feeling a pang of gratitude towards her. “Yeah, okay. Thanks. I’ll tell you what’s up later.”
Allison smiled and hugged me before turning to leave. “Good luck, okay?” she said, before finally exiting the house.
As I walked upstairs, my eyes kept drifting back to Colby, who was still lounging on the couch. But he didn’t even acknowledge my presence, let alone greet me. I felt a pang of disappointment and wondered if he was ignoring me because I had confessed my feelings to him.
I pushed the thought aside and continued upstairs, my heart heavy with emotion. I reached my parents’ room and knocked softly on the door. My mom opened it, and her face lit up with a warm smile.
“Thank goodness, Sally!” she exclaimed, wrapping me in a tight hug.
“Mum… mum,” I whispered, feeling a lump form in my throat.
My mom pulled back, her eyes scanning my face. “You can really talk,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion, tears running down her cheeks. “How… How did you never talk? How did I not know about this?”
And then, without warning, I burst into tears. Mom’s face blurred as she pulled me into another hug. “It’s okay, Sally. You don’t have to tell me anything okay. But just remember I will always hear you out when you feel like talking to me, okay?” she said, her voice soft and gentle.
“You want to know why I never talked?” I asked, sobbing.
“What? I… I… Maybe,” she replied, her voice uncertain.
I struggled to speak, my voice cracking with emotion. “Because I’m not who you think I am,” I whispered, the words spilling out of me like a confession.