he/they; got that tisim rizz Not anything you heard about Former fic writer trying to crawl back to my old skills I draw, I write, but I canât read anymore
It had been a long day, every day was a long day in Amityâs life. Tied between her parents, her schoolwork, and lack of motivation, Amity had been falling in every aspect of her life. She went from straight A, perfect high school student, doing everything her parents asked, to, as of that morning, a college dropout with no future ahead of her. Because of that, she decided to take the long way home, to look at the local city, take in the trees, and the calming breeze in the graying sky.
âOkay Amity Blight- you have no future, and gave up being perfect. Thatâs okay.â Amity tried mumbling to herself on the streets. âYou are fine. This is good. relaxed looks good on you anyways. Your mom wonât kill you.â She found her heart racing more and more with every step. âBascha might hate you now, and you may have no friends now that your siblings are free, but thatâs okay. Itâs fine. You know how to make friends.â
Amity puffed her chest and saw herself in a reflection. Her green hair was falling in every direction, her roots vivid and dark against the color. Her eyes were framed with dark circles, her skin pale, her frame frail. She looked grotesque and disheveled, now with a puffed chest and worries written in her every breath.
âWho am I even kidding. Iâll be shocked if I can make it out of that house alive after this.â Amity sighed and hung her head down low, tracing the ground with her eyes as she continued the walk.
âUhm, excuse me?â A familiar voice spoke, not far behind Amity.
Amity perked up to look around for who it could be- hoping it wasnât anyone to make her day worse than it needed to be. That was, until her eyes met a pair of circle frame glasses, a rounded face, and a smile that felt warm and welcoming. âWillow?â
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âAmity! Is that really you?â Willow smiled, stepping closer to Amity.
âWow, I canât believe itâs you.â Amity said, moving towards Willow.
âItâs been what, seven years?â
âI-â she quickly counted out the numbers on her hands before continuing, âYeah, seven years since we last got to talk. How are you? Didnât your family move before high school ended? To some, country or whatever- it had plants.â
Willow laughed and placed a hand on Amityâs shoulder. âYeah- My grandma decided to give me her old business when I graduated. She worked here with me, but she went to the family a while ago.â
âMan- how is she?â
âOn the decline, but in her age, Iâm just happy to still have her. Plus, the business is thriving and I know that makes her really happy.â Willow smiled.
âI canât believe that, I always thought sheâd work there until the end.â Amity chuckled.
âWell you havenât seen her in the past few years. Itâs good sheâs resting.â
âYeahâŠâ they both went quiet.
âI- I guess I should get back to work. It was nice seeing you-â Willow said, her smile now dropped.
Amity nodded and turned off back onto her path.
âWait- Amity!â Willow shouted less than a minute later.
Amity turned around to see Willow running over, something in hand. âYes?â
âHereâs my new phone number, and the shop address. Come back around. Iâd like to catch up.â Willow placed a paper into Amityâs hand and smiled. âI hope maybe we can make amends.â
Amity smiled and watched Willow run back, her heart racing as she placed the paper into her pocket. Perhaps if she survived the night, she would try again with Willow. After all, it was Amity who pulled them apart.
The walk stretched on and on, yet wasnât long enough. Amity stepped one sore leg after the other, as she started up the stairs to the grand double doors, ready to hear the worst. Once at the top, she took a deep breath and opened the doors. The familiar scent of incense and lavender welcomed her as she stepped in, her eyes darting around for her parents. Once she saw all was clear, she started running through the hall and up the staircase to her room. Through the day, she planned this very situation. In every possibility, she needed a go bag, and fast. So she hastily grabbed anything important and irreplaceable and started shoveling that into her empty school bag. Clothes, charger, emotional support childhood item, hygiene supplies, all a check. Now it was time for the worst part. Telling her parents. Ruining her life for forever, moments away.
âAh Amity. Are you finally joining us for dinner?â Odalia asked, her voice calm, with an undertone of what felt like sarcasm.
âI-â Amity felt the blood drain from her face as she stood in front of her mother. âI already ate.â That was a lie.
âAh, then I will pack up your dinner in case you want it during classes tomorrow.â Odalia said, starting off towards the dining room and kitchen. âHow are your classes anyways? I know your grades should be coming through soon.â
Amity paused, and quickly shuffled after her mother. âThat- haha. Actually-â
âI hope you tell Professor Brown I say hello. You know, he was my professor when I went through and got my degree in psychology.â
âMother- I dropped out.â Amity spat, her mom pausing, and not turning around.
âHm. I guess that is to be expected. You were never the best child of mine.â Odalia said calmly, too calmly.
âOh- well, is that, okay?â Amity asked, picking at her fingernails as she looked towards her mother, back still turned.
âI had expected this from you. Good for you, I had something to discuss at dinner. Now is as good of a time as any.â Odalia turned around and looked at Amity, her eyes serious. It sent a chill down Amityâs back. âThere has been an opportunity provided to us by Mr. Belos to join our companies if, his nephew could take you as a wife.â
âI donât want an arranged marriage!â Amity said abruptly. âThis is the twenty-first century. Arranged marriages are a thing of the past.â
âYou should consider my offer. Iâll make peace with a dropout for a daughter, but I will not let you disobey me.â
âWhy should I care? I donât want to marry some hand-washed rich boy who doesnât know how to dress himself.â
âHeâs a perfectly fine boy. You canât be picky anyways. No boy would honestly want you, and with your standards, you wonât find a husband who meets your standards. At least this one will let you do whatever you want without your degree.â Odalia started to raise her voice, her calm and stern demeanor fading into anger.
âYou just havenât settled for the right one. Just say yes.â
âI will never say yes. I will make my own choices. I am in my twenties, you can not make my decisions for me. You should just leave me alone.â
âThat will not be allowed in my house, not if you are to continue taking my money. Not if you wish to get anything when your father and I pass on.â Odalia said, her brows furrowed, a vessel popping out of her forehead.
âItâs not like I was going to get shit from you anyways.â
âWatch your tongue young lady! You are not to say such words.â Odalia said, anger still bubbling up in her voice.
âI can say whatever I please. I am an adult- I- I donât need you!â Amity shouted at her mother, all fear now replaced with every emotion she had held back from her mother.
âIf you do not need me, then leave, and do not think of reaching back out when you falter as you always do.â Odalia said, now shouting back.
âFine. You werenât much of a mother anyways.â Amity said, one final blow before storming off to her room.
She grabbed her bag, locked her bedroom door, and sighed, looking at her room for one last moment. The bed in the corner, the large circle window, posters, and old school books. Twenty three years, and this was it. It really hadnât dawned on her what it would mean if she ever truly had to run. Itâs not like there really was a way to prepare for leaving everything behind. She always knew there would be one day she would leave and never go back. Still, there was a certain surrealism to it. Twenty three years of life, gone in a flash. So she whispered one final goodbye to her room before opening the large circle window and swinging her legs out for what would hopefully be the last time. Down the house she went, as fast as she could, to the only place she could think to go. The only person who would still take her in. Willow.
It didnât take long for her to find her way back to the flower shop, her heart pounding heavy in her chest. What was she to say, what was she to do? She was appearing to her old friendâs house, in the middle of the night, looking for shelter. As she thought her situation couldnât get more pathetic, she felt rain begin to pelt her from overhead. She took a deep breath and rung the bell. She watched through the glass windows as yellow lights flickered on and a silhouette started to appear and shuffle closer. The same kind, round face greeted Amity, with squinted eyes she opened the door, messy pigtail buns forcing her to wipe her eyes.
âAmity!â Willow said, as it clicked who she was looking at. âCome in.â
Amity shuffled in, Willowâs arm reaching and pulling her through the shop and up stairs until they reached what looked like an apartment door.
âWhat happened to you?â Willow asked, opening the door and immediately pushing Amity into a comfy chair.
âI uh⊠I ran away.â Amity said quietly.
âYou still live with Odalia and your dad?â Willow asked over the sound of her putting water in a kettle and setting it on a stove.
âYeah, they wanted me to until I graduated college.â Amity started picking at her fingernails again as she kept her head turned down, her usually perfect bun now loose and falling to the sides of her face.
âOh, Iâm sorry Amity. Youâre welcome to stay with me. I have an extra bedroom you can use.â
Amity looked over to Willow and gave a weak smile. âYouâve always been so kind.â
âItâs just part of being a good person.â Willow said as she handed Amity a cup of tea, steam still rising from the cup.
Amity blew the hot liquid as she held it in her hands. âI wouldnât know.â
Willow sat down in the chair next to her and sighed. âThat was Odalia. She was, controlling. I think you probably have some good inside of you, just waiting to come out.â She shot Amity a comforting smile.
Amity sighed, holding back. âI donât know. I couldâve said no.â
âThat doesnât mean you canât change. You were reliant on Odalia, you were alone. Why donât you give yourself a chance and work here. Get on your feet.â
Amity looked up at Willow, her eyes misty. âYou- youâd do that for me? After all I did to you?â
Willow smiled softly and nodded. âYouâre still my BFF. Thatâs forever.â
Amity set the cup down and reached to hug Willow. âThank you, thank you.â
Willow hugged her back. Eventually Amity relaxed and sipped on her cooling tea, feeling warmer, lighter. The night went on for a while longer where the two women talked back and forth. It was as though the past didnât matter, and all Amity had was her future, in her hands. The lights from outside continued to go out until there was no light left in the large living area. Eventually Willow retired off into her room, leaving Amity alone in the dark living room. She sipped on her tea, looking out to the city around, and once all the liquid was gone from her cup, she took the dishes and washed them before finally wandering to the guest room, alone.