Chapter 15

Mouth agape, eyes widened like two saucers, I stood there rooted to the spot. My mom looked like a thief caught stealing pennies.

My eyes slowly trailed down to the injection she was still holding inside her vein. My heart started beating erratically as thoughts filled my head. Was Mon taking drugs to calm her nerves? Does she miss dad so much that she decided to take drugs. Have she become a drug addict? Or was she sick?

I just couldn't get my head wrapped  around it. It wasn't everyday one walked into their mother while taking injections.

"Mom…" my voice stuck in my throat. I wasn't able to form a coherent sentence in my head as I just stared at her blankly.

She looked at me shocked to see me standing at the doorway. She quickly shoved everything aside, her fingers drumming on the kitchen island.

"Ruby…"

"Were you taking drugs because of Dad?" I asked, interrupting her from whatever she was going to say.

She stared at me for a while then slowly shook her head.

I sighed in relief, happy that she wasn't taking those happy pills.

"Then what are the drugs and syringes for?" I raised an eyebrow as I walked closer to the island to take a look at the drugs. My hand wasn't even an inch close when my mother smacked my hands away from her medicine.

"Ouch! What was that for?" I asked, rubbing the back of my hand.

"There are some things that do not concern you. I need you to head back to your room. I am going to let go of  the fact that you came home way past your curfew" she said giving me a kind smile.

"I don't under-"

"Get the Fu*k out of here Ruby and go to your room!! No question asked" she shouted.

I took a step back, startled with the reality that my mother had just raised her voice at me using a curse word.

She gave me a stern gaze which was stating that she won't take any disobedience from me. I looked at her one last time before heading to my room.

What exactly are you hiding mom? Was she sick and she didn't want me or Amina to know? But why would she hide her sickness, what if she needs help? She had shouted at me, while making sure I did not ask her anything.

Or does she have cancer? We all share one bathroom...I haven't seen any falling hair...Gosh I am so confused.

After a quick shower, I sat on the vanity chair looking at myself in the mirror after wearing a pink cashmere sweater and shorts. I took the cream bottle and started applying it on my skin, massaging it on my face and forearms. I placed my hair in a rubber band before heading towards my bed. 

It wasn't a big room, it was little but manageable for two. It had a bunk bed, where Amina took the top and I took the bottom. Even though it was little we had made it look sophisticated by adding fairy lights and some designs. Amina favourite artist posters hung up on the wall, my books in a little book shelf beside the bed.

I switched off the lights before cuddling with my teddy bear, hoping to have a goodnight sleep, but I wasn't able to fall asleep as thoughts ran around in my head.

Jason's surprise date and my mom's drugs. The day started well, but it had ended with me having more questions  than before.

I can't help but wonder if these drugs added to the reasons why my father left.