First Night

In my favorite yellow beach dress, and a hat an aunt just got me from Dubai, i ran across the beach from one end to the other chasing after nothing but just enjoying being young and free. It was hard to tell if it was my dress that made me feel this happy or the fact that I was on the beach.

What was it about my dress? It was a high-low dress with the front length at my knee and the back length at my ankle. I loved the halter neck and how my sister tied the neck into a bow. As I ran, the back flowed like the cape of a wedding dress. The hat seemed to block the sun rays from hitting my face directly but for me, it was more about how it made me feel. Quintessential!

My friends were beginning to worry about how care free I was today. The last time we came to the beach, I was scared to get near the water and I was startled by the waves but today was different. I ran into the water and will sometimes let the waves hit me rather than run as it came.

“Twinny be careful out there!” My best female friend called out to me. I let her know I was fine but was just enjoying nature at its best. While I was wrapped up in my own activities, the others played volleyball. It sure looked like fun but that was not my interest for the day.

It was 5:30pm and we were ready to go home. As I packed my lunch bag, I looked up and saw a figure approaching me. He wore blue thigh-high shorts, white sleeveless shirt and no shoes on. His glittery brown eyes pierced through his prescription glasses. He looked nothing close to athletic. Flat tummy but no abs, bare muscles but not trained. It seemed I was lost for some seconds as he approached me. Then he said to me “Besty is everything okay?”

Then I snapped out of my trance. It was my male best friend Josh. I almost forgot he came along with us. All the same it was a good day and I was glad to have come.

We all got in the truck. We were five in number. As we drove, Zesty our mutual friend who was also the driver for the day, suggested we stop at a bar and have one drink each. It seemed like a good idea. It was still early and we were all going to have just one bottle of alcohol each and that was it. Everyone apart from Zesty ended up having two bottles each.

I was to be dropped home first but then I remembered the atmosphere at home. Living with mum had become unbearable as she would always nag. Dad worked a lot and was tired a lot when he got home. There was a day mum asked me to do the dishes. While I was doing it, a plate fell off and shattered. “My bad,” I said. Mum came running down the stairs and said to me, “If you didn’t want to do it in the first place you should have said so. You are so difficult to live with. I can’t wait for you to get your own apartment.” I had just turned 18 years old a month before the incident.

“Zesty please don’t take me home. I had so much fun and I don’t want to ruin the rest of my day. My parents will be fine without me.”

“So, who would you spend the night with?” Zesty questioned.

 I’ll go home with my besty. So, we drove to Twinny’s house and to her surprise I wasn’t referring to her earlier. I had another besty in the truck.

“Bye Twinny I will spend the night at Josh’s.”

 “Are you sure about that?” she asked. “Of course, I am.”

 Still not convinced she added, “Call me if you need me to come pick you up.”

“No worries, Josh got me,” I said as I waved.

Even Josh was stunned. I had never spent the night at his. We were super close almost like siblings but I never saw the need to go that far. I never wanted anyone to think we were dating so my boundaries were clear. Well today I was making a different decision. Maybe it was the freedom that came with being 18 that kicked in and make me do things I never thought I’d do.

Josh said to me, “if you just want to hang out at mines for a few hours that’s fine I can still take you home later.” I declined and insisted on spending the night.

Well we got to Josh’s home. His mum and dad were away for a business trip. I got in said hi to cool uncle S (Josh’s uncle who lived with them) and Josh’s cute little sister Samurai. We ordered fries and chicken wings from my best fast food next to none, Wing Stop. It was the best dinner every time.

I didn’t pick any of my mum’s calls. Twinny was going to answer any question mum had. Well, at 11p.m. I took a shower and slipped into one of Josh’s shirt. Josh and uncle S allowed me to sleep in their room while they slept on the couches in the living room. After all, they were going to play computer games for the most part of the night.

At 3 a.m. I saw a tall dark figure enter my room. Before I got the chance to switch on the light or even scream, I was picked up from the bed and a thick sock was run over my mouth. Next thing, I was in the trunk of a car. As the car pulled out of the drive way, all I could hear was Josh scream “NOOOOOO!”

It started as lovely day, with me living my best life. I had made a decision that seemed harmless. How could I have ever known that Uncle S was into drugs? He had made a drug deal and didn’t meet up with the agreement. I was picked up as a lesson to uncle S. Will he ever meet up?

I do not know how many months have gone by but my ink is drying out in this windowless basement.