Cold, Lonely World

"Wait up! I just wanted to talk to you," said Monica, lonely. It was her second year in New York City and she still hasn't made any friends. Her mother moved her here a couple of years ago because she got promoted. Monica has been having a tough time making friends. Monica walks in the house sad, "Hey Monica, what's wrong? Still haven't made any friends huh?" Monica's mother asks. "No. Mom why can't we just move back to Philadelphia? Life was so much easier. I had friends, a job, perfect grades. Nothing feels the same anymore." Monica says sadly. She rolls her eyes and walks to her room and slams her door. Her mother knocks on the door, "Monica come out honey we can talk about this." "No mom. I'm sick of this. I want to go live with dad. You don't even talk to me anymore, just go to work like you always do, I know you have to leave." Monica says angrily.

Her mother walks away and grabs her purse off the chair. A part of her knew Monica was right, living there was only tearing her apart and she was always too busy to focus on her. Her mother left to go to work. Monica starts playing music and talks to herself, "How could she move us to a city that never sleeps and I can't find a single friend. Life isn't fair. I just want to go back home." Monica cries herself to sleep.

The next morning, Monica wakes up. She lays in her bed for 10 minutes thinking to herself, do I even want to leave the house today? My day is just going to go the same. I might as well just stay in bed. I am invisible to everyone. Monica was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard knocking on her door. "Monica get up sweetie, it's time for school," her mother says cheerfully, "I made you some pancakes, eggs and bacon, with a side of orange juice."

Monica got dressed and threw on her everyday outfit, a wife beater, distressed denim jeans, button down plaid shirt around her waist and her black combat boots. She never liked getting dressed up for school, but she also never liked walking around looking a mess. Monica went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth and hair. She ran downstairs and started eating her food.

Monica looked up and realized her mother left a note on the fridge that read, Maya I would like you home by 6. We need to talk about something important. I had to go to work. I will be home early. -Love Mom.

Monica crumbled the piece of paper up and threw it away. Monica wasn't in the mood to go to school so she chose to skip it. It isn't the first time she decided to stay back from school. She decided to take a walk and listen to music. She was listening to I Wanna Know by Joe when her music was interrupted by  a phone call. "Hey Moni. Do you know who this is?" A familiar voice said on the other end of the phone. "Oh my gosh!" Monica exclaims, "Is this Makai?" Makai laughs, "Yes girl. You knew exactly who this was. How have you been?"

"I have been living." Monica didn't want her closest friend concerned. Although they had been friends since 1st grade, they hadn't talked for a whole year. "What makes you call me? How did you get my number?" Monica questions. "Girl what's all the questions for? I got all your answers for you, just right now I want to know all about you. Like what's school like and why aren't you in it?" Makai says. Monica looks around nervous. "How did you know I wasn't in school?" Monica asks worried. Makai chuckles, "Again with the questions LOL. Don't worry about what I know and don't know. But look I got to go, but just know our conversation will continue. You go continue with that walk of yours LOL."

Monica continued on with her day in fear. She didn't know how Makai knew everything, she hadn't seen him in a little over a year. Monica went to her favorite place to eat Shelly's Kickback. She was there whenever she skipped school. “Hello. My name is Drea, and I will be your server for the day,” one of the waitresses said as she greeted Monica. Monica looked up and said, “May I have the Shelly's Lunch Special please and a sprite?” The waitress looked at Monica and replied, “Yes would that be all?” Monica nodded.

After waiting 5 minutes, the waitress brought the food out and placed it in front of Monica. "Thank you.” Monica says to the waitress. The waitress turns around and walks away. Monica starts eating her food when she looks up and there was a little girl staring at her. The little girl's mother snatched her by the arm and yelled, “What did I tell you about staring at people. It isn't polite. Especially while they are eating.” Monica frowns and gets back to eating. She hated the way the parents in New York talked to their kids. She always wanted to work at a daycare, but in New York nobody wants to hire a 16 year old female with no experience. It wasn't like in Philadelphia. Monica knew that as long as she stayed in New York she would forever be lonely. She had no friends or family to talk to. All of her friends had lives. Most of them were in sports or had jobs. 

Monica finished her food and started to walk home. It was going on 3:00 and she wanted to catch up on some episodes of The Parkers. She always envied the relationship Kim had with her mother because she didn't have a mother like that. Monica was always a daddy's girl. Her and her father were always together except when he had work. He was a child psychiatrist and he was amazing with children. Monica would go to work with him when she was a child. Monica turned on some light music and took a nap.

6:00 came around and Monica's mother came home. "Monica sweetheart, wake up.” Monica's mother yelled. Monica started to open her eyes when she saw two people standing above her in her sleep. She jumped off of the couch so fast. “MAKAI! W-w-what, what are you even doing here?” Monica asked as she ran up to hug him. She gave him a long kiss. “I missed you sooooo much.” Makai kissed her back, “I missed you more Moni. You have to listen to what your mother is about to tell you okay?” Monica let go and looked at her mother with curiosity. “What is it? Is it something bad? Oh no, my life is already messed up,” Monica asked with hyperventilation. Makai grabbed her arms and shook sense into her, "MONICA! Sit down and listen. It is nothing bad geez woman, get a grip.”

Monica, Makai sat on the sofa and her mother sat in the personal chair. “Monica, I realized how much moving to New York has impacted your life. Now this is a huge city and I know you have been lonely and I haven't been much helped by neglecting your feelings. Now I know you and Makai have been dating for over a year now, which I am still lenient about, but I also know you two have been friends since you were children. Makai has always wanted to stay in New York and there are some colleges he has been looking at in New York, so the point I am trying to get at is, Makai is going to be staying with us until you two go off to college next year. Is that okay?” 

Monica looked over at Makai with tears in her eyes. “Is this for real? Cause if you two are playing some prank on me I promise you, I will run away and you two will never hear from me again,” Monica said seriously. Makai nodded, “It's for real Moni. My mother already approved, as long as I maintain good grades and stay out of trouble.” Monica jumped and hugged her mother, “I'm sorry for what I said yesterday, I know you have to work to pay bills. Thank you so much for this mom. I love you.” Monica's mother hugged her and said, “Now you two don't have too much fun, I don't want no little grandbabies runnin’ 'round this place. Do you hear me?” Makai and Monica both nodded and kissed each other. “Come on Makai we have a lot to catch up on, we are going to be two lonely people in this cold, lonely city!” Monica exclaimed.