'S

I peeled off my clothes and stepped into the shower. The wat

ized myself. Tired eyes. Sunken cheeks. My once-vibrant brown sk

st can

s a black American, so I inherited my skin tone from

ng and puffy afro hair. It was a gleaming black, fu

began the painful proc

t, but I couldn't. My afro was one of t

to a neat puff at the center and adde

oom, and was halfway down the st

exactly are

ng to Mary

book, nodded vaguely, t

t lin

back in t

idn't

oing. Normally she ignored me completely and would go about her business. But

te. No car. I wasn't allowe

way, so it wouldn't hurt to walk. Al

er front door, I

g d

ng," some

pened - Ma

looked me up an

e this days as I always g

I greeted politely as I

gnore

ant?" she spat

e.." I replied in a shaky tone, but

" Mary's voice c

out and saw me. He

my name as she c

away with a scowl

was now gone, I

t wanted to see you

g her arms after she had shut the door behind

at

aback by t

was I doi

irst visit t

mitted to vi

speak to you", I said as I took a

n talk

t finally nodd

my calls and I haven't been seeing your calls for a l

pened. I just didn't

shes as I blin

didn't yo

fully did

mile in response

ful girl, but we can't be f

sliced t

y? What d

child. You're only eighteen and you look thirty. You've become... a disgrace. You are regarded as a whore t

n I smiled - a pained and disappointed smile. Afte

. Don't come back," she said, a

ng at the wood. My k

by now. You have always being cast away b

strong by now, but

was to make no difference. But damn! Mary had been my best

s like

ed in my purse. Taking i

ni

hard and

ell

you. Wait, you're heading back already

e sound of my footsteps and t

tears streamin

said, vo

did i

everything Mary had said. But I co

owed my

. went

u s

sed.

happened,

her. He could always tell whe

e me, nothi

when you get home. Good

ye

ed the phone into my p

I didn't try to