An Excerpt from This is The Beginning by Christine A. Watson

I wake up to the sun shining on my face through the slats of the blinds. I stretch and smile at what this day is bringing. Finally. I look over at the clock on my nightstand and see that it’s nine thirty.

“Whoa, I slept late. I can get used to this.” I say to the room.

I kick the covers off and jump out of bed. I’m so full of energy, revved up and ready to get this show on the road.

Of course I still need a coffee fix. I make a cup of French Roast and sit on the couch in front of the television while drinking it. I flip to HGTV to see what’s on and it’s the Carol Duvall show. I enjoy crafts and I’ve always wanted to take up quilting, so I’m enthralled in watching a guest show how she makes a certain patch for her quilts. Once my cup of joe is consumed, I wash the mug and place it back into the cabinet.

“I better get dressed. It’s ten and Phil could wind up being a bit early if he is as excited as I am.” I shower and lotion and once finished toss the bottle into my bag. After I’m clothed I sit at my vanity and put on the earrings I sat there last night. I stare at my face in the mirror. My skin looks good and my eyes are very clear. I look healthy and happy. I’m pleased with what I see. My hair is disheveled but it only takes a few strokes of the comb to straighten it out.

I remember then that I need to put a few hair scarves into my bag as well so that I can keep it tied up in the hot tub. Oh yeah…shoot! I forgot my bathing suits. I don’t have time to try them on so I just pick out a few that I think will still fit. None of them are very homely looking, they all have some appeal to them so I don’t even worry about them being too revealing or not. “Oh well…I’ll just hope for the best.” I say to my suitcase and shut it for the last time. As soon as I do, the doorbell rings. My heart jumps with excitement and I almost run to the door. I look out the peep hole and my heart sinks right into my stomach. It’s Matriece.

I’m so put off that I slap my fist into the palm of my other hand, then pace by the door in anticipation. I know I have to open the door. I know I have to send her away. I don’t want Phil pulling up and seeing the drama my life seems to attract. I take two very deep breaths. She rings the door bell again.

I open the door and we lock eyes. She doesn’t say anything and neither do I. Finally, I’m the first to speak.

“What?” I say in a calm, cool tone.

“I messed up.” She says.

I roll my eyes at her.

“I’m sorry.” She says.

“Go away.” I tell her.

“I said that I’m sorry.”

“I said go away. And I mean to go away for good, don’t ever come back. You are no longer welcome in my life Matriece. I don’t need your little childish tantrums. I don’t know what you’ve been smokin’ but I suggest you run back to your girlfriend and harass her instead of me. I am so serious.” I say in a controlled manner. It’s getting hard for my temper to remain calm.

“She’s not my girlfriend. She gave me something…she burned me. Come on Symone, we’ve been friends for too long to let this come between us.”

“Friend went out the window the day you started tripping on me at your apartment. Showing out for your little nasty girlfriend. Go away.” I say with command. I give her my evil eye and she bows her head, her eyes to the ground.

“I don’t have anywhere to go Symone. I lost my place.”

I hold back a laugh.

“You think this is funny?” She asks hurt.

“Yes. Now go before I call the cops on you for trespassing.”

We stare at each other for what seems like forever. The air is heavy with the tension between us.

“I guess I was right about you. You are an uppity little bitch. And to think I wanted you for myself all these years. You ain’t nothing, you barely have a heart.” She spits out.

“Are you serious?” I ask incredulously. “All the times I’ve helped you. All the times I gave you money or food because you were hurting! Helping you get your apartment, helping you get a car, then you totaled it in a stupid rage over some man! You are your own worst enemy Matriece! Don’t blame me for all your silly mistakes! Your biggest mistake with me was taking me for granted. I am no longer your friend… Don’t forget that. Now, go...away…and…never…come…back.” I say the last sentence so meticulously to avoid any mistake of my sincerity.

We stare at each other once more. There is so much emotion inside of her. I see anger, frustration, fear and regret written on her face and scorched deep in her eyes. She knows she messed up something and can’t make it any better this time.

“You are going to regret this.” She says with a snarl.

“I doubt that.” I say back to her. I refuse to let her have the last word after all she’s put me through.

She turns to walk down the steps. She looks good to be homeless. She’s wearing a three quarter length black leather coat. Outfitted for winter with tight black leggings, boots, hat, scarf. She doesn’t look homeless to me.

As she’s walking away I see Phil turn the corner and he drives up to my place and parks next to my car. I watch Saucy walk slowly away. She turns and looks back at me and she sees Phil get out of the car. She shakes her head then turns around and continues her trek. I can hear the salt crunching under her boots with each step she takes.

I look at Phil and relief floods through me. The iciness in my veins melts and my heart is now pounding fast for him. He comes up to me and opens the screen door. He walks in and hugs me tight. I try not to cry, but I can’t help myself. The frustration and disappointment I feel towards Matriece spills out of me. I cry and Phil holds me.

“I’m sorry. What a way to start off the trip, huh?”

“It’s okay. It’s best to get it out now and that way you won’t have to worry about it later.” He says comfortingly.

He strokes my hair and kisses my forehead.

“You are so good to me.” I say to him.

He smiles and gives me one final tight squeeze then lets me go.

“I’m assuming she’s the friend you fell out with?” He asks.

“Yes, she just showed up on the doorstep this morning.” I say while carefully wiping the tears from my eyes.

“Do you feel that you all have finally come to a close?”

“I do, I don’t know if she does though. I can’t believe her nerve of showing up here after all she’s put me through.” I shake my head back and forth in disbelief.

“Well, if you are done with her and you told her that, there’s nothing more you can do.” He rubs my arm with his hand then lifts my chin so that I’m looking at him. He wipes my cheeks with his fingertips. “Go on and get ready. I’m going to take you away from here a while and when we get back I will help you through everything. Go on and wash your face. I’ll be waiting in here.” His words are kind and comforting.

I do as he says. I walk back to my room and into the bathroom. I look at myself in the mirror and I look a mess. My eyes are pink and so is my nose.

“Great.” I say to my reflection.

I take a washcloth and put it under warm water. The heat is soothing and I feel my body relax.

“That needed to happen.” I tell myself. Unfinished business is always just that. And I don’t do well with things being open ended. I’m glad I was able to tell her to stay away from me to her face. It certainly got the point across.

I hang up the wet cloth and head into my room. I pull my moisturizer and make-up out of my toiletry bag and sit at the vanity to re-apply. I look better now. Fresher. I’m ready to go. I take a deep breath and head back into the living room with my bags in tow.

When Phil sees me he smiles and jumps out of the chair to help me with my bags.

“You look like you are feeling a bit better.” He says while picking up my suitcase and taking the toiletry bag out of my hand.

“I am feeling better. I have you to thank for that. I’m ready to go.” I say cheerfully and give him a great big smile.

“That’s my girl.” He kisses me briefly on the lips. He then crooks his body over like my suitcase weighs a ton and says playfully, “Dag, what do you have in here?”

I give him a look that says ‘you have got to be joking’.

“I’m just playing.” He says smiling. I smile back at him and then laugh. I can tell we are going to have a great time.

“Well, is this it? We’re all set?”

“All set.” I say. “Let’s roll.”

I lock up the house and follow Phil to the car. He places my bags into his trunk. It’s a very cold day, but the sun is shining and there is no precipitation. It’s perfect traveling weather. The grass has a dusting of snow that glistens in the light of the sun. A feeling of peace overwhelms me while I watch the twinkling snow. Phil comes around and opens the car door for me. I smile and get in. He gets into the driver’s seat and we are on our way. I take a deep breath and smile. I look down at my ring and feel the comfort of my parents as they accompany me on this journey.