3 | I Promise

As soon as I step through the front door, I get tackled by a small body. “April!” May squeals, her big brown eyes lightening up while her arms are busy cutting of my blood circulation. But that’s okay. Anything for my little sister.

“You made it!” Her arms slacken as I bend to pick her up, her arms going around my neck instead. “Of course I did. I promised, remember.” She gives me a shy nod. I’m always careful with my promises. You see, May wasn’t always part of our family the way she is now. My Dad isn’t really close with his sister, so one day when he got a call from social services, informing him that his sister had been arrested for child-neglect, we were all shocked. Mainly because we didn’t even know that aunt Debra had a child. And the cruel part in this is, she hadn’t even been fighting for May. She just let us have her. If there was one word I would describe aunt Debra as when I first met her, it’s cold. I remember the exact words she said. “Take her, don’t take her, either way, I don’t care. One less mouth to feed anyway,“ she mutters, holding a cigarette between her lips. “Not that that was ever a problem” she snorts, amused. She was amused! And May had to witness it all. The way her own mother didn’t even care that she wouldn’t be raised by her. She must’ve felt so abandoned and unwanted, which makes me furious on her behalf. How could somebody not want to take care of such a kind soul innocent soul like hers. But at the end of the day, I’m glad she left that toxic household. Every child deserves to be taken cared of properly and aunt Debra was obviously failing. I never would’ve met her otherwise of course.

She probably waited the whole time for me to get home. “Come! Come! I made you something!” she runs down the hall of our home decorated with vibrant colors. Dark wood floors clash with our emerald chesterfield sofas and furnished wine-red carpets. My mom once told me that when she purchased this house, it was for us to feel we were going through a portal to some magical world. And that’s what it kind of feels like. It also helps that the house looks like a mini castle from the outside. May comes running back to my side, grasping my hand and pulling me along. “You are so slow” she mutters, determined to show me what she created. I chuckle, “okay, okay, I can walk, see!” So impatient “Come on, hurry!” Mays whole body is vibrating from excitement. When I walk into my room, that should have been bare from packing already, I see a giant mattress on floor decorated with purple light and way too much candy. My once childhood room has turned into a big slumber party, the light machine painting it in blue and purple lights. It’s beautiful… “Surprise!” May screams with a wide grin. “Do you like it?” “Of course I like it. It’s beautiful May…how?” She seems so proud of herself, putting her hands on her hips. “Levi helped me with the bed and the candy! But…don’t tell Mom, okay? I know I’m not supposed to eat candy this late but…maybe today…” she trails off with a pout, her hands falling to her sides. “I won’t tell her. A secret between you and me, hmm?” I link my pinky with hers. “Pinky promise.” I whisper and she smiles. “One last sleepover before you go?” her smile falters, but it recovers quickly. A kid shouldn’t have to hide how they are feeling but after what she’s been through, it’s hard to break old patterns. She has come a long way though. I made sure of it. “I couldn’t have thought of a better goodby myself.”