***

Emily Alabaster

My thoughts go back to that radio, it seems like a talk between two people. The conversation seemed heated, I leaned a bit forward to hear it.

“Well, I think she is doing a shit job I think my 8-year-old son can do better” A voice states. “Her logic and plan to help the community are all lies to make her look better, it’s all bull.” Their tone is sharp wanting to make a point, and indeed they did. “Andrew, please” a women states annoyingly. “You know she is doing a kick-ass job, she has donated countless amounts of money and has improved how safe our streets are, she has done so much work out of office too. She owns her own company, she is a modern-day superwoman.”

I purse my lips together, “who are they even talking about?’ I shrug and continue to listen to the debate, insults and flattering remarks were said. Whoever this person was had a good supporter on their side.

The bickering came to a halt, however, I still didn’t know who they were talking about.

“This concludes out talk about Emily Alabaster” I choke on my spit causing me to gag, earning me looks from others. I closed my eyes trying to catch my breath, they were talking about me. ‘Did I do a bad job when I was in the office?’ Suddenly it gets harder to breathe, I start to use the technique that my therapy taught me. My hitched breathing lowered, but my heart was still pounding. I didn’t think people thought that low of me. Sure, there were times that I was blatantly insulted by higher-ups and I just smiled it down. Still, this hurts a lot more then it should.

I take another deep breath and wipe my clammy hands on my pants. I plaster a smile, I don’t know how many people saw that. I need something to take my edge off, ‘where is that damn coffee’ I think, abruptly turning back to the pick-up line.

“Coffee for Emm-” but before the statement could finish I felt a hot liquid running down my shirt. I could feel my skin burn under my clothing, I let out a loud gasp. I look up to see Nate clutching the cup, his eyes were wide in fear. I could feel my skin bubbling, causing tears to well up in my eyes. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. Without a second thought, I run into the bathroom hearing footsteps behind me.

I yank my shirt off and turn the sink on, then grab a bunch of paper towels. Placing them under the cold water, then placing it on my burns. My tank top had a brown stain, thankfully it saved me from more pain. Behind me I could hear Nate apologizing profusely, it was getting a bit annoying. I shot him a look, his face lost all color.

I wince in pain, I could feel the burns’ sting. He runs over to me with a rag and started scrubbing my shirt. Again, he was saying how sorry he was and how he would pay for it. I just want to deal with this alone as I would always do. However, I didn’t want to be rude, even though he spilled hot coffee on me. He's just a kid, mistakes do happen.

“Hey, kid don’t worry. I shouldn’t have turned that fast, it was an accident.” I sigh, still holding the towel to my chest. He looks up with a scared expression on his face. ‘what’s going on with this kid?’

“This is all my fault, I should’ve slowed down, I had hot coffee in my hand and I wasn’t paying attention where I was going. I keep messing up I'm just useless” he cries out. My gaze softens, he’s going through so many things.

I take a step closer offering comfort, without even realizing. “It was just coffee, things like this happen. I understand, accidents happen and there is always a solution. Don’t be hard on yourself,” I don’t know where all of this is coming from but I have bad guilt.

“I just can’t do anything right, I can’t even give a simple cup of coffee with spilling it,” he mutters.

“Look stuff like this happens, and it will be okay, even if it feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders don’t give up. Just push through and everything will be alright.” I smile seeking to help him. He shouldn’t be this stressed, not this early in life. Thinking about what I said, I'm being a huge hypocrite. He doesn’t need to know that.

He doesn’t argue, instead, he puts a small grin “I’ll get you another shirt because I don’t you want to go in public like that”

“I mean you aren’t wrong,” I smile with him.

“I’ll be right back,” he says turning back to the exit.

As soon as I see the door closed and the footsteps fade I gaze at my wound. It’s swelled up with a bright red finish. I groan, it does matter anyways. I'm not seeing anyone so, it’ll be okay.

***

Nate Rose

‘How can I be so stupid?’ I spilled boiling hot water in a customer, then started rambling about how useless I am. I mentally slap myself, while walking to the back room. I run my hands through my hair, it’s a nervous habit. I look around to see my co-worker Ashli on her phone.

“Hey Ash, where’s my dad?”

She glances up, “He’s upstairs.”

“Thanks!”

She gives a slight head nod.

I mean I'm not surprised that she has no energy, she’s always been mopping around. She does her work but it wouldn’t kill to give a smile.

I head upstairs to my living quarters, my dad had built our house over the café so we could make our hours. He loves this place so much, it’s his life. “This place is home and it will always keep you warm because the heaters work,” I smile, remembering when he told me that one winters’ night. He built is 9 years ago, he has put his blood, sweat, and tears into this place.

This is where I grew up, well after my mom passed away. It’s only my old man and me. My memories really before the accident isn’t there, I had lost them, and they weren’t coming back.

A vague memory fills the void in my mind. It’s of my mom hugging me, she kept repeating the same thing.

“Nate honey, I love you no matter what,” The love in her voice makes the hug feel like home I miss that feeling, but she’s gone. There was nothing I could do about it. I exhale, registering that I was holding my breath. My hands are going through my hair again, I take a piece looking at it. It’s jet black due to a bet I made against a friend. My dad was chill about it, so I kept the color, it wasn’t a bad look.

I head through the living room to the kitchen, all of the hallways connect there. I look around a bit before taking a banana, I start to peel it.

“DAD?” I call out, taking a bite of the banana, waiting for his response.

His head pokes out of his room, “yeah, bud?”

“Do you have a spare shirt that you’ll never use again?” My gaze hits the floor, I didn’t want him to see me, because he’d know something was up. I could hear his room door open, I started to panic.

“Why?” I could hear the confusion in his voice, my gaze is still on the floor.

“I-uh...” I look up seeing him giving me a look. He was presenting the dad look, this made me swallow hard. “you see, I need the shirt for myself” I spat out, hoping it was convincing enough

My father had a baffling look on his face. He leaned on the counter, he gives my outfit a look. “Your shirt seems just fine” he raises an eyebrow.

‘Well crap’ I need to think of something quick, I shove the rest of the banana in my mouth. I tried to explain that I needed it just in case, but it just sounded like someone choking on a pencil.

A light chuckle left his lips, then he started to walk toward me. “Nate that’s why you have your closet,” he laughs again.

I look down to the floor again, causing the laughter to stop. I don’t know what to say. He's going to be mad at me. I take a deep breath and explained what happened.

I looked up again, to my relief he had a grin on his face.

“Oh god, that’s it? I thought you killed someone or something” he laughs.

My mouth hung open, “da-”

His laughter increases “I’m just kidding” he says making his way back to his room. After a couple of seconds, he entered with a white button-up shirt. “let’s go help her now.”

With that note, we headed back downstairs.

***