Last night was... interesting... but in a good way! I mean, who else wouldn’t love to get a text from an old friend? June Emerald, my best friend since middle school texted me. It’s been a good two years since we’ve talked, and well... a lot has changed. Here’s what our messages consisted of last night:

What happened with her sister (more on that later)

The fact that she’s been sneaking out of the house

That she broke up with her boyfriend who she never loved

Her mom cheated on her dad

And that she brought a drunk girl home with her

Oh yeah... that last one was quite fun. She had to explain soooo much... and well... I guess... I guess she’s gay? June said that this girl, Karma, was somebody she was going to add to the friend group. But she also said that Karma was cute... I don’t know! Confusing times!

To be honest I’m questioning myself.

“Hey Ashie?” My sister asked, walking into my room.

I look up quickly. She only uses that voice when something’s wrong...

“Hm?”

She looks down, “mom uh... just took Iris to the vet...”

My eyes went wide and I sucked in a shallow breath. Iris, the family dog, who had been with me for a good twelve years, had just been taken like that.

“Mom didn’t even let us say goodbye?!?” I stood up quickly, my legs shaking. “Where is she? Still in the driveway?”

Rea shook her head slowly. “She left a couple minutes ago...”

I walk over to her, grabbing her hand. “We’ll take my car then. No way I’m giving her up that easy”

Rea looked up at me, wide eyes full of tears, and nodded quickly

We both rushed outside and into my car, then we drove to our vets office. We both knew Iris had to be put down soon, but we thought we had time to at least say bye...

My heart dropped to my stomach when we didn’t see our mom walking in, but we saw her empty car.

“She’s inside” Rea said, a hint of desperation in her voice, making sound like a question

We raced inside and went up to the front desk. My words came out in a rush, but somehow the receptionist got it.

“Sorry honey, they already took her in” she said, the sympathy in her voice clear.

Rea clutched my arm as if she was five again, her eyes wide. “They couldn’t have...”

I started to speak, trying to comfort her, but I stopped when I watched our mom walk into the lobby.

“Mother... you lied to us.” I spoke quietly, thinking that ‘mom’ was too causal.

I soaked in every last bit of the shock on her face as if it was sunlight. Though she tried to hide it, it was obvious she didn’t know we would chase after her.

“What are you girls doing here?” She asked, glancing at the people who stared back

It was Rea who spoke this time, her face dark. “You said we’d get to say goodbye”

Mother looked away, breathing out. “Outside. Now.”

We reluctancy do so, and I look up at the grey sky as we walk out.

The thunder rumbling in the distance is almost ironic...