Make It Through

“If you don’t do this tomorrow, believe me, you’ll never be able to do it.”

Allie stared at her aunt with pleading eyes. “But…”

She heard her sigh, and felt her mother nudge closer to her on her side. “It’s Mom’s birthday on Monday,” Allie almost whispered, lowering her gaze.

When her aunt didn’t respond, she looked up to meet her eyes. “If we postpone this to a later date, you won’t be able to do it at all. You’ll just hide behind excuses.”

“But I promise I’ll do it on Tuesday,” I bargained.

“On a weekday? I doubt you’ll be able to move your things then.”

Allie thought of her aunt as solid rock. She wouldn’t even listen. Didn’t she understand that it was the first time Allie would be away from her Mom on her birthday? It was hard on her, if she hadn’t notice it yet.

“Your Aunt’s right, Allie.”

With the quiet voice of her Mom lingering in her ears, Allie conceded to her Aunt’s idea.

~

“All set?”

Allie nodded without turning around to face her Mom. It was Sunday, the agreed date for her to move in her Aunt’s house. Allie’s family has been experiencing financial difficulties and her Mom was pushed to the limit, causing her to temporarily let Allie live with her Aunt who is way more capable to provide her needs.

Allie was fighting back her tears all the time they’ve been packing her things. She could tell that her Mom too was feeling the same. After all, it’s the first time they’ve been ever apart. What’s making it more difficult was the fact that they both don’t know when she’ll be coming back. 

“Hang your underwear in a more private place okay? You won’t want your uncle to be greeted by your undies once he gets home,” she chuckled an awkward laugh and still, Allie didn’t face her. Every word she says seemed to provokes the tears.

They loaded her things to the public vehicle they rented. On the way, Allie tried to have small talk, just to get her mind off the present situation. They finally arrived and were greeted by her Aunt and two of their maids.

“Get her things and arrange them in her bedroom,” Allie’s aunt ordered the maids. They obliged.

Allie, her Mom and her Aunt settled in the living room. After a few minutes, Allie’s Mom initiated the inevitable.

“I have to go,” she said, standing up. Allie wanted to throw her arms around her and beg her to bring her along, but she knew better. Her Aunt was never a fan of drama.

Allie and her Aunt both stood up and walked her Mom to the door. With a heavy heart, Allie hugged her Mom one more time and whispered, “Happy Birthday.”

Her Mom squeezed her before letting go and walking away.

Good thing Allie and her Mom had dinner before they left, so she excused herself and went to her bedroom after the reluctant goodbye. She tried to busy herself with the project that was due the day after tomorrow but her mind couldn’t help but think that in a few hours, her Mom would be celebrating her birthday without her.

~

Allie tossed and turned in her bed but sleep was elusive. She didn’t dare turn off the lights because her Aunt’s niece (her husband’s niece, to be exact) was arriving any minute from work.

As if on cue, the door opened and she raised her head a little to see her almost-cousin. She was five years older than her, and was working at her Aunt’s business. Her duty was until closing time.

Allie smiled sweetly at her, suddenly growing conscious. It was her bedroom after all. Allie felt like an intruder.

Her cousin just looked at her and managed to mumble “Oh” as a greeting. Well. It was awkward to find someone in your bedroom. But she was briefed right? Allie sighed. At least she had a separate bed.

Allie watched her disappear into the bathroom and checked her watch. It was 12:30am. Happy birthday Mom. All her self control for the past three hours disappeared and Allie gave in to the tears that have been pushed back since that afternoon.

~

Sleep didn’t stay for long for Allie that she woke up every hour or so. She readied for school at 5:20am, which was much earlier than she used to. The room had a bathroom, so she didn’t have a problem with personal necessities. Usually, it took her at least thirty minutes to bathe but today, she was finished after fifteen minutes. When she stepped out of the bathroom, she found her cousin still fast asleep which was good since she didn’t want her peeking while she dressed.

After a few minutes, she got out and was met by the maids.

“Good morning Allie. Do you really get up this early?”

Allie took the seat nearest her and nodded. “Yea.”

“You’re really early for school,” the other said as she placed the food in front of her.

Consuming the food was a bit hard for Allie since no one joined her for breakfast.

She returned to her room to brush her teeth. Taking a few steps inside, she scanned her cousin’s bed and found that she was shaking sleep. Allie smiled at her sweetly, trying the befriend her.

“Close the door,” was all she said and went back to sleep again. Allie realized she wasn’t able to close the door properly.

Doing her last minute preparations, she went outside to wait for her Aunt to get up. It was the first time that she’d ask for allowance. To be honest, she didn’t have any idea how to do it.

Her silent dilemma was answered when the door to her Aunt’s bedroom opened and the first word she heard from her was, “Allie?”

One of the maids answered, “She’s in the living room, Ma’am.”

Allie straightened herself up and waited for her Aunt. As always, she’s looked stressed and tired. But that was normal for her. She wouldn’t be this successful if she was just sleeping all day.

“We’re going to work now. We’ll drop you off.”

Allie and her Aunt waited outside for her uncle. After a few minutes, he emerged from the front door and he entered the car. Allie and her aunt followed suit. In the back of Allie’s mind, she admitted that this was the life she wanted ever since before. Maids serving her, and a drive to school every day. Anyone looking at her now would conclude that she must’ve been the luckiest girl in the planet. Maybe she was luckiest, but not the happiest though.

“Here’s your allowance,” her aunt handed her a bunch of bills. “We’ll teach you how to manage your money and that’s the first batch you should handle.”

Allie accepted the money and stuffed it in her pocket. Without counting it, she knew that it was enough for two weeks.

She was dropped off at school and her classes seemed to pass by in a blur. By lunch time, she texted her Mom to meet her up and she did. Allie was just so excited to see the birthday girl.

~

Days passed by and Allie still wasn’t happy. She had the life she wanted: nothing to worry about, just her studies. Finances were stable, food was always on her plate, and she was free from household chores. But she couldn’t find the enthusiasm to enjoy all of these when she knows that her Mom is still within the city, taking on life’s difficulties alone. Not totally alone though. They still see each other every lunch time since her Mom meets her up at school but the time still wasn’t enough. Her mom was her best friend, her confidant, her critic. She just couldn’t afford not talking to her and not being with her every night before going to sleep. What was worse was that she was now leaving her in these difficult times of life. Allie felt a terrible mixture of homesickness and guilt.

~

The week ended and Friday rolled around. Allie’s Mom spent dinner with her at a nearby restaurant. After the meal, Allie was dropped by her Mom at her Aunt’s house. They both waited for her Aunt to arrive since Allie had to propose something. When she arrived, both Allie and her Mom greeted her

“Uhm, Auntie, I have something to tell you,” Allie began, nervous.

She looked at her and sat at the dinner table about to eat. “What is it, Allie? Why don’t you both join me for dinner first?”

“Oh no, we just had dinner. Uh, I was just about to ask if it’s okay if I spend the night at Mom’s? I mean, I’ll be back here first thing in the---“

“You know Allie, I’m not forcing you to stay here,” her Aunt was placing food on her plate.

Allie didn’t know what to say next.

“All you have to do is to say it. You don’t have to torture yourself.”

Allie blinked, finding the courage to say what she’d been dying to say. “I want to go home, Auntie.”

“Sure. I won’t hold you back. Just make sure that you’re making the right decision. Opportunity knocks only once Allie, and always remember that.”

Allie nodded, happiness and relief filling up inside her.

“Go fix your things and head home.”

It took Allie and her Mom almost two days to get her stuff packed but that night, Allie was able to do all that alone, in less than fifteen minutes.

~

“HOME SWEET HOME,” Allie greeted their house upon opening the front door.

“Welcome home, Allie,” her Mom greeted her as she followed her inside, with her bags in hand.

Allie nodded, taking in the familiar feel of their home. “You know Mom, I don’t care if we don’t have food on our plate or if I don’t have allowance for school the next day; just as long as we’re together, I know we’ll make it through.”

MVJLO 01.23.12

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My first one-shot story for the year ;D

Trivia: this one’s based on a true story.