Becoming Jasmine Star - Chapter 14
Friday, March 27, 2015
7:30 p.m.
The movie ended a few hours ago, but I still have it on my mind.
“She loved the man but still chose her responsibilities over him? They pretended not to know each other in the end and they both left each other behind.”
My mind tried to compare her life to mine.
What are my responsibilities?
What are the things I love?
Would I leave them behind for the sake of others?
I stopped walking and noticed that I stood in front of a florist shop. For some reason it drew me in. The lights inside emitted a warm glow, beckoning me to come inside. I haven’t seen this shop while I was doing my ‘tour’ this morning, “maybe I should take a look.”
The heat of the room surprised me as I opened the door to the florist. The little bell jingled, making my presence known.
I look around.
For some reason, this place looked familiar.
The room was filled with many flowers that didn’t grow this time of year, they must’ve been imported from somewhere else.
“Aiya! how long have you been sitting out in the rain? You’re all soaked!
An elderly woman spoke from the door of the opposite room as she entered.
She looked about sixty. She was about 5’4, her hair was black and cut short, and she wore a Cream colored turtle-neck which complimented the off white walls of her shop.
She grabbed me by the hand and took me to the room she was just in.
“Your hands are so cold! Here sit in front of the stove, I’ll get you some towels.”
“Yes ma’am, tha-” The woman rushed out of the room before I could even thank her.
Instead, I look around from my seat on a red-velvet arm chair in front of a wood burning stove.
There were photos hanging from every wall. Some look recent. While others looked like they’ve been taken in the fifties. Ivy stretched on the borders of the walls and a table stood in front of the only window, a sewing machine on top, with some work resting on its bass.
The elderly woman comes back with towels and a cup of cocoa. She hands the towels to me.
“Thank you.”
She smiles.
***
10:00 p.m.
Mom: Where are you? Why didn’t you answer any of our calls? Don’t you know how worried we were about you!?”
I wince as my mother screams at me through the phone not even two seconds after I dialed her number.
The lady, who’s name is Kim. Looks at me through her glasses from her sewing machine.
I swallow down the urge to end the call and hide out for a few more days, I won’t though.
“I’m sorry for making you worry. That wasn’t my intention. I just…I’m stupid.”
I gaze down at my hands in shame.
“You wouldn’t even answer your Aunt’s calls. I though you were-”
A sob comes in through the receiver and I recognize it as my mother’s.
“I’m fine. I told you, please don’t worry anymore.”
I try to console my mother, but it’s so awkward trying to do that over the phone.
“I’m coming home… I want to talk with you… all of you.”
The sound of sobs seemed to stop and for the first time in this phone call it was completely quiet.
I could hear a low voice in the background. Which sounded like my father inquiring about what I said.
“Mom?”
“Y-yes we’ll talk.”
I sigh with relief.
“I love you.”
My mother said. Her voice was strained like she physically had to force the words out.
‘I love you too.’
I wanted to say, but for some reason couldn’t find the same strength she did.
“Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow, Okay?”
How pitiful.
Our call ended.
I let out the deep sign that was building up since I decided to call my parents.
My hands were still shaking, I never thought I feared my parents this much until now. I curl up in my blanket trying to warm up.
“Did you call everyone you needed to?”
Kim asked me. She was the one who told me to call everyone who tried to contact me since I left home like an idiot.
“Not quite.”
I pull my phone out of the blankets and send a message.
“I’m calling you.”
I’m not even sure if he had time to read it. But as soon as I sent that I called him and waited for him to pick up.
for visiting.
One ring, two rings, five rings, seven…was he not by his phone at the moment? Should I call back?
Ten rings.
Finally, the phone stopped ringing and the call dropped.
I frown.
AG:”Jasmine, why are you calling me so suddenly? Don’t you know how long I was trying to contact you for?”
JS:”Yeah, I have to tell you something important.”
AG:”What?”
JS: “Pick up the call.”
The more we go back and forth the more nervous I become.
I call him again and wait for him to pick up.
One ring, two rings,- “Hello?”
I was of relief and complete anxiety washed over me.
“Jasmine? Jas-
“I’m not Jasmine Star.”
“….”
“I’m not Jasmine Star. My name is Samantha Smith and I am so s”- Click.
Was he angry at me? I did lie to him, he hates me. Small me always jumped to conclusions. Only this time, I think I was right.
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