Chapter 8

The driver dropped me home as promised and in no time I was inside the apartment alone. My phone buzzed to a text message from mom that the hospital was short staffed and she will be home late. I replied back and immediately began stripping off my uniform, hopping in the shower. Once inside, I relaxed my head back, eyes shut, enjoying the perfect warm water on my skin.

"Alexa please help me" an inner voice called out.

Abruptly, I open my eyes, losing balance and falling on my naked butt in the bathtub. My breathing quickens from hearing my voice - no, the real Jaye's voice calling out for me. I must've imagined placing a hand over my chest checking if my heart was still working. Without wasting a second, I got out of the shower, changing into long pjs pants and tee. I was freezing and my body was covered in goosebumps even though it was only autum. A cold chill passed through me, making me hug myself tighter burrowing under the thick blanket. My heart began beating rapidly, almost wanting to tear free from my flesh. This is probably the side effects from all those medications prescribed. Alexa calm down- no, I am Jaye now. I must remain calm before I have a cardiac attack. I recently had a major heart transplant - this is normal. This is nor-

This is not your body. You don't belong here.

Jaye's voice shouted- vibrating inside my skull. My head began synching to my heart's rhythm both pounding hard. My legs flew out of the bed making their way to the kitchen. I grabbed the nearest bottle of NYquil gulping a big sip down. If I couldn't shut my mind, this would definitely knock me out. My sight blurred responding to the medicine fast and I started dragging my feet back to bed. I stumbled onto something - a shoe I think. As I bent down to pick it up and fell face down.

Get up. GET UP.

Jaye's voice rang inside my head. I pulled my body from the floor, supporting my weak legs with a nearby chair. The room started spinning, I was losing consciousness, so I stayed in that sluggish sitting position till my eyelids gave in and darkness overtook my mind.

The next morning, I woke up in my bed covered in sweats. Last thing I remembered passing out on the sofa - mom must've brought me here.

"Jaye it's Saturday, you know what that means..." mom's voice sang from the living room. Groaning I stripped off the blanket dragging my feet to the kitchen.

"morning. It means we sleep in?" I said, taking a bite of the fresh butter toast.

"no. its hair wash day. Plus I think you slept quite a lot. It's past noon. You were really tired last night that you didn't make it to your bed"

Ah. I was forgetting that bizarre episode. Of course I'm not going to mention it to mom.

"Yes, between classes and last night playing games with Camila drained me out. That reminds me, can I go to the arcade this afternoon?" It felt weird asking for permission when my whole life I've been alone.

"Sure. Come let’s prep your hair" I wasn't sure what she meant because in my old life I didn't care about my hair because most of the time it was kept in braids. Mom began sectioning my hair and applying some treatment. I was in awe that a lady with fine straight hair has more knowledge than me in the curly hair department. Jaye has a lot of hair, so to see her worked through it made me proud to be her daughter.

"Where did you learn to style thick curly hair?" Intrigued by her life before and during Jaye's life.

"Well, before I met your father I used to dorm with a friend who have curly hair. She taught me everything from oils to leave in. Then, I met your father who back then sported an afro" she chuckled my guess to the image of him. It made me wonder how he looked. Do I resemble him? Why hasn't he visited or phone to see if I'm fine? - he doesn't care about me. That voice inside my mind whimpered.

"Mom, what happened between you guys. Why aren't you guys together?" I regretted asking such a personal question, for heaven sake I just met the lady but I was curious to know.

"I have always been honest with you of our relationship. He was in the country for a short time for business. At that time, your father was engaged to someone but while here, they ended their relationship cancelling the wedding. After that he went back to his country and we tried to work it out. But our romance was short-lived; we broke up due to long distance issues. Next thing I know, I'm pregnant at 22, just out of college. By the time I found him, they got back together again and married in a rush because she also fell pregnant around the same time." Mom sounded disappointed at the mention of the wedding.

"woah I have a sibling?" I always wanted a sister or brother, someone to talk about silly stuff and share clothing. At my question, her hands stopped working on my hair and she froze in place.

"You had a sister. She went missing and was never found. However, her mother, your father's wife has not given up in searching for her, while police presume her... dead" Her voice cracked at the last word. The mood quickly changed to visible sadness. I shivered, a chill passing through my body.

"Are we almost done mom?"

"I want to get to the arcade before sundown-" I said breaking the silence.

"Yes. almost done baby" she hugged me tight and we stayed in that position for a moment. It felt nice to feel the warmth of a mother. I thought about that poor lady losing her daughter, my sister, unable to ever feel her daughter's hugs, doing her hair, loving her...

***

Despite the rough night I had, I felt alive - could be because my hair looked amazing after that wash or because I felt more like myself in this body. Despite the cool weather, it still felt warm from the sun rays shining down. I wore high rise black fitted jeans that were torn exposing my knees pairing it with a loose tan sweater that rose an inch above my waist and black vans leaving my curly hair down.

I arrived at the arcade greeting Richie at the front "Welcome back. Where's your friend?" Richie asked while handing me the chips.

"Today I'm playing solo" I smiled and walked toward the table. When I reached it someone spoke from behind me.

"Back so soon?" I turned around facing Geralt.

"Oh looks like someone is ready to lose again" he said with a sly smile.

"I'm not here to play with you. So, why don't you go somewhere away from me." I said giving him my back. I bounced the ball not missing a hit.

"Fine. How about another match and the loser has to buy the winner food." He said, taking one step closer behind me. I turned around our chests almost touching from the small space left between us.

"Five rounds. If you promise to leave me alone." I looked up getting a clear view of his handsome face. I noticed his dyed silver hair suit him well contrasting with those ocean blue eyes. Snapping from my thoughts, I went over to the opposite side.

"ready when you are" I said with a wicked smile.