CHAPTER:4

I don't usually entertain the idea of having cereal when you're really hungry but after rummaging in the fridge and snack cupboards, I settle for the easiest option. CEREAL. Desperate situations call for desperate measures. Right?

I retrieve the box from the cupboard and pour some of the content into a bowl I found on the countertop. When I look at the cereal that now rests in the bowl, I spot raisins in it. I take a look at the box and the label reads 'fruit cereal '. I hate fruit cereal, but what l despise most are the raisins because they look like goat droppings, and I wouldn't want to pit something with that resemblance into my mouth.

Once I've taken out all the dead grapes from the bowl. I count them to make sure they're even so when i see they are, I dispose them into the trash.

I pull out a carton of milk from the fridge and drain some of it into the bowl before grabbing a spoon and digging in. The milk is cold but I have no intention of warming it. Too much effort.

I am halfway done with my meal when I hear the apartment door open and then shut. I turn to look at my sister as she emerges into the kitchen, a bag of groceries in each hand, and when she sees me, she nearly drops them, staring at me like she's seeing a ghost in real life. I don't blame her. I think I do look like one.

She seems to regain her senses and smiles at me. It's an embarrassed one, like she's somewhat ashamed of her own reaction. "Alexa, what are you doing here? Is anything wrong? Do you need anything? Are you hungry? If you are I could fix you a..... " she starts quickly, placing the bag of groceries on the counter to my right and rushing over to the refrigerator to retrieve something from it. "Christiana! Calm down. There is nothing wrong. I just felt.....like I needed to get out of the bedroom. That's all." I try to assure her and she stops what she's doing. The moving, I mean. She looks at me, "Are you sure? Because you haven't attempted that in like eight months." She speaks and she walks to where I'm sitted and settles herself on the stool beside me. Her expression changing to one of anticipation that she almost desperately tries to hide. "Does this mean you're now.. um..completely over that man?" She asks and all I do is nod yes. No one needs to know that it happened a long time back. She places a hand to my upper arm and gives it a light squeeze, a smile glazing her small face. "I am so proud of you, Alexa. I really am." I release a sigh and paste a not-so-real smile on my own face. "Thenl you. " I say and her hands return to her sides. She expels a loud contented sigh and leaves the stool, heading over to the grocery bag where she starts to empty it.