Another me

PTE

at's one of the first things I noticed when we moved

try that was close to my room. The sounds from the pen always woke me up. Th

braham would start his car. Then was

me, that distance hasn't stifled the pulse of Hawaii. I imagine

in black shirt, blue skinny jeans, and black Converses-the perfect outfit for someone who wants to go unnoticed. Through my research, from the sixty teen movies

s matches the colour of pink roses on her dress.Some of her short box braids are up in a doubl

he has trained to be graceful. The parts of us that are similar-our upturned eyes and round, and heart full lips-look different on her once she's exaggerated them with makeup. Our sl

d birthday celebrants. Usually, her weekends were fully booked. I know she's already started building a client base here. She's been going to parties with our cousin, mingling and advertisin

e squints while studyi

." She nods slowly. "Well, woul

ady did

ls her hands from her back, revealing an edge

ht. I'm not skilled in the art of swooping my edges into a p

forehead as Lucy uses the brush an

How are you feeli

ing over me and shr

, I s

does my hair, then takes a step b

rror for extra validation. I t

slumps into the spot

d angry. And really sad." She rests her head on my shoulder.

death, happiness is no longer just happiness; it's something sweet mingled with the bitter taste of guilt

sharp breath but doesn't finish h

, Lucy.

oth say nothing, she lift

sks. "Are we going to be fine he

m blurs that image. For my little sister, I want that picture-perfect future to be bright an

of my mouth and beg for the skills to make them sound

ds, the

pulling her up and then toward t

chen, our mother gasps. "

nd spins around, her dres

gs and toast, and Lucy and I sit at the wooden counter. A

The sunlight streaming through the gaps in the blinds beam on her chestnut-brown skin. Her hair, dense and springy with tight curls, hovers above her shoulders. People always said she

to Lucy. "The first day of a n

I'm excited too

ther looks at

rvous but terrified, she'll worry for the res

vinced. I'm sure she's going to ask me more question

locked," s

th professional and authoritative. He looks like my father the same way Lucy and I look like each other-similar in fewer

cheerful. "It's a big d

e her empty plate to the sink, but

don't want yo

Uncle Daniel says. "Adrian is

floor and slings it over her shou

be good. Be a

But if I see a pest, I

says stern

ly shielding her from our mother's glare. "She'll behave." The

t, and I breathe deeply befor

ges toward me.

I'm

't I bel

sh

mother. I

These interruptions keep

ncle. I s

to the refrigerator and pulls out two brown pa

they serve lunch

case you don't

e brown bags and exami

Turkey. Sarah

rch has proven that people in big cities with tun

u going to do wh

takes. Maybe I will go to the library. But I'll see you after school. I'll

e door but pause and look

to school. Remember the reason your father and I wanted you and your sister to come to

bag strap, I do the s