***Jen’s POV***I don’t get it, I simply do not. Naomi actually had the guts to show up here after she has caused so much havoc in my life and the lives of the people I love. And what annoys me is the fact that Chad and Robert were talking to her like they have all been old-time friends.“What was that?” I ask Chad as I sway Jake from side to side gently. He has grown and now has a stronger grasp on things. He has also become very verbal, but not with words but sounds. “What do you mean?” Chad replies to me with a question instead of answering the one that I asked him.When he closes the small distance between us. He sits down in the seat right next to me but on the right. Robert is sitting on the left and he is playing games on his phone. I gave him a piece of my mind half an hour ago about why he stayed to talk to the same person who is the reason we are broke out of our pockets and had to take a loan to just survive.“You and Robert entertaining a conversation with Naomi,” I tell
Mad? Can I say that I am actually mad at Robert, Chad, James, and Carlos? I don’t think that I am, to be honest, I am just very relieved. I don’t like being left in the dark, so I am glad that they have let me understand a bit of the tragedy that almost had me go insane.A small voice keeps talking in the back of my mind. It keeps asking me what if Chad and the others would have died in the explosion? What if I did not get to see them again? I would have literally gone mental. “Jen, I think he’s hungry,” Robert’s voice startles me from my thoughts. We are still on the airplane and it is night. All the lights are dimmed and a blue light illuminates the cabin. It must be really late because almost everyone is sleeping, there are only a few people on their devices that are awake.Robert is right, Jake is awake and he is crying. Not loudly, but in a low tone. I instantly sway him softly from side to side as I reach for a packet of baby food that is made from fruits. I unscrew the small t
Robert has to be kidding me, we were literally broke and we are only able to be here right because of a loan we were graciously given by the bank he banks with.“What do you mean by bought?” I ask Robert and he looks nervous.“I think that is our cue to get leave,” Chad says as he walks closer to Chad and takes a sleeping Jake from his hands. Robert allows Chad to carry Jake away as they leave with James and Carlos. I bet they are going to explore this extravagant house that was bought with loaned money.“I bought it,” Robert says after he clears his throat. I nod slowly as I thin my lips.“How much did the bank give you?” I ask him and he makes a clicking sound by clicking his tongue on his teeth. I never really got around to asking him, he only told me that the loan was approved and I celebrated with him. I want to know how much he got that he is buying a place as big as this.“Why do you want to know?” He fires back a question as he puts his hands in his pocket. The shorts he is we
The house tour is quite refreshing and I soon find out from Robert that he bought the house and hired some guards which summed up to half a million. That is half of the money we have left! My favorite room in this huge house is Jake’s room. It is so perfect and I am in love with it.“Wow, this was all your idea?” I ask Robert as we stand in Jake’s room. There is a baby bed that sits in the right corner of the room, which is where Jake is sleeping right now. “Well, I can not take all the credit. I had help from the guys,” Robert replies to me, clearly referring to Chad, James, and Carlos.“Well, it’s beautiful,” I lean in for a kiss and I plant one on Robert’s cheek.The rest of the day goes by in a blur. The boys are downstairs watching a football match and drinking beer while I am in the master bedroom. I have a baby monitor connected to Jake’s room so I can watch him.Since I arrived, I have been feeling a bit weary. I can not exactly explain the feeling, but I just know that it is
Why isn’t anybody helping me? My mother is dying on the floor and they all are staring at me as if I am going crazy. There a blood gushing out of her and since they have all entered the room, they have not even looked once at her.“Jen,” Robert says as he walks close to me, his eyes are filled with worry and pity. Chad is standing not far and he looks heartbroken while James and Carlos have looks of confusion all over their faces.“Tell me what’s wrong?” He asks me as he reaches me, he then leads me toward the bed and beckons me to sit. I do as he says but I keep my eyes trained on the lifeless body of my mother.“I am going to check on Jake, I will be right back,” Chad says and then he exits the room.“Carlos, get her some water, would you?” James begs Carlos and he agrees by saying, “Sure.”“Why are you not helping?” I ask him in a sad tone, and he sighs.“Tell me how I can help,” He reaches for my hand and I let him have it. “Save her!” I raise my voice slightly and I jerk my hand
Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that affects less than one percent of the U.S. population. When schizophrenia is active, symptoms can include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, trouble with thinking, and lack of motivation.However, with treatment, most symptoms of schizophrenia will significantly improve and the likelihood of a recurrence can be diminished.The complexity of schizophrenia may help explain why there are misconceptions about the disease. Schizophrenia does not mean split personality or multiple-personality. Most people with schizophrenia are not any more dangerous or violent than people in general. While limited mental health resources in the community may lead to homelessness and frequent hospitalizations, it is a misconception that people with schizophrenia end up homeless or living in hospitals. Most people with schizophrenia live with their families, in group homes, or independently.I can remember the speech clearly as if it was yesterday, a
“So…” I drag the word, waiting for Chad to say something but he just stares at me expectantly.“Are you not going to say anything?” I ask him, the silence in the room is so loud that I feel uncomfortable.“When did you stop taking your medications?” He finally speaks and I sigh lowly.“Come on, Chad, you know that I don’t take those things anymore,” I reply to him and he frowns.“What does that even mean? They were given to you for a reason,” He raises his voice slightly and I click my tongue on my teeth, making a small clicking sound.“I’m not sick anymore,” I argue back and Chad scoffs.“You had a breakdown at the mental hospital the hospital a couple of months ago, you literally just had a hallucination!” He argues back.“What the hell do you expect?!” I yell back at him and I stand to my feet while he remains seated. He looks so frustrated and annoyed that I am not taking my medications, and I don’t blame him, I know that he is just concerned.“I literally thought my best friend d
I walk out of the room and I can hear the footsteps of Chad coming after me. The air smells like bacon and that gives me the hint that James and Carlos are back from the supermarket. James’ favorite food is bacon, the man is in love with it. He eats it any time of the day, no time of the day stops him from eating it.I don’t know what triggered his obsession with it, but since he came back from the hospital after the explosion, he just fell in love with it.“Jen, we are talking, stop walking away from me,” I hear Chad’s voice and I stop in my tracks. I turn around and I face him. He has a firm frown on his face and he does not seem pleased by my response to him going to West Africa.The thing is, it is not about the location. West Africa, Liberia is an aesthetic place, but it is about the reason he is going there.“I have made my decision, Jen, and I am not changing my mind. I have always supported you and been there for you, even when you decided to sidetrack our plan a year ago to a