Charlene's Consortium : The Lies Series by Kingsley Mariah

Author:Kingsley, Mariah
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mariah Kingsley Productions
Published: 2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

rule nineteen: sometimes all you can do is be…

​. . .​

Charlene

Love put me to bed last night, and I woke up in love’s arms. I laid there for a moment, basking in its light. I watched him sleep. Whatever dream he was having caused a small smile to grace his lips. I wanted to kiss him, but refrained. I slipped out of bed, ready for the day. I wanted to go for a run, something that I loved to do in the mountains. This wouldn’t be much of a challenge with the flatlands, but I could get my mind ready for the day.

The sun was barely up and a few people were out and about. I was in a black sports bra and joggers running through the town. I waved at the few people that were out, watching them pulling out their phones. I turned the volume up on my music and kept pushing. “Get Up Ten” was in my ear, and I loved this song. Honestly, I loved everything Cardi B did, but this one spoke to my soul. Running was my escape from life.

Yesterday was intense, today was going to be better, I could feel it. I ran through the town, seeing the dilapidated houses. Some empty, some that should be. There was no store to buy a gallon of milk in town. The one that I knew when I grew up here had since closed. Vaguely, I wondered why? I was almost at the end of town, the sweat pouring down my face. I stopped at the school, seeing the kids playing on the swing set that creaked with their weight.

I stood there catching my breath. “Charlene?” I looked away from the kids and saw my second-grade teacher. Mrs. Charles.

Her face held a genuine smile, opening her arms to me like she did when I was a little girl. “It’s so good to see you.” I said while in her arms. The familiarity of it not lost on me. When I pulled away, she had a huge smile on her face.

“I heard you were in town. I am so proud of you.” The words poured over me. This was the first person to tell me that I was smart. The first person other than my mother who told me that I was beautiful.

“What grade do you teach now?” I knew whatever students she had were getting all the love that she could provide.

“Well, last year they made me principal.” I clapped, happy for her. “I never had kids of my own so these are my babies. I plan to be here as long as I can.” I could see the age in her face. But the love she had was also there.

A couple of kids stopped her and wrapped their arms around her. I remember I was one of those kids. Needing a hug to face the day. My mother was most often gone before I left for school, working just to feed us. My father didn’t “coddle” as he put it.

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