Veracity: The Veracity Diaries

by E. M. Bernal

  I finally got out of my car with those happy thoughts. When I walked in our house, Unity was in the kitchen, drinking some water, going and through her checkbook. I decided to ask if she wants to do something together. I was thinking dinner and a movie might be nice.

  “Hey mom!”

  “Hey honey…” She turned to look at me, but this time her eyes went up and down, noticing my outfit.

  “You look amazing City.”

  I passed by her 100 times before she noticed this one, but I didn’t want to turn this into another battle… so, I said thank you and moved on.

  “How’s it going?” I asked.

  “It’s going good honey. And you?”

  “I’m doing good. School is really good….”

  “You always do well in school…” She answered but went back to looking at her checkbook with an intense stare.

  “What’s going on?” I decided to pry.

  “What do you mean?” She finally looked back at me, closing her checkbook.

  “Is everything OK?” I change the question to ask again.

  “Yes, sorry.” She tried to pretend as if it was nothing.

  “Did you just get off of work?” I asked, sitting at the island for another attempt of a normal conversation.

  “Yes, but I have lots to do around the house.” She let out a sigh when she responded.

  When I looked behind me, it was pretty messy.

  “Oh…” I immediately looked back at her. “Do you want me to help you clean?”

  “That would be nice.” She said with a small confirming closed smile.

  “Sure, let me just get something to eat first.” I ensured with a nod.

  She headed towards her room and a part of me wanted to ask about the movie, since I was going to eat without her after all, but it was obvious her mind was on something else and it seemed pointless. Instead, I decided to tell her that I’m going out for the weekend. I knew she wasn’t going to mind, but it made me feel good to ask, implying in my mind that she cared.

  Unity had already turned her back and was halfway down the hall when I yelled out.

  “Hey mom, this weekend they’re going to invite me out to The Garden and Moon Light Theatre… Some kids from school.”

  “Okay…be careful.” Unity responded but continued walking towards her room.

  “I’m glad to see your making friends Veracity…” She managed to get one last sentence out before I heard her door shut.

  I blew it off and didn’t respond. I put my earphones on to listen to my tunes and made me a fully loaded sandwich. I swallowed it quickly and contemplated where to begin cleaning. I started picking up clothes and towels in the living room, but I needed some music. The Weekend sounded good, since my life was a blinded light. I decided to dance and let the cleaning begin! The kitchen was somewhat done, so I just left it. I did eventually think about my bedroom and personal bathroom, but it wasn’t appealing to me because I ran out of energy, especially after setting up two loads of laundry to be washed.

  Time flew by and Unity never made it back out of her room. I was disappointed but there’s nothing I can do about it. I decided to go upstairs and get some rest. It was getting late. The moon light greeted me again. I smiled as I curled under my blankets, hoping I would dream. But, nothing came except darkness.

  Diary 6

  BEFRIENDING MOM

  The sun was shining bright in my eyes the next morning as my hungered growled. I squinted my eyes and grabbed the phone to check the time. I slept a little more than expected, so I pushed the covers off with no need to stretch. I could hear Unity downstairs making noise. I wondered if she ate already. I got up and put on a pair of jeans while I wrapped my hair in a bun, heading to the restroom to wash up.

  When I made my way down the stairs, I saw Unity pass the stairwell as she was heading to the living room, or maybe the kitchen… “Hey, are you going to cook?” I asked, stopping Unity in her tracks. “Wow, you must be hungry…” She looked up and said with a smile.

  “I am.” I responded with one back.

  I know I said she never cooks, but that was code for buy me something to eat.

  “Tell you what… pancakes?” She asked.

  “Please!” I responded with unexpected enthusiasm as I made my way down the steps.

  “Or, wait, breakfast tacos???” She decided to re-offer because she changed her mind about cooking within two seconds as usual.

  “Ok, let me get dressed really quick.” I ran back upstairs to change my shirt and put on my running shoes.

  There was a little Mexican restaurant I passed on my way home every day. I suggested we give it a chance, yelling at my mom from upstairs as I tied my last shoelace. This whole time we have been here we haven’t done much. The only thing I was familiar with was the mall I went to with Melissa. But I wanted to start to do more things with Unity, Melissa, and hopefully Robert as time was progressing for me. My mind drifted to places Robert and I could visit. Well, maybe not…I barely know him. I had to ask myself to get back to reality, convincing myself to go downstairs to get going. I ran down in a hurry so I could ease my hunger pains.

  ******

  The Mexican restaurant was called Luz de Las Velas.

  I guess not knowing how we would respond, they greeted us in English and Spanish. I admit I was a little tan, but that was about it. And, even though I was half Hispanic and Caucasian, I had a very light complexion from Unity’s side of the family. Unity was even lighter than me. We were both naturally brunette, but she changed her hair color often, which made her Caucasian side stand out more, because this month she was blonde. Yet, I liked it more than the dark red she had chosen last month for sure. We both picked the table in the corner. Sometimes Unity reminded me of me. She likes to be alone and out of the limelight. Dressing up lately took me away from that, but parts of me still like to be alone most days.

  We sat catty corner and smiled at each other as we were seated. It felt good. Our conversation began about some guy at work who’s been hitting on her. She claims he has an outrageous laugh and is a jokester, always trying to get her attention.

  “Well!” I was excited to be nosy for the first time in my life.

  “Well, what honey?” Unity said, pretending to be oblivious to my reaction.

  “Are you going to let him ask you out?”

  “Let him? He has to ask me out first.” Unity tried to rebut.

  “But what do you think he’s been doing??? Mom, putting flowers on your desk is a huge sign, don’t you think?” I said sarcastically.

  Unity smiled back but she stayed silent for a second as she glazed into the air.

  “Well, we’ll see.” She finally responded.

  “Mom this is a good opportunity for you.” I shortly replied, avoiding a Luke conversation, but she still lingered back in her seat as if it was too hard to avoid.

  “Honey I am trying.” She said with a sigh.

  I could feel that old conversation/fight coming, so I stopped.

  “Well, you are beautiful; I can’t blame him.” I said while biting into my taco.

  Unity stared at me for a few seconds almost in shock. I looked back with confusion, but I realized I have never told her she was beautiful before and in a very low but emotional voice, a thank you emerged from her lips.

  “You’re welcome mom. I’ve always thought you were beautiful.” I didn’t hesitate to suggest.

  “Ditto.” She responded.

  “Uh, what’s ditto???”

  “It means I love you. It’s from an old movie called Ghost with Patrick Swayze.”

  “Who’s Patrick Swayze?” I asked because I never heard that name before.

  “A famous actor in my time.” She explained.

  “What’s it about?”

  “This girl who was in love with a guy who died. He became a ghost.”

  “She was in love with a ghost? Weird…” I responded with a sarcastic voice and funny face as I went back to eating.

&
nbsp; We giggled and laughed. I wanted to take a picture of us. It’s moments like these that make me want to be happy again. Trust again. I captured a great selfie with her smiling as her arm was around my shoulders. I posted it on my social media, hoping my grandma would see it.

  We finally finished up our tacos. Unity paid the waitress and we left.

  ******

  When we got home, I became excited. I hugged my mom, thanking her for the tacos.

  What outfit is going on tonight??? My thoughts flowed with a techno sound in my head… and I don’t even like techno music.

  “I’m going to get my stuff ready for tonight.” I told Unity and ran upstairs.

  “Okay…” She said, heading straight to her room.

  “Are you going to do anything tonight?” I asked halfway up the stairs.

  “No, not tonight, but tomorrow I may go somewhere.” She replied nonchalantly.

  “On Sunday, where are you going??? You’re going out on a work night?” I asked two questions at once - surprised.

  “I don’t have a curfew.” She yelled from a distance.

  I thought her response was pretty funny, but then started to wonder where she would go on a Sunday night. She never goes out on a Sunday. Huh… that is odd. But I had stuff to do and forgot quickly about her response. It was still early after I got all my stuff together, and finally cleaned my room. I wanted to clean my car before I left also, but who knows if that will happen.

  After putting my last set of things away in their rightful place, I looked at the time. The phone said 1:45 pm, so I decided that I should set my alarm and take a nap. I needed some shut eye after expending all my energy, especially if I was going out for the first time in my life with friends. I grabbed my fluffy pillow with my purple blanket and drifted quickly into REM sleep.

  ******

  I woke up in the garden again laying across the ground with beautiful black and pink lily’s staring back at me, almost as if they were communicating. They were waving from side to side but there was no wind. This time in the dream I was alone, and I knew it. I wondered how I ended up there again and there was an essence of something, but I couldn’t tell if it was human.

  I was somewhat confused, but still felt safe. I decided to move into a sitting position, Indian style. The moon sparkled on the ground, trees, and flowers, with dark colored shadows coming in and out. Then suddenly, I knew someone was there. I called out to the person who was hiding, but no answer. “Hello… hello…” I kept saying. I tried to look, but I felt something from behind stop me from completely turning. “Don’t look…” A ghostly voice said. I was curious, but not frightened at all. I looked back down towards the flowers, and a brown twig basket instantly appeared in front of me. It was filled with bright white beautiful flowers that laid in white silk, complimented by tiny green leaves. I knew it wasn’t there before, but I couldn’t tell I was dreaming. I wanted to thank the person, whoever it was. I looked up, trying to turn around again, but something would not let me move. So, I tried to see with my eyes instead. I got restless and looked back down at the basket again. I wanted to pick up the flowers. But unexpectedly… a bloody heart that was beating loudly appeared in the middle of basket over the flowers. Blood leaked over the grass, basket and even on my hands. I kicked it away but couldn’t scream. I was dramatically frightening. I was finally able to move, rising from my seated position off the ground.

  BA-Boom, BA-boom, BA-boom, the beat sounded over and over again. As it became louder and louder, I started having an anxiety attack. I woke up gasping for air. I think most of my dreams were about Robert, but that couldn’t be. I felt like this dream was trying to tell me something. I grabbed my phone to see if I could look it up in Google, but nothing came up for bloody heart in garden basket. Even when I searched key words individually, nothing made sense.

  I caught my breath, thoughts, and after a few minutes of lying there, I decided to forget about it. It was just a dream. I got up and pushed my hair back into a bun, grabbing my jeans that were perfectly folded inside my dresser drawer. Right when I put them on, I heard the front door slam loudly.

  “Mom, is that you?” I yelled out from the top of the stairs. But there was no answer. I knew Unity might have left, but then again, she did say she wasn’t going anywhere. I nervously walked down the stairs to investigate. I could see light from the living from the top of the stairs. The front door was wide open. I looked around quickly and my heart rate followed the beat. Did Unity forget to close the door? Maybe she left the door open but either way I didn’t want to be foolish and walk around the house if somebody was in it.

  My phone was in my hand and was about to call 911 when the door slammed, and my heart jumped out of my chest. “REAIR!” A screeching cat voice yelped out. A stray-black cat screamed from getting his tail caught in the front door. Then another loud BANG! from inside the house came so I ran out, scared.

  I texted Unity and Melissa at the same time. Melissa answered back first. But I ended up calling her instead of texting. I kept staring at my house windows and doorways for shadows from the street but saw nothing. Maybe it was just the cat that got in from a window or something.

  “Don’t even back out!” Melissa sort-of yelled though the speaker, assuming I was canceling tonight.

  “No, no, I was just about to grab a sandwich from downstairs and my front door was open and my mom’s gone. Her cars not here. It made me a little nervous.”

  “What do you mean? Are you OK?” Melissa was confused.

  “Yeah, it was a super loud slam. Maybe it was just a stray cat, but when I walk downstairs it was open and no one was there.”

  “You’re all alone?” Melissa sounded worried.

  “Yes, but I’m outside now.”

  “Well, don’t go in back in the house.”

  “Do you think you can come meet me over here while I’ll wait outside? I’m scared to go back in.” I asked her while biting my lip with some anxiety.

  “Yeah, I’ll go by. But, also call the police.” Melissa stated with anticipation. “My brother is a cop; they do courtesy calls and will walk through the property for you to make sure you’re okay. But don’t go back into the house though. That cat might be someone’s familiar for all we know.” Melissa instructed.

  “What??? Familiar???” I asked confused.

  “Nothing, it was a joke. I’m coming.”

  I can’t imagine Unity would leave the door open. She’s usually not irresponsible like that, but maybe she had something on her mind and didn’t realize.

  The cop finally arrived right when Melissa pulled up. I waited on the curb. He parked behind my car and got off.

  “You okay young lady?” The officer walked towards us when he asked.

  “I heard the door slam but when I came downstairs, nobody was there. And the door was open. So, I don’t understand how or what…My mom is gone, and I didn’t know what to do…”

  I started rambling until the cop told me to calm down.

  “Why don’t you ladies wait by the car and I’ll run through the house for you?”

  “Okay.” Melissa responded while I caught my breath. She immediately hugged me; obviously happy I was okay. We leaned against his cop car while we waited.

  “Everything all right, besides you having someone in your house?” Melissa asked playfully.

  “Not funny...” I was staring at the house the whole time waiting for the cop to come out alive.

  “Sorry…” She replied in a low tone.

  I was debating to tell her about the dream but maybe she can help. “I had a weird dream when I took a nap.” I blurted out loud.

  “Like the one you had at my house?”

  “Yes, but it was different this time.”

  “What happened?” Melissa became curious.

  Right when I started explaining the dream to her, the cop walked back out.

  “I checked around as much as I could young lady. Maybe it was the wind or a stray animal somewhere.” The cop
responded with no clue what to say.

  “Yeah, I think you’re right. Thanks.” I accepted his answer.

  Unity finally text me back. I texted her what happened, and she said that she would be coming home in a couple of hours. Where did she go? Why two hours? I thought. I told her not to bother because the cop checked the house thoroughly. I was somewhat annoyed by her answer. But, she was sure she didn’t leave the door open, which also gave me the creeps. I’m hoping she just didn’t remember.