Page 98 of Ashes

Then I reached over to the passenger seat and grabbed the items I’d gotten at the grocery store from my tote bag.

After pulling a candle out of the packaging, I lifted the lid of the box holding a single chocolate cupcake. The sweet scent immediately hit my nose and my stomach growled, reminding me I’d barely eaten today.

I plunged the candle in the middle of the cupcake when my phone rang. I glanced down at it and saw my mother’s name flashing on the screen. I placed the dessert on the dashboard and picked up my phone from the cup holder.

A small spark of hope reignited in my chest. I hesitated for a moment before I took a deep breath and finally answered. “Hola, mami,” I greeted her.

“I need your help with something,” she said immediately, dousing the previous glimmer.

Of course that’s why she’s calling.

I let out a deep sigh. “What is it?”

“Poor Akari is struggling a little in her mathematics class and needs a private tutor to make sure she doesn’t fail it. If she does, she’ll have to repeat the year. You know how it is with your dad so…” She trailed off.

I knew my mother well enough that she wouldn’t outright ask me for what she needed. She always waited for me to offer it so she wouldn’t feel guilty about what she was asking me afterward.

I was well aware of her tactics and I should say no, but she was my mother and I wouldn’t let my sister be punished because my parents couldn’t do their job as parents.

“How much?” I asked, not wanting to prolong this conversation any longer.

“Just five hundred dollars,” she said, like that was nothing. “But I’ll pay you back as soon as I get paid,” she quickly added.

I knew I’d never see that money again. I held in my exasperation and reluctantly said, “I’ll send you a transfer in a little bit. Anything else?”

“No, thank you,mija. I don’t know what we would do without you.”

“Yeah, good night,mami.”

She hung up the phone without saying goodbye. Or wishing me a happy birthday.

Tears pricked at my eyes, but I looked up, willing them to go away.

You’re okay, Sienna, I told myself.Crying won’t help.

My body shook with the bitter laugh I’d been holding back. This wasn’t funny, it was sad really, but what was I supposed to do?

My parents had given me a good upbringing. They hadnever laid their hands on me or starved me. They just forgot I existed unless I was useful to them.

I pushed my disappointment aside, adding it to the endless pile that I’d been shoving away in the back of my mind over the years, and reached for the cupcake again after tossing my phone into my purse.

I pulled a small box of matchsticks out of the side of the driver’s door and lit one. The small flame burned bright in the dark confines of my car, and I brought it closer to the wick and held it there until it caught on.

I leaned forward, closed my eyes, then blew out the flame.

Happy birthday, Sienna.

I sat back, pulled out the used candle, and ate the cupcake. After I was done, I grabbed my things and headed inside. Once I opened the door, I unfortunately heard chatter coming from the kitchen.

Just my luck.

I was ready for bed and didn’t have the energy to face anyone else tonight. I just wanted to have the rest of the evening to myself. I eventually took a deep breath and looked up, but my lungs squeezed tight once my eyes landed on what was happening in the kitchen.

My eyes widened.

How did he know?

I blinked, thinking my eyes were playing tricks on me, but when I opened them again, the image in front of me was still the same.