MIA HENSHAW

MIA HENSHAW

‘Laura’s God, please send someone to help me.’ I pleaded desperately as the man's grip on my hand tightened and he started pulling me back inside.

“Can I get a cup of coffee, please?” Someone called out as the bell over the door jingled. I snatched my hand out of the creep's grip and putting on a bright smile, went towards the counter.

“Welcome to Sugar Cubes. How may we foster your sweet tooth today?” I asked the young man. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw the freak leave the cafe and I could finally breathe easy.

“Are you okay?” The guy asked. “I was passing by when I noticed a scuffle in the cafe. Is everything alright?”

“Yes, I am fine, thanks to you.” I said, my voice filled with gratitude.

“I'm Darell, a student of FIU. What about you?” He asked as I prepared his coffee.

“Nice meeting you, Darell. I'm Mia and also a student of FIU. Thanks for your intervention once again.”

“There's no need to thank me.” He replied, a charming smile on his face. “ If you don't mind, I will just stay here and work on my project since I was on the way to the library and here looks even more quiet and comfortable.”

“I don't mind at all. Here's your coffee and a cupcake on the house.”

“I will enjoy it, thanks.” He replied and went to a table at the doorway. It felt like I had my own bodyguard and the thought made me smile, the panic and fear I felt earlier, gone already.

I sat down and started my research on our group assignment ahead of Friday when we were to meet and discuss.

~•|~•|~•|

It was a few minutes before ten when Tina finally resumed. Darell hadn't left either. I glanced at him, his black hair falling over his face as he focused squarely on whatever he was typing on his laptop.

“It's like no one went jogging this morning. Why is the cookie jar still so full? And why is there only one person in the cafe?” She asked after she had come back from changing into her work shirt.

“We've had three other customers apart from him.” I simply replied.

“Is everything alright? You look quite pale.” She asked, putting her hand on my forehead to feel my temperature.

“I'm fine.” I answered, removing her hand from my head. She snatched my hand back immediately, her brows furrowed with concern.

“Why is your wrist red? Did you hurt yourself?” She asked, applying pressure to the red spot. “It looks like someone grabbed you. Did anything happen?” She asked, giving me her no-nonsense look.

“Nothing happened.” I told her with a smile as I gently removed my hand from her grasp. When I looked up, I saw Darell standing in front of the counter, his raven black orbs boring into my head.

“Someone has finally joined you.” He said, bringing out his wallet. “I can finally leave and be rest assured that nothing will happen again.”

I blinked at him as I tried to signal to him not to let Tina know but it was too late, those few words he already uttered was enough to pique her curiosity.

“How much am I to pay?” He asked, smiling widely.

Though I was grateful to him, I wanted nothing but to bash his head in right now for the tight situation he had just put me in as Tina's hand wrapped around mine.

“It's on the house. That's the least I can do to thank you.” I replied, plastering a smile on my face.

“No please, accept the payment. I wouldn't want to impose on you.” He said, extending a few notes to me.

“I insist. You can pay for it the next time you come by.” I told him.

“Okay then, I will see you around.” He said, backing down. “Have a good day Mia and you too, Miss.”

Immediately he was out of sight, Tina pulled me so I was facing her. “What was that exchange between the both of you? What did he mean by all he said? Talk to me, Mia.” She said, shaking me.

“Fine, I'll tell you.” I submitted after she pressured me into speaking. I narrated everything that happened in her absence from when the freak started acting up to when Darell showed up and saved me..

By the time I was done, she had begun sobbing. She wrapped her arms around me and kept on muttering how sorry she was.

“It's not your fault.” I said, patting her back. “Please, stop crying.”

“I will start coming as early as you do when you come in to bake so that you won't be alone again.” She said firmly, wiping her tears as she came to a resolution.

“What about Tiana?” I asked. The little girl was already not spending enough time with her mum and I didn't want to reduce it further.

“I will drop her off at school by seven o'clock and let her come here after school. That way, I will be able to stay here with you. I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Mia. I will report it to Cindy immediately I'm able to reach her.” She said, looking at my wrist again. “I'll get a cold compress and ointment so it won't become a bruise.”

She shot up from her seat and ran to the locker room where the first aid kit was usually kept and came back a few minutes later with a bag of ice cubes.

“This should reduce the swelling.” She said, placing the bag on my wrist. I smiled, grateful for the elder sister role she had in my life.

~•|~•|~•|

I looked around the room, the few people present fully engrossed in their work. This was one reason I loved the art club. Everyone did their thing and never poked their noses in other's businesses.

“I'm so pumped that you'll finally be visiting me.” Isha squealed excitedly, attracting the attention of my club members as I stared at the blank canvas, pondering on what to paint. “ Do you know why I chose a Friday?” She asked.

I shook my head as I dipped my brush in the cobalt blue oil paint and applied the first stroke. Isha had joined the art club because she wanted to spend more time with me though it was supposed to be my quiet space.

“It's because you will be able to stay back as long as you want and we can even have a girls’ night.” She said, beaming with childlike joy.

If my highschool self was here to see this, she probably wouldn't believe that Isha Henry would be as friendly as she was being right now. A part of me still believed she was just feeling guilty for her past actions towards me.

“You know I still have to go early to work so I can bake and we do have a large influx of customers on weekends so I have to be around to work a morning shift.” I replied, causing her to deflate.

“Why don't we postpone the meeting to Saturday? That way you don't have to wake up early after staying awake all night.” She suggested.

“We are not the only members of the group, remember? The other two would have made plans for the day.” I responded, painting the moon in my starry sky.

She let out a frustrated groan from beside me. “This is not going anywhere.”

“The plans?”

“No, my painting.” She let out. I raised my head for the first time we began this conversation and noticed a small pile of rumpled papers next to her seat. “How are you so good at it?”

“I don't think I'm good enough to be called good.” I shrugged. “I didn't have an artistic bone in me when I began painting, still don't, but it helps me clear my head.”

“So, you don't have a talent in this and yet your painting looks this good? I'm f**cked.” She muttered, letting out a deep sigh.

I giggled, slapping her shoulder. “It's just a painting girl, relax and take a chill pill. Practice, they say, makes perfect. Here's what you are going to do, take a deep breath, clear your mind and go quiet, then you will let your hands do the magic your heart has created.”

“Will I get inspiration by being quiet?” She asked. I sent her a nod in reply. She gave a determined look as she tore away her last painting — if it could be called that.

I felt peaceful immediately she kept quiet to focus on her work. After my tumultuous life at all my former foster homes, Laura made me start painting because she believed it had mind-healing effects and now, whenever things got too overwhelming —like today —I painted.

It was my own way of coping with life.