don't follow - layne staley

Unlocking her dorm room, she rubbed the bridge of her nose and laid on her bed. Every ounce of energy was dissolved. Her shoulders gave her a perpetual pain that infected the rest of her back. A long week of just work and school. But her week wasn't over yet- she had to perform tomorrow. 

Not even her passions gave her a break. 

Guitars hung above her bed, one acoustic and one electric. The acoustic was made from rosewood with a long scar across its front. The electric guitar was a deep red, in pristine condition, glittered from the light of the sunset. Shelves stacked with CDs, cassettes, music sheets and textbooks. Leaflets from different bands littered her walls alongside magazine cut-outs. Unanswered letters from her mom laid on her desk and guitar picks scattered across the floor.

Books had grown onto her desk, always changed but always loved. Ivy had a special place in her heart for literature, her head always looking down at a guitar or into a book. She only ever wanted to write and read; to escape to a different world that wasn't her own. Now at university, she was studying it- it was a dream come true. She wouldn't trade a thing for it.

Collapsed into a bundle of blankets, her stress dissipated into the bed, physically feeling herself melt. Removing her bra and massaging her breasts felt deserved; her body aching from standing on her feet all day.

But then the phone rang.

"Hello?" A young voice said faintly, it belonged to a male who was in the middle of a trek through puberty.

"Hello Seren," Ivy answered immediately, recognising her little brother's voice in a flash.

"Ivy! I thought I would see how you're doing, I haven't seen you all week," He responded excitedly, she could hear him press the phone closer to his mouth.

"Sorry dude, I had so much work this week. I'll visit you on Sunday. How about that?" Ivy suggested, making up for her distance. Being so caught up in work, university and her band- she had little time for her family. 

"Yeah, that's fine. Grandma misses you. She keeps bragging about you to her bingo friends," He told her, a small laugh laced in his words.

"I miss her too. I'll be over as soon as possible. I promise you guys," She stated, firm on 'promise'.

"Eve misses you too, she keeps purring against my leg," He chuckled.

"Aw, stop this Seren! You make me feel so guilty!" She whined, guilt tugging the strings in her heart. She couldn't be there for her biggest supporters, selfishness began to come into view.

"That's my intention. Anyway, I won the music competition at school," He announced proudly.

"No way! You're fucking amazing. I suppose music really does run through our family. Well done dude, we should throw a celebration party," She gasped, clutching her telephone.

"I miss you Ivy. I wish I could see you more," He admitted, giving in to the one thing he wanted to tell her.

"I'm sorry Seren, I'll be home as soon as I can," She apologized, becoming serious. Her guilt as a terrible older sister hurt her, but in order to keep herself and her brother alive; she had to earn money.

"Bye Ivy, I've got to go now. Grandma demands I finish my turn on Monopoly," 

"Bye Seren. I love you lil bro,"

"Love you too, big sis,"

Placing the telephone back onto it's holder, she sat in silence for a second. Just two more years of university. Then everything can go back to normal. Right?

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"I'll have a black coffee again, please," He asked, placing 2$ onto the counter. His fingers came across as soft; easy to glide her fingers along. Yet the tips of them were blistered, and fingernails were bitten. Palms were covered in scratches and ink melted into the creases.