august

new york city, new york, 2014

9:47 A.M

August arrived at the airport, a carry on hanging over her shoulders, a duffel bag in one hand, and a suitcase rolling behind her in the other. Her caramel brown hair was pulled to the side in a plait, multiple wisps escaping the style. The morning was somewhat rushed, so she just threw on one of her big cream sweaters and a pair of black leggings, along with a pair of chestnut suede wedge booties.

She listened to her parents argue and bicker until finally pressing her headphones deeper into her ears in hopes of blocking out the quarreling voices.

She sat down in a chair as they awaited their flight, throwing her stuff down next to her and sitting back. Her brother sat in the empty seat next to her, hands in his pockets. They didn’t make eye contact.

No matter how high her volume was turned up, no matter how deep her headphones were into her ears – she could hear her parents constantly in discord.

“What do you all day besides sit on your butt and drink?! You’re nothing but a scumbag and a good-for-nothing!” her mother, Colleen, would proclaim, fists clenched.

“And what do you do, Colleen? How much time do you spend with your children? Why don’t you answer that?” her father would roar. It was kind of embarrassing, really – not only the fact that they were arguing in an airport, but the fact that they were competing for best parent when the award clearly went out to, oh wait, neither.

She slumped back further into her chair and felt a sensation of relief when there was a heavy silence among the two.
Now they only had to stay like this for another four hours until they reached their destination – Portland, Oregon.