Having sisters is my favourite part of life. I can’t imagine what children without siblings do to pass time. I mean, I literally spam Nadine with ugly close ups of my nostrils when I’m bored.That’ssomething you can’t do with everyone.
Rosa’s currently stuffing her face with noodles and arguing withNadine about some singer’s music. Out of the camera’s view, I’m folding my clothes and packing.
My flight for Switzerland is in two days and I’m still figuring out how to tell them I won’t be back until the end of summer.
One of them chokes and swallows their water with loud gulps.
Definitely Nadine.
“Masaid you aren’t picking up her calls, Bubba.”
A neatly folded dress slips through my fingers and adjusts itself to its early state.
My heart falters, tiptoes, completely thrashes itself against the left side of my chest where it is currently now transforming into severe left boob pain.
“You’re still doing that, Nova?”
Great, now both of them are up my butt.
Taking a deep breath, I completely move towards the camera so I’m in their view. “It’s not like I’m doing it on purpose. I’ve been busy and you guys know that.”
“So?” Rosa snorts. “All of us are busy, but we make time for—at least—the people who matter.”
Easy for them to say.
“Yeah, babes. That’s no excuse for not picking up your mother’s calls.” Nadine switches to her adult voice just as fast as her friendly one. “What will you do if one day she stops calling and you find out that she’s no longer around?”
Guilt festers up in my stomach.
When they put it that way, it makes me feel likedoodoo.
“If you can make time to talk to us, you can make time for her too.” Rosa stuffs the last bit of noodles in her mouth before throwing the Ramen bowl away. Her scrubs have stains on them and the bags beneath her eyes have gotten worse.
Dammit, I hate this.
When they say stuff like this, I feel like the worst person alive.
One of my sister’s is busy making an income and fighting through everyday because she never gets any rest.
The other is transitioning into becoming a mom.
And they still see me as a brat who won’t grow up and mature.
“Dr. Rivera?” Someone in Rosa’s room says. “You’re needed in the ER. The new doctor’s interns brought the wrong patient up into the room and proceeded to cut into them without him present.”
Rosa curses under her breath. “I’ll be right there.”
Her door shuts and she gets up. Tying her cherry brown, shoulder-length hair into a bun, she spews more profanities. “This new doctor is going to fuck everything up.”
“I’m pretty sure it was the intern’s fault, Rosa.”
She glares at me. “No, Iknowit was his fault. Since the minute he got here, he thinks he’s in charge.” Another cacophonous curse. “This is what happens when you give men power.”
“Sorry guys, you know how it is.” She gives us a tired smile.
Nadine waves it off, “Don’t even worry about it. We know. Take care, Rosa.”
Her eyes then shift to my side, and I smile wide with an exaggerated hand wave. “I love you, take care of yourself!”
