Chapter Text
“You ready to go home yet, Helen?” Bailey, whose hair was dyed with a bright array of colors, looks down on Helen. Helen looks up, and a small smile breaks through when she thinks of the position, she’s in. Her hands are filled to the grasp with sour cream and butter, and she feels more like a raccoon scourging through the trash can, rather than a Wendy’s employee restocking the fridge.
She awkwardly shuffles upwards, after shoving the condiments in their correct containers. “Have you already de-assigned me?” Helen rubs her right shoulder, trying to work out a knot. Bailey nods, walking over to the drive thru window. The teenager closes the fridge door before making her way to the terminal to clock out.
The receipt prints out, and she snatches it, throwing it away in the trashcan beside the drink machine. In the corner of her eye, she spots her bracelet, glowing, like always. The jewel is always faintly at a shimmer, but no one ever says anything about it. No one other than her mom, anyways. The jewel itself has a hue of silver and gold. It combines into a color that lets out an array of others. It’s truly beautiful, and it’s the only jewelry she can stand to wear other than a few hours.
It’s held up by multiple thick strands of white silk. It was something dad put together when she first showed it to him all those years ago. He had given her plenty of gifts throughout the years, but this one was the only gift that had ever mattered to her. It was the last gift that truly made Helen feel like her dad cared, as silly as it sounds.
She would never admit that to anyone, of course. They’d call her spoiled, and in a sense, she certainly was. She was well off, both of her parents made more than enough. She had two houses, though, that came after the divorce. A pool, her own car, her parents have their own cars, stepdad included. She wore the best clothes, had the best skin care products, she was spoiled, but that didn’t make Helen unaware.
Her parents struggled, and they did their best to make sure Helen never did. That’s why she lives such a lavish life. Her mom and both of her dads worked hard to take care of her and to provide for her. But she had to learn. She was forced to have a job, pay off her own car, and pay for her telephone bill. She just wished her parents' love didn’t feel like an exchange. It felt like if she didn’t make good grades, she was no longer allowed to have gifts, or words of praise. Helen felt like she was always on a constant balance of crumbling eggshells.
She wondered often if that feeling would ever go away. Stepping outside of the lobby into the cool crisp air almost made her feel like it would. That one day, she’d be everything her parents hoped for and more.
Maybe one day.
In the parking lot sat her dad’s red Ford truck. It was Saturday night, and unfortunately for her, she had to be at her father’s house for the weekend. It didn’t bother her as much as she let others think it did, but she wasn’t comfortable being there. His girlfriend was always finding some way to compare the two, and she always made sure Helen knew she was second in the eyes of her father. Helen didn’t care much for Jennifer. She just wished Jennifer felt the same.
She takes her dad’s car keys from her pocket, and unlocks the door, walking to the car. She pulls out her phone, looking at any recent notifications. Nothing interesting catches her eye, and so she shoves her phone back in her pocket and gets in the truck. It’s dead outside, no traffic, and the only cars that are left are the employee’s cars. She sighs in relief at the somewhat deserted roads. Hopefully, that means going home will be far quicker than it usually is.
I can’t wait to be in my bed, she thinks, before starting up the truck. It takes a moment, but within seconds, Helen drives out of the Wendy’s parking lot. She debates turning on music, but she doesn’t care to waste any more time on the road. It’s dark outside, and the headlights are the only thing that’s keeping her from squinting to see what’s in front of the car. The car comes to a stop at the red light, and Helen briefly looks down, after smelling a scent similar to the beach.
Her dad, or maybe Jennifer, added in an air freshener. She can almost smell the ocean, and the salty fragrance takes her back to a time when she was happier. She remembers when she had barely hit six years of age, and for her birthday, she had a full day out on the waves. Helen remembers stumbling along to the water, her hair knotted and straying everywhere from the harsh winds. She looked down, in a moment of haste, and her beautiful jewel washed up right in front of her eyes.
The same jewel she currently wears around her wrist.
The light turns green, and the truck continues onward. The ride is silent and uneventful, and Helen takes a right turn. She’s almost home, and the anticipation of sleep brings her happiness. A bright light coming from an upcoming car makes her wince. She goes to shield her eyes from the light, and before she can process anything, a truck, just like her dad’s, slams right into her. Her car skims across the road, and Helen’s body slants to the side, before it flips over.
She’s upside down, and the struggle begins to set in. Blood pools from her head, and Helen begins to think she’s hysteric when her bracelet glows. The girl blinks, her chest heaving up and down. Everything hurts, and yet, she can only think of how bright and beautiful the gem is.
Those are her final thoughts before her world fades to black, but even in her deep unconsciousness, the jewel’s light seems to cradle her. It holds her close, and little by little, she fades away. Her body is no longer of the realm she knew, but in a place where fate has come to collect its due.
And then, she wakes up.