The Girl Called Trouble
Trouble Wakes

It was 14 degrees outside. Hera wanted me outside no matter what. I am sitting in the park with a massive headache. There is nobody else here. Nobody else selling and nobody buying. Yet I'm still here.

I can't make anything because it is too cold and my hands go numb if I take my gloves off. I sit waiting on nothing to happen. Hera calls. I see it but ignore it. I am not in the mood to talk to her. I just sit waiting for the day to end.

"You will need to be placed in a foster home. I don't know if your mother will be facing charges or not." the Police officer states.

"It doesn't matter. She isn't my mother."

"If she isn't your mother, then who is? In Fact, we don't even know who you are. What is your name?" The officer asks seeming annoyed.

"I don't know. I don't know who I am." I state.

"Then there isn't anything I can do. If you don't know your name then you will have to replace one."

"Then I will be called Ceres until I replace my real name." I state.

"Ceres wake up. I need you to send me $25 from your bank account now." Hera demands.

I look at my phone and realize it is two in the morning. I lay back down, ignoring Hera.

"Ceres, what are you doing? You need to send me money now! I need to give it to this guy. He only has $11 and he needs to eat.

I still ignore her. He isn't going to starve if he has to wait until the morning. The only thing open is probably McDonald's anyways. He can shop off the dollar menu and go to a food pantry in the morning.

"Ceres I want you to send me money now. If you don't send me money then you need to leave. You are so selfish with your money! How come I have to pay for everything and you never touch your money? It's not fair that you expect that of me."

"You don't pay me and I sit at your table all day, every day. I have no income." I try to be reasonable.

"Do you really think you are doing me a favor? Anything you do I could easily do myself! I don't really need you. All you do is take advantage of me and when I ask for a favor you ignore me!"

"You haven't asked me for anything. You demanded and I don't have to give you anything. We had an agreement when I first started working for you and you chose mot to follow the agreement that you came up with." I keep my voice calm even though I could feel the anger in me starting to grow. I mean, really, how much does she think I'm going to put up with?

"If you won't send me money then you can leave." As soon as she says this I get up and start collecting my things.

"What are you doing? Why won't you just give me money? I like him and I really want him to love me. I have asked you multiple time to give me money. Just give it to me!"

I look at her and decide that I don't want to. I grab the few items I have and I leave the room. I really don't feel like doing this anymore. I am at the point that I really can't stand being around her. I decide to leave.

"You will have to testify in court. I didn't think it would be necessary at first but you are the only person willing to talk about some of things that went on there." The officer says.

"I understand." I answer. I honestly don't care what I have to do. I just want to get away from that woman for good.

"We will spend the time up until the trial preparing. I will go over questions that you will likely be asked and explain how to answer them. It might not seem necessary, but the way you word your answers can have a big impact on the proceedings."

I spent the last hour walking and ignoring my phone. I honestly don't feel like answering Hera. I doubt that I will be able to stay with her for much longer. Nobody would want to put up with this nonsense. I walk around the corner and unfortunately I run into her.

"Do you know how long I have been looking for you?" Hera asks. "I have been worried sick. Why would you leave at to in the morning like?" I don't answer her. I stand trying to decide how I will respond.

"It's cold out. Lets go inside." Hera says. I am already suspicious. I follow her inside. She really is going way to far. How far is she willing to go to get what she wants?

"Now, all I asked is that you give me money. That is all. I need you to say something." I just look at her. I am really getting curious to see what she will do when I choose not to answer her.

"Why are you just starring at me? Do you think that I'm stupid? All you have to do is give me money. I will pay you back later." I still don't answer. I stand completely still and completely silent and just stare at her.

"Seriously! Stop looking at me like I am stupid! Is that what you think? Do you think I am stupid?" I wonder how I should answer that. She is kind of making a fool of herself. I have to question if she thinks of herself as stupid. Often times, when somebody feels that that way, they are projecting their own emotions onto another person. It is easier to think that somebody else sees you as stupid than it is to accept that you see yourself as stupid.

"Never mind. Just go back to bed we will talk about this later." Hera states.