“…and when we least expect it, the world revolves and where we used to be bottom, we’re suddenly on top” 

Serena recited that statement in her head before she went to sleep every night. It’s a simple statement but it held much relevance to her. How could she forget her grandma’s last words? How could she ignore the fact that even in the middle of a potential life-ending condition where every sentence could be her last, she chose to tell her something that would keep her going years after her demise? It’s the memories that kept Serena going on nights like this. 

Serena always looked forward to those few minutes on her bed before she drifted off to sleep, they were always the best minutes of the whole day. The memories she replayed in her mind were the blankets that protected her from the cold, they were the hands that caressed her as she eased off to sleep. Becoming an orphan at an early age is never an easy experience but Grandma Coco ensured she still had a cause to smile whenever she reflected on those early years. She remembers the nights where she would enclose herself in her grandma’s warm and huge arms. She didn’t need a blanket on those nights. Grandma Coco would tell her stories about her childhood while fondly playing with her hair. She would tell her funny stories about her mum’s childhood years. She even told Serena how her mum met her dad. Grandma’s stories were always fun. She missed that stage in her life when her biggest worry was trying to guess what story Grandma would tell her. Her favorite “genre” was Grandma’s tales of her prime years, especially when the stories were backed up by picture evidence. She always marveled at how much age could change a person. Grandma Coco was totally different from “Cecilia’ that she saw in the pictures. Cecilia was tall, with a well moisturized skin; skin that shone in the pictures. Grandma Coco was short, with dry skin; skin that looked like scales from a distance. However, this skin was warm, especially when it was wrapped around Serena, it was skin you could fall asleep in.

Serena sheds a tear after her trip down memory lane. Life used to be easier, and much simpler. Now, she has to worry about this presentation she has at the office tomorrow and how she’s largely unprepared for it. She has to worry about avoiding her boss all day at work because of the improper advances he’s making at her. She sheds a tear when she realizes she can’t remove herself from the toxic environment she calls her workplace because that’s her only source of livelihood. She thinks about the whispers of the other female employees. She’s the most attractive lady at the office by a mile. The way she walks into the office with hips swaying from side to side and lips that let you see your reflection in them if you look long enough. She notices how all the eyes turn once she passes by and if they don’t notice her by her majestic goddess-like stature, they can never ignore her signature scent. 

Serena misses when life was much simpler, with less responsibility. It’s quite sad that her favorite part of the day is when it’s time to reminisce about the past. With each passing day, the memories become less vivid, and she begins to accept, slowly but surely, that this is her life now.