The Embrace of the Vampire

word for grandmother. Me and my mom spoke a weird mixture of Serbi

on our wooden coffee table that we’ve had for forever, moving across America with us, f

eard fluttered with excitem

big – it was just the right size for her face and for the longest time Jessica convinced me that my mother must’ve gotten it done whe

e care of her, until your aunt finishes the projec

ill that be

m. “So, you better pack because

orry…

a rug and someone just pulle

er of seconds. It really is a metamorphosis that everyone should witness at least once in their li

ber,” I complained. “And you

ver like a dog, especially since I had already invested some of my hard-earned money working part-time at

so I bought my ticket.” There was also going to be a party at Jessica’s that all three of us were going to host, but I

d my mom. “I’m exhausted from the overnight shift still, but I ha

t m

that’s

urself was just not an option. You either conformed to society or you got ostracized. I looked around the small living room from our apartment and suddenly I hated everything. The icons of the Orthodox saints

ed around. My mom was almost

. My mother never beat me even though she threatened to do so on many oc

I wiped my tears, facing her. “Not for

as I know, I didn’t raise a monster

rustration. “Because I want to live my own

ur life,” said my mom. “But as long as you

id. “I’m n

Sunday morning. You are com

party tonight.” I said that with more confide

d, but she composed herself pretty quickly. “In fact

ia? Why didn’t you just stay there like everybody else you love, because you have no friends here, you have no social life outside of your three hundred jobs you always work, but never have enough money for anything – and now you’re trying to alienat

l

experienced before from her in my entire life. I know I might’ve pushed it a bit too hard, but I’ve been letti

more than I did in that moment, but something inside me thawed still when I saw how much pai

l. You better start packing, because you’re spending the summer in Serbia with me taking care of your grandmother. And you aren’t

urned around and walked to my room, slamming the door, but I didn’t lock it. I needed to come

grabbed the phone and called Rachel. It rang forever unti

you calling and not text

d this time she picked

t letting you come to the party, am I ri

. “It’s much worse, Rach. We’re leaving for Serbia

the Sailing on June 19th,” said Ra

I said and I started cr

t me come pick you up with her car and then we will hide you in the shed in the backyard. My dad used to live there in the summers before him and mom got divorced,

my hair brush, my shampoo for oily hair, extra clothes and stuff like that. I was in full panic mode, and I didn’t even

vena?” she asked and my