Egos

Chapter Eight

"The world's not perfect but it's not that bad, if we got each other and that's all we have, I will be your mother I will hold your hand, you should know I'll be there for you."

-Alec Benjamin

After she defended herself, saving Dani from her grandparents, Ava's life settled into a much healthier pattern than it had before. Ava worked with the brothers, getting off at three-thirty daily. Dani enjoyed each day with Mrs. Mayberry, Monday thru Thursday.

On Fridays, the pair would spend their time together, oftentimes away from their house. In Ava's mind, the large brick box held nothing but pain, suffering, and poor memories. However, outside there was room for growth, the smell of life, and freedom from the pain that lingered.

Things were peaceful. Dani's third birthday, the first without her father, was to be celebrated soon. Currently, Ava occupied Danielle with riding her tricycle around the neighborhood while family prepared her surprise at home. For the first time in a long time, Ava's mind was away from Charles.

While he had been a train wreck, a force, he was in prison. She was happily living her life, with a beautiful daughter to teach, learn with, and grow alongside of. Charles was a thing of the past, at least, for now.

"Mama, when will Darius be back?"

"Darius is going to be back when you're older, sweetheart. He had to go on a trip."
"To where?" Dani asked, concern in her young voice.

Ava laughed bitterly. In her mind, she thought "Somewhere that doesn't extradite to the United States," but to her daughter she merely responded "I'm not sure, baby. Maybe you'll see him soon."

"Can I see Darius for my birthday, Mama?"

"Maybe, sweetheart. Why don't we go home, and see if there's any new presents for you to open?"

"Oh yeah!" Dani yelled, speeding twice as fast on her tricycle.

Once reaching her house, Danielle ran through the garage, tossing her helmet into the workout equipment. Barreling through the door, her young face fell when she walked into an empty kitchen.

"Mama!" Dani began to cry. "No presents! And no friends."

Ava, who was behind Dani on the way home, walked into the kitchen. "Is that so? Why don't you look a little bit more carefully?"

Dani obliged, her curiosity overcoming the pain she felt from being forgotten once again. Having known what it was like for her mother to grow, change, and be sick, Dani was afraid of everyone else leaving her like Ava had.

Rounding a corner in the living room, Dani shouted "Aunt Dory!"

Then, a host of other names followed, as her friends and family popped up from behind furniture, gifts in hand. "Uncle Lee! Gramma! Grampa!"

Ava laughed at her daughter, as she ran to hug each and every guest, saying "Thank you for presents!" While Ava was simply grateful for Dani's politeness, she failed to understand that it cam from the toddler's fear of being alone. The "thank you!" she offered to everyone was for more than material items. Rather, it was for bothering to spend even a second in togetherness with the child.

Just as she had when the dark days loomed, Dani brought joy to the entire family. Her spirit was light, and happy. Yet this light was not natural. While her mother knew it not, a darkness weighed on Dani, a darkness she not only inherited, but a darkness that she had learnt from being without either parent for a long while.