Haters Quarrel

Chapter 3: An unexpected visit

I hear my mom's signature knock and then her voice. For a second I feel as if I'm in a dream, just waiting for the moment when I wake up and realize how silly it was. But I don't wake up. And if it was that good of a dream, Haruto would be nice. I race downstairs again, thumping as my loud feet hit the un-carpeted stairs. "MOM!!!" I scream as soon as I open the door.

But this woman does not look like my mother. Sure, she has the same facial expressions and same hair, but my mother is built strongly. This woman is thin, and small-looking, My mother is strong-looking. "Hello, dear!" my "mother" says in her sweet voice. "What happened to you?" I reply, in a small voice. "I...nothing dear! Why do you ask?" she replies with a sad smile on her face. " Hmm. Maybe because you look like you've been starving while I was away?!" She takes a moment to consider something and then replies: "Well, you know after your father left me, you were basically taking care of me while I moped around in bed. So, with you gone, I had nothing to do, and I had forgotten how to cook." I gasp. " WHAT? You should have called me! I could have sent a care package.." I trail off. I  realize I have had my phone on mute since they left me here because I was so angry at them. Oh no. I dash up the stairs and slam my door, trying to hold my tears back so that Haruto doesn't see. I need alone time to process all of this. My crying is muffled by my pillow, but the walls are thin. At least, thin on their side because I hear: "So you must be her...boyfriend? She certainly deserves a handsome man like yourself." I can hear him mutter something under his breath, but I can't quite catch what it is. I feel my stomach twisting, and turning and I fall off my bed. Is this a dream after all? Maybe a nightmare...