Raising Haze

Chapter Seventeen

(Heather's POV)

        Haze didn't come home after school, and I was worried. I didn't want to call her yet, as I thought she went to Derrek's to hang out. It was a reasonable thought, considering she was still really mad at me. But, I couldn't help but be worried.

        Although, I feel horrible. She does have every right to be mad. I lied to her her entire life. But, in my eyes, she was still my daughter. Sky is the one who left her. I raised her by myself, with a little help from Ryan.

        I'm the one that taught her to talk.

        The one who taught her to walk.

        The one who taught her to read and write.

        I am the one who taught her everything. She may not be mine biologically, but legally, and morally, she is. I honestly don't know what I would do without her. She was my baby girl.

        I started crying, thinking about watching her grow up and builing a fantastic relationship with her as she grows, and watching it all crumble within ten minutes. I should have told her from the beginnnig. I knew I should have.

        I can't take it anymore. I needed to call her.

        "Where the hell are you?!" I screamed. That came off more mean than I intended. I meant to be nice.

        "With my father." She quickly responded. I waited a minute in complete shock. Did she mean Zane?

        "How did you find Zane?"

        "He's my fucking art teacher, Heather."

        "You call me mom."

        "No. Because you're not my mother." She screamed and hung up.

        She found Zane. He was her art teacher. How did I not know this? She found her actual father, and now she wants nothing to do with me. Great. Life is horrible. Sometimes I wish I would of taken the easy way out like Skylar did. This is one of those times. Then again, that would destroy Hazelyne, and I couldn't do that. I know she still loved me. She was just hurt.

        I walked around the house for a little bit, trying to clear my head, and I decided to take a nap. I crawled into bed, on what was Skylar's side, for the first time since she died. I wanted to be close to her. I never slept on her side. I tried to once, but it didn't feel right. But, this time, I needed it. I closed my eyes and drifted off into sleep.

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        "Heather, why didn't you tell her?" I heard a voice. It sounded just like her.

        "Skylar?" I called out.

        "Yeah, it's me."

        "But...You're dead..." What was going on? She appeared in front of me, looking exactly how she did that night.

        "I wanted her to know about me." She was crying.

        "I'm sorry, baby. I just didn't want her to grow up thinking you didn't love her."

        "She wouldn't of thought that. She would of understood. That's why I left her a note." She started crying more. I hated seeing her cry. It killed me.

        "I'm sorry."

        "You're on thin ice with her, babe. Be caredful." She said. She was really warning me.

        "Of what?" I asked.

        "There are choices she's going to be thinking about making. I can't tell you what. Just try to fix things." She said as she got closer and closer..

        "I will. I promise."

        "Good." I smiled at her.        

        "Hey, Heather?" She said.

        "Yes?"

        "I love you."

        "I love you too." She kissed me. It felt so real. Like she actually kissed me again. The only differnce is, is that her lips were just a little colder."

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        I shot up, wide awake. What was that? It seemed so.... so real. Like she was actually there.

        And what choices was she talking about? Doesn't matter. All that matters is that I make things right with my daughter.

        "I'll make things better. I promise you. I love you, Skylar. Forever and always."