Dawn

18

It was a slow walk home.

I had decided to take the long route back, telling Hayden I needed to walk alone so I could clear my head and prepare to face my dad. Mum had come to my room last night and had a long chat with me, but I hadn't seen Dad yet. This morning, when I went downstairs, Mum told me Dad had already left for work. I felt the urge to bite my nails worriedly. Mum had detailed the events of last night to me, but she hadn't explained how Dad was feeling now.

The wind picked up a little, forcing me to pull my jacket closer around me. I attempted to prepare something to tell my dad when I saw him; needless to say, with all of the new doubts and scenarios popping up in my mind every passing second, I failed.

Finally, when I reached my front door, I glanced behind me to see Hayden's silhouette outside the shroud of forest behind him. He nodded at me, almost encouragingly, and I responded with a brief smile. Breathing deeply, I pushed the key into the lock and turned it, stepping inside the house.

Instantly a delicious smell invaded my nostrils, and I followed the scent like a zombie, heading into the kitchen. My body froze when I recognised Dad standing at the counter, staring at a cook book with Roxy lying at his feet.

"Dad?" I reached out.

He turned around and smiled— a genuine smile —at me. "You're home! Mum's out with Ryan and Sydney. I wanted to make us a special dinner."

I was taken aback. Has he been hypnotised or something? "Uh... Sure.. Special occasion?"

He turned around to face me and leaned against the counter. "Okay, here it is. I'm still in shock from what your mother told me, but I suppose I understand. And since you have to move out now, I want us to have some quality time together," he said, hesitantly. I suppressed a grin and wrapped him in a hug, murmuring a "thank you". I felt him shaking a bit, and I looked up at him to see him holding back tears.

"Don't cry, Dad," I pleaded.

"I'm sorry, I just can't believe you're moving out so soon."

"Believe me, Dad, it was news to me too."

He took a deep breath and wiped eyes quickly, before smacking his hands together and rubbing his palms. "Right, I have to finish this steak," he announced and turned away from me.

I took a seat at the table and stared at my hands, processing the sudden change in my dad's attitude.

"We packed up your stuff," Dad piped up suddenly. So that's why he was home so early.

"My room?"

"Not all of it. Just some clothes, toiletries, stuff we thought you'd need."

"Oh... Thanks, Dad." Hearing that put it in reality. I was really moving out. There was no going back.

The rest of the evening I was withdrawn. I told my dad everything, how I was feeling, what I wanted to do, how Hayden treated me. But between conversations, I would drift into the embrace of my thoughts. Doubts and worries overwhelmed me. What happened if Hayden and I fought? Where would I get space? It was a lot to think about. Not to mention the privacy issue. I was still a girl, with girly needs. Living in the same room and sharing bathroom with a guy set my nerves on edge.

Halfway through dessert, Mum, Ryan, and Sid returned. As soon as the door opened Sid bounded into my lap and gave me a tight hug, whereas Ryan sped off to his room and Mum gave Dad a kiss. She shot me a smile and I returned it happily, before she slid into a seat beside Dad.

"Sydney, sweetheart, go watch some TV upstairs, okay?" Mum smiled encouragingly at Sid. Oh no. Adult talk. Sid clambered off me and skipped upstairs, and I looked expectantly at my parents.