The Pseudocide of the Moon - Complete

Chris

"I think you should see a therapist."

"I don't need to see a therapist Scott, I'm fine."

"That's exactly what every person who needs to see a therapist says. Plus I've never seen a person clean as much as you have these past few days. It's insane."

"I'm occupying my brain. And I'm helping out mom."

"Mom is fine, she doesn't need you to renovate her house."

"I'm not renovating he-"

"You fixed her porch, redid her garage, painted the living room, and reseeded the grass. In three days! Have you even slept?"

"I have slept fin-"

"He has not slept at all!" Carly yells from the kitchen.

"Shut up, I'm fine."

"Chris be nice," Mom yelled back.

"Sorry," I mumble, "It's just- I'm fine you guys. I just want to keep busy. I want to be productive, be helpful."

"Hey if you want to be helpful why don't you get your butt off the couch and come help us make dinner," Carly called out.

"Alright."

I walk over to the kitchen and look around.

"What can I do?"

"You can start by cutting up the scallions for the chili."

Ma has music playing in the background and we all hum along to it. Looks like Mom decided on chili and baked potatoes.

"Scott can you set the table please?" Mom asks.

"Sure."

A few minutes later we all sit down at the table, and we dig in.

"This is delicious ma, thank you."

"Glad you liked it honey," she smiles as she eats some of her own chili.

"Uncle Chris?" Stella asked from across the table.

"Yes Stella?"

"Where's Auntie Liv?"

I stare down at my food. In shock needless to say. Without knowing what to say.

Carly fumbled with her words but finally said, "Baby, Auntie Liv had to go away."

"Why?"

"Mmm... Because she got hurt so she had to go."

"But why?"

"Sometimes bad things happen, and people have to leave us. But that doesn't mean they don't love us... Just means we won't be together for a while."

"Oh... I get it. Kind of like when we stay with Grandma. But you still love us, and come back right?"

She awkwardly laughs, "Not exactly but sure, something like that..."

Stella nods and goes back to picking at her food.

Olivia always got her to eat. She was a picky eater too.

Without realizing, tears were falling on to my potatoes and I wiped my face.

"I think I'm gonna go to bed early, I... I've had a long day."

"Alright honey."

"Thanks for dinner again ma, it was really good."

"Goodnight you guys," I waved goodbye and went up to my room.