unspoken words | mileven

epilogue

JUST WHEELER THINGS

14 YEARS LATER

"and then mommy accidentally placed the sponge into the lasagna!" mike continues to tell his youngest child, lilah.

"mommy, it made my tummy feel weird." she says as el shakes her head and places down the plates of breakfast, "you try making a lasagna for five, mike. now go get the other two."

"i called them! they just said yeah yeah and ignored me." he says and starts to feed his four year old.

"and gee i wonder why. aurelia, axel! let's go!" she shouts and claps her hands as well.

"i'm coming, mom!" axel shouts and walks into the kitchen, "see, i'm here. you should yell at lia who's crying in front of the mirror."

"axel, what did you do?" mike asks and turns to him as el passes his breakfast to him.

"i didn't do anything! she just screamed at me and slammed the door in my face. mom, i am emotionally hurt, my face almost got slammed!" he whines and goes to hug her with a fake pout.

"yeah, yeah. sit down and eat." she ruffles his hair as he sits down with a huff.

"aurelia! baby, come on!" she shouts again as loud footsteps from the stairs appear.

"you don't need to shout." aurelia grumbles and sits down next to axel.

"what's wrong?" el asks and sits down, "what do you mean? i'm fine."

"axel said you were crying." she states.

aurelia turns to axel and smacks the back of his head, "you fucking ass!"

"aurelia!" mike exclaims, "language."

aurelia kicks axel in the shin under the table and then slams her fork into her food.

"mike, take axe and lilah into the living room for a second please." el says as mike nods, "alright, let's go." he stands up and drags lilah and axel with him, "dad!" axel whines as they walk off.

"okay, what is up?" el asks and motions for aurelia to go over and sit next to her.

aurelia follows and sits facing her, "nothing."

"yeah, i beg to differ. c'mon, you can tell me. you know that, baby." el murmurs and strokes her hair.

"i just did my hair, mom." she says as el let's go quickly, "that's why it looked so good— sorry. but please continue."

aurelia shrugs, "remember when i said i wanted to try out for the cheer team?"

"yes, of course." el nods.

"right well.... i kinda realised how different i was. they're all blonde and white and tall as hell! they're skinny and they're pretty and i'm me. i'm not blonde, i don't have pretty straight hair. i'm a brunette with curly hair.. i'm not skinny, i'm not tall. i'm nothing like them. how will i ever live up to them!?" aurelia exclaims as el smiles softly at her.