Till Our Souls Wilt (Age Gap)

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Althea's POV

"Avoiding training is hurting no one but yourself." Kaston grumbled.

"I skipped one day, Arlo told me to work on my shifting and mediation. He moved our spar to Saturday." I informed him. He nodded.

"You gonna tell me what happened between you two?"

"You gonna tell me why you're so against going to Nathan's party?" I rebutdtaled. He smirked as if trying to tell me touché. I shook my head. I didn't like that we had secrets, it wasn't how our relationship was.

"Well I'm going to go, you have a goodnight Thea." Kas spoke through the awkward silence. I waved and half smiled as he left my room. There was tension between us but he was choosing to create it. I wasn't going to beg for his honesty.

"Hey can I come in?" Mom knocked on my open door. I nodded and scooted over on the bed for her to sit.

"You seem off hunny, since Arlo has come back in town you've been different. And I think I know why." She moved a piece of hair from my face. I froze, waiting for her to continue.

"He's a lot like your dad, and knowing how close they were has probably raised some questions in you. Maybe some feelings that you finally want to process?" She explained. I released my long held breath. She wasn't completely wrong. I have been questioning things more, and it was obvious to me now that Arlo's leaving left a bigger hole in my heart then I had thought. I nodded.

"I should talk about him more. You deserve to know him better." She whispered. Her gaze was drawn down. Talking about him hurt her more than anything. She reached behind her and pulled an old picture from her back pocket. My eyes narrowed in confusion as she handed it to me.

I turned it right side up and immediately recognized my mom. Her tiny frame standing awkwardly while holding her pregnant belly. It was odd seeing her like this. She was so young and pregnant. Pregnant with me.

"You're beautiful." I breathed. She smiled.

"This was while your dad was at war. I missed him so much." She stared down at the photo with me. Mom had long dark hair like myself but her skin was a tone lighter.

"I have another picture, but I don't really like looking at that one. So I'm gonna leave it with you. If you ever wanna talk about him, or ask about him you can come to me Thea. I'll probably cry, but you deserve to know. I hope Arlo can tell you the stories I can't." She leaned in pressing a kiss to my head before releasing me.

She pulled a second picture from her pocket and laid it face down on my bed. "I love you." She told me before she left. I waited until she closed my door to pick up the small photo.

It felt as if the breath had forcibly left my lungs. It was my dad and mom, together. This was the first photo I had seen of them together.

"Wow." I breathed. My body began feeling light. I don't know what I was expecting. But seeing them together was something very new to me. He had his arms wrapped around her, holding her belly in his hands, his tattooed hands. Dad was tatted... His face was buried in her neck, kissing her softly while she giggled and smiled. I wish my mom had the power to show me memories like Arlo. I would have loved to see that day. There was a snack table beside them so I assumed it was some kind of party.

I stood up and walked the picture to my desk, sliding it into the frame of my cork board. They were beautiful together. Like yin and yang. He looked like such a dark harsh large man in his black suit, and my mother looked so delicate and innocent in her summery white dress. I wonder what my life would have looked like if he didn't pass. I wouldn't have Dixon, I wouldn't have Sam, and I sure as hell wouldn't have the Caruso boys as my friends.