The Moon Is Beautiful

Chapter 13

The sound of crashing waves wake me.

The moment my eyes flutter open and I see the sea next to my bedroom window, I smile. It feels good to be home, merely the scenery putting me in a good mood. Everything feels so peaceful here, my soul too.

I didn't realize that I missed this place until now. I like the city and all, but there is just something special about a little town. You just feel at home here.

A knock on the door pulls me out of my thoughts.

"Rose?" I hear my mother call out and I hum, alerting her that I am awake. "Breakfast is ready."

I hear her footsteps before they drift away and she's gone. Releasing a breath, I sit up in the bed, my eyes returning to the window. The sea looks so blue today, I just have to visit it today.

My phone beeps and I take it into my hands and switch it on, revealing a message from Eliza saying that she misses me. After calling my mother yesterday, I called Eliza to let her know that I was leaving the city to come home for a little while. Her immediate reaction was to start packing and come with me, but I managed to talk her out of it.

It's not that I don't want Eliza here. It's just that I need a break from my city life, and that includes everyone I know there, even Eliza. There's also a high chance that Eliza will probably bring Raine up into our conversation and I just really don't need that right now.

I wish that I can tell her what happened between Raine and I, but I'm too ashamed to. I know that she won't judge me, but still. I'm afraid to tell others about what happened. I'm afraid that it'll make it real. Up until now, Raine and I being the only ones who know has made it feel like a dream, a bad dream that I just had one night, but the moment I tell someone about it, I'll have to accept it.

And I'm just not ready for that.

I send Eliza a heart emoticon before tossing my phone aside and getting up from the bed. I head to the kitchen where my mother is, a breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausages and fruit laid out on the table. My mouth waters at the sight and I quickly take a seat, staring at the food with big eyes. I haven't had such a breakfast in a long time.

"Dig in," my mother says, gesturing to the food and I nod, grabbing a piece of toast and biting into it. It's still warm and soft, the butter melting in my mouth. "Did you sleep well?"

I nod, my mouth too filled with food to actually say the words.

She smiles. "That's a relief. I was worried that you might feel uncomfortable and wouldn't be able to fall asleep here."

My mother's words make me pause, my body stiffening. I know why she's saying this. Honestly, I too was surprised when I actually managed to fall asleep last night. Yes, she and I have decided to start over and build a relationship, however, this doesn't mean that I can just forget everything she put me through.

Truthfully, I do still feel quite awkward and uncomfortable around my mother, not used to this kind of warm behaviour and affection from her, and it will take time. But I'm willing, and as long as we both are, I believe that within a few days, it'll be like nothing bad ever happened between the two of us. Well, at least that's what I'm hoping.

"What are you going to do today? Is there something you maybe want to do together?" my mother asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Don't you have work?" I blurt out, unable to stop myself. It's a reflex. I'm used to her neglecting me for her work, so her asking me if I want to go somewhere or do something with her is strange, and something I'm not used to.

My mother flinches at my words, looking physically pained by them, but she quickly regains her composure, however, the pain in her eyes still linger.

"Yes, I do have work. But that's not important right now. What's important right now is you. So, if you want my time, it's yours."

I don't know what to say to that. I should be happy, but instead I feel conflicted. Should I rather just let her go to work?

"Don't think too deeply into this Rose. Just say what you really want to." she says, reaching over to squeeze my hand.

Just say what I really want to? What is it that I really want to say? Do I want to spend time with her, or do I want her to go to work? I want to fix our relationship, but I don't want to force things.

"I want to spend time with you." I finally decide on, and almost immediately, a smile appears on my mother's face.

"Sure. What do you want to do?"

I hum, placing my finger beneath my chin as I think. What can we do together? And then a light bulb goes off in my head, and I smile. We don't need to do anything fancy. It's the little things that count. I truly just want to see everyone again, and just eat some good food with my mother. I tell my mother what I want and we finish our breakfast before heading back to our separate rooms to get ready.

I take a quick shower before slipping into a light flowery dress and pulling my hair up into a high ponytail. I slip into my converse sneakers and grab my bag before leaving my room. I meet my mother at the door, excited filling up my nerves when we head off.

I can't help but stare at the town around me as we walk, every little detail capturing my attention. This place hasn't changed one bit since I left. I smile when my eyes land on the fish and chips shop situated right opposite the beach.

I have so many memories there. Whenever my dad didn't feel like cooking and felt like having a lazy day, we would have dinner at this shop. I remember distinctively how salty the fries were, just to my liking.

Ms Anderson, the owner of the shop stands in the doorway, shaking a mat out onto the tar road. She hasn't changed either, her hair still pulled up in a neat bun and her scarf situated around her neck.

"Ms. Anderson!" I yell out, waving my arm in the air to capture her attention. She looks confused at first, her eyes traveling around her before they finally find me, and the moment they do, they widen and she immediately drops the mat to the ground and runs over to us. The moment she reaches us, she envelopes me in her arms, pulling me into a bone-crushing hug. A laugh escapes my lips and I nearly fall back from the impact.

"My beautiful rose." she breathes into my hair, smoothing her hand over my head.

I smile, wrapping my arms around her little form. My beautiful rose. It's a nickname that she gave me years ago, it being the first thing I remember about her. She gave it to me because of the meaning of my name Bellerose, meaning a beautiful rose. It's quite a beautiful nickname, one I have grown very fond of over the years.

Merely hearing her call me by that name makes my heart feel lighter in my chest.

I knew that coming here was a good idea.