Falling for the Grinch ✔️

Six | Garland

Holly

I close my bathroom door behind me before placing my back up against it. With a deep breath, I exhale slowly and shake my head. What is it with this guy? Better yet, why am I this way around him? His words hit me right in the gut. Not celebrating anything in his life? I couldn't imagine.

"You have no idea."

But, why am I curious as to what he really meant? This isn't like me. I don't become interested in someone's life this quickly, especially my parents' ignorant neighbor who loves to piss me off.

After a quick shower, I stride back toward my bedroom and am met with baby pink sheets and a zebra print comforter set. It's like a zebra's family threw up in here. I forgot how much I loved it in high school.

As my Dad and Rhett were watching the football game, I stayed in my room for an hour or so, familiarizing myself with memories that I had forgotten about. Everything is still the same. Sheets, posters of Christina and Britney, my mahogany bookshelf near the corner of the room by my little book nook.

I can tell that Mom comes in here to dust and tidy up on the little things. Like my pink and black picture frames on top of the dresser. There's a picture of me in my high school cheerleading uniform, standing at the top of a pyramid with my royal blue pom-poms in the air. The feeling is bittersweet since I didn't have many friends in school, only cheerleading and romance novels were my sidekicks back then.

My fingers reach out to rub against my cheeks, wiping away the unexpected tears. I didn't even realize I was crying until I felt something wet fall from my right eye and along my top lip.

Why am I even crying?

I've gotten homesick lately- that's no secret. So maybe that's why. I miss it here. I miss being with my parents. Dad mentioned Mom's condition earlier and the thought makes my eyes water uncontrollably. This Christmas is going to be very different this year. We knew it from the start, but being back home and actually absorbing what could possibly happen... it's overwhelming.

"That's depressing."

The words I told Rhett earlier come creeping back in. Maybe we're both dealing with things that are too hard to talk about with each other.

I sit down at the foot of my bed before reaching into my back pocket. A message from Megan on my phone lights up the screen.

Megan: Sooooo, did the rude neighbor choke more on his food?

I smile at her words before quickly dialing her number. She answers on the second ring. "Hey, girl!"

It's so good to hear her voice. I clear my throat awkwardly before forcing out my next word. "Hey."

"What's wrong?" She must hear the pain in my voice.

"It's my Mom," I tell her with a deep breath, falling back against the thick zebra comforter before resting my head on the pillows. "She isn't doing any better."

Her voice comes out softer than before. I know if she was here right now sitting on the bed with me, she would pull me into a tight hug as I wrapped my arms around her neck. "I'm so sorry, Holly."

We both remain quiet for a moment. It's as if she's giving me a minute to process everything and give me as much time as I need before speaking. My eyes roam the popcorn ceiling before I notice the glow-in-the-dark stars, moon, and shapes of the solar system scattered everywhere. I totally forgot about my obsession with outer space when I was eight.