In-Between the Shadows

12. Back Home

I stayed in bed for the rest of the day and by nightfall, a maid came in with dinner. She set it down on a tray in front of me and helped me to sit up. She left soon after that and my mother came in.

"Isaac, dear," she said, walking over to. Her face had lines on it. She had gotten old. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," I said, picking at my food. I was still angry with her.

"Are you still in pain?"

"No. I'm alright enough to go home."

"No, you're not. Dr. Weathers said you have bruises. You have to be here-"

"I want to go home."

She fell silent. Then, "Why can't you just stay here, Isaac? Come home, love here. You'll be safe! We wouldn't have to worry about you!"

"I got hurt, mother!"

She was taken aback by what I called her. Never before have I called her that. She looked like she was ready to cry. "You could get hurt up there! Come home, Isaac, please!"

"Leave me alone. I'm going to bed and in the morning, Daniel and I are leaving. That's final."

"Why, why are you doing this?" Tears were rolling down her fat face. I had to turn away.

"I don't know."

My mother silently got up to leave after that. Then, I was all alone.

***

Daniel didn't visit me for the rest of the night. I didn't mind so much. I wasn't in the mood to see anyone.

In the morning, I felt well enough to stand on my own. I didn't need to pack anything. I didn't bring much.

I quickly got dressed and knocked on Daniel's door. I didn't get an answer. I tried again. "Daniel?" I said, still getting to answer. Nothing.

I opened the door. Daniel was leaning against the bed frame of his bed, reading his book. I walked in, holding my suitcase.

"We're leaving today. I feel much better."

"Alright." He closed his book and got up from the bed. He reached under the bed and grabbed his suitcase. He stormed past me and I followed him.

My family was in the sitting room. They were waiting for me. We walked in.

"We're leaving," I announced. I searched across their faces. They were all white. My mother turned her head, but in a way that looked like it hurt to do so.

"Don't you want to stay one more day? It's Christmas!"

"I need to get back to work."

"At least eat something! Lord knows the next time I'll see you again!" She was going to cry again. I just knew it.

"No. We're going to be late."

My sister stood up then and slowly walked over to Daniel. He looked down at her and she looked up at him. Then, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him in for a hug. She buried her face in his chest and mumbled a, 'I'm going to miss you.'

Slowly, Daniel wrapped his arms around her and gently rubbed her back in comfort. He mumbled something that only she could hear to which she shook her head to and pulled away. Her eyes were wet with tears.

Next, she turned to me. She ran to my arms and I engulfed her in a hug. "Please don't go," she said.

"I have to," I said.

"I'll miss you too much."

"I know."

I said goodbye to my parents and Daniel and I were on the road to the train station. Daniel didn't say a word to me the whole time. When we got to the train station, it was indeed crowded, but the thing was, I didn't care. I just wanted to get home.