"Maybe being left in the dark would've been less painful than discovering the truth."
...
Finley Jacobs' mother decides to give up. 10 weeks before Christmas and 5 before Thanksgiving her mother leaves. Maybe it's because her dad was laid off the pr...
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Chapter Ten "Just when I think things are getting better, something like this happens." Trick or Treat, Freak
It was Finley's favorite time of year, yet she found it very difficult to get up in the morning. To even get ready. The whole process just seemed exhausting to her. Much like everything else that came with being a senior in highschool. To put it straight, she just needed a break. A vacation would be nice, but a small three day break would've been enough. Hell, she would even settle for two.
She groaned as she pulled on a black, multicolored coogi sweater and a pair of high waisted jeans, coupling them with a pair of white sneakers. As she looked in the mirror, she swallowed hard. And even that was strenuous. She couldn't recognize the person staring back at her. The person she'd become. After another moment, she turned away, walking into the kitchen.
Only her dad was at the table, but he wasn't at his usual spot near the back door. Instead, he was standing proudly over her seat, his hands sprawled out.
"What's going on?" Finley asked, reaching him. She glanced down and a smile instantly crept onto her face as she stared at the ghost shaped pancake with chocolate chip eyes sitting on her plate.
"Okay, so I know this is silly, and it looks really dumb, but--" Her dad paused and set a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I wanted to say how proud I am of you. Your brother, too. I know mom leaving was hard on you and Ty. This past year has really tested us. I honestly don't know how you do it. You're both so strong...and I'm just proud of my little girl."
Tears filled Finley's eyes as her dad wrapped his arms around her in a hug. She didn't say anything, though. How could she? With everything that had happened since they'd moved here and finding out what she had yesterday, she honestly wanted to scream. Her chest burned and all she wanted to do was just let it all out. Make the pain in her heart go away.
If only he knew.
"Plus it's Halloween, and I thought it'd be fun." Her dad continued as he pulled away from her. "I don't know. I tried my best, but I think Alfred, here, is looking pretty lonely."
Finley forced a smile and let out a small chuckle. "No, dad. I think he just looks like he got run over by a car."
"Oh, whatever." Her dad laughed and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before leaving the room.
Finley smiled, but deep down it was a lie. She felt terrible for not saying anything to her dad, but why give him false hope? Why tell him that his wife didn't actually leave when there was a possibility she was dead? That would hurt him more deeply than leaving ever would. But it's all Finley could think about as she got to school. As she doodled during class. Even during general study hall. It occupied every part of her mind and she couldn't stop it.
It was that moment Finley had her eyes glued to the corner of the library on a set of balloons. There were four in total. One black, one purple, one orange, and one white. They were obviously set up for Halloween, which would've usually made her excited. Finley loved the fall, especially in Charleston. The way every piece of greenery turned a fiery orange flame. The way the leaves crunched when she walked. She loved everything about it...but not this year.
