One Summer

TWO

'Cause I'm pretty when I cry, I'm pretty when I cry
I'm pretty when I cry
Prem is pretty when I cry
I'm pretty when I cry
I'm pretty when I cry

NORA

My eyes are puffy and red as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I slept through the week, so I decided actually to do something instead of wasting my life away

I picked up my toothbrush, filled it with toothpaste, and brushed my teeth. I finished and spat out the toothpaste to rinse my mouth

I finish showering, and I am now wrapped in a black towel, as it is summer. I decided to wear a short black skirt with a white top, flip flops, and a black bathing suit under

I want to explore the house and spend some time by the pool alone. I heard a car door slam, so that's why I am exploring

I really don't want to have a conversation with my so-called father
He left, and I think he went with his replacements

Or that's what I am hoping for. I grab my towel and head to the pool in the backyard. I sit down, placing the towel by the pool

My toes feel the water temperature, it's the best type of warm, so I strip until I only have my bathing suit on

I lay on my back and float for a while, not doing anything, just in my own little world where I am happy

I hear the back door slide open, and I hear Mary's soft voice, "Good Morning, dear, how are you feeling?"

Her voice seems to put a smile on my face every time I hear it. She's the only one who made an effort to speak to me while being here

She takes a seat on one of the chaise lounges, and we make conversation. I actually feel wanted somewhere, and it's not forced

"How are you, darling?" her southern accent soft and firm. I smile, "I am doing..." I stop and think. How am I feeling? I feel numb, to be completely honest, I open my mouth to answer "Fine," my smile still on my face

"No, really," her motherly gaze intense, I sigh, "I promise you I am doing fine, Mary." She playfully glares at me before sighing, giving up, and moving on to the next topic

Which I am thankful for. I don't know how people do that... talking about feelings thing, I am physically not capable of doing it

Like, where do you even start? How do you stop? I don't trust anyone enough to spill everything. I tend to overshare, so when I start, I can't stop

Mary and I are done conversing, so she gets back to what she does on days like these, and I decide to get a floaty to be in the pool with

Getting out of the pool made going back in the pool colder

It was a little cold at first, but moving around helped me adjust to its temperature. I just lay there unmoving, and I let my body float

I stay in the pool for an hour, and then I get out cause I am hungry. I haven't eaten since yesterday, and that isn't good for me

When I get to my room, I change into Jean shorts and a plain black tank top. I walk into the kitchen and see what I can eat

I grab a bowl and put grapes, mango, and raisins in it, and then get a cup of ice. I don't have time to be feeling like shit today, some ima be as healthy as I can be

I sit at the dining table alone, bored out of my mind since he, my father, made me get rid of my phone cause he doesn't want me to communicate with my mother's family, and I obeyed cause I was exhausted and wasn't in the mood to argue, especially when my mother just passed

I regret it honestly now, I waste my life doing nothing with no one to talk to...even when I had a phone, I spent my days like this, but at least I was entertained by something

I finished my food, so I started to chew my ice for another five minutes before deciding it was too cold and I had had enough

I grab a bottle of water and walk to my room. I rummage through my bag that I still haven't unpacked, searching for my iron deficiency medication

I found them and downed it with water in seconds. Not having anything to do today, I decided to lie in bed for the rest of it

DAY LATER

I am in my father's office after he called me down for something I don't know. It's a little awkward on my part

He opens his mouth and then closes it. He takes a deep breath, then says, "Nora, how are you?" I am confused about why I am here, but my face isn't showing it

"Why am I here, Ritchie?" His facial expressions change due to my rude tone, "I am your father, Nora, and you will address me as that." his brows furrowed together

I can't help but let out a small chuckle, "You surely never acted like it," a smile plastered on my face

He lets out a small breath. "Look, I didn't call you here to argue. I was going to inform you that you're going to summer camp to get your mind off of things, you know."

Unbelievable, he can't be serious. "I've barely been here a week and you are already kicking me out, wow."

"Nora, it's not like that," he breaths out. "No, it is like that, I mean, you missed four years of my life and more if you count all the days you were barely there." I fight back the tears

"Nora, that was so long ago, get over it." I got up from my seat, getting closer to him. "GET OVER IT. I never asked to be here last time I checked. You begged Mom for a child, and she gave it to you, and then you got bored and left." I can't help but raise my voice

He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off, "I would think you would try to be a better father after all the time you missed, but no, you never changed, and you never will." The hurt is noticeable in my voice, but I am not done

"Mom gave you everything, even left her rich and stable family for you when you had nothing, gave you a child you begged for, she even let go of her dreams for you, and this is how you repay her." My glare was intense and full of disgust

"NORA ALLISTER," he finally let out, "THAT IS NOT MY NAME. I DON'T CARRY YOUR LAST NAME. IT IS NORA MANE TO YOU. I WILL NEVER CARRY THAT DISGUSTING LAST NAME OF YOURS." My voice was louder than his

"You are just like your mother over dramatic," he says a slight smile on his face as if something was funny "I hate you and you're a horrible parent and husband I can't wait until your replacements see your true colors you aren't a man and you will never be one you are a boy stuck in a grown man's body" I then walk out not giving him space to say anything

I walk into my room to start packing my things for this three-month-long trip to wherever this camp is

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(CHAPTER IS UNEDITED SO IF THERE ARE ANY MISTAKES PLEASE IGNORE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE PLEASE AND THANK YOU)

(Edited with Grammarly)
✅

Bye👋🏾