The Final Petal

The first petal

Arron had stood there crestfallen with the sunflower he grew himself still in his hand as she walked away. All those weeks spent growing it had now seemed pointless, he was never mad at the rejection or embarrassed, he was only disappointed in himself he had thought time and time again after that he was foolish and that she deserved better.

After a while he needed to get home instead of just moping behind the school and started to walk home, it wasn't far and even then his mom wouldn't be home for another few hours. She was a pilot and worked long days, after so many times at home he learned to take care of himself, he never held it against her but he really more viewed her as a stranger who he lived with.

Getting home he threw his bag next to the door and started upstairs, entered his room looking at the pictures he had drawn, that he taped to the wall, all he could feel was disappointment,  to him they looked like trash, something only a kinder garden teacher or little kids parent would praise.

pushing the image of them out of his mind, he walked to the windowsill and moved the curtain revealing a small flower inside an old pot and a water bottle next to it. When he opened the curtain he realized that a petal had started to decay, without noticing, he ended up shedding a tear. The tear falling on the petal had caused it to fall off.

Trying to ignore it he opened the bottle and may have overwatered it a bit but he couldn't care at that moment, screwing the lid back on he sat the bottle back on the windowsill and tugged the curtain back shut.

He came downstairs and grabbed some clothes out of the laundry basket not bothering to check what they were, not caring much after today, getting to his room he changed into some sweatpants and froze when he saw the sweatshirt he took. It was a relatively simple one colored black with just a sunflower decal decorating the front, yet to him it meant so much more, it had been a gift from Alex, his 'friend' if they were still friends anymore. The two had been inseparable in middle school, they had an entire friend group that was built from childhood, yet out of everyone in the group they had been the closest. 

Shoving the sweatshirt into his closet, he tried to ignore all the feelings that had come up with it, he truly missed Alex, yet didn't know how to address it so until he did, best not to think of it. Grabbing a different hoodie he finished changing and went back downstairs. He knew his mom wouldn't be back for a while so he continued the evening without her and made himself dinner, putting some aside for her in the fridge, he ate in silence and scrolled on his phone. after eating he cleaned the kitchen and had settled on the living room couch sketchbook in hand.

He made a few sketches within the hour, starting on another he heard her car pull in. He slid his sketchbook in between the couch cushions, it wasn't that she had anything against him drawing, it's that they were personal to him something that was an extension of him that he wasn't ready to share with others. Turning towards the TV, his mom finally came in and started apologizing for being late "I'm sorry sweetie, the weather was crazy and flights were being canceled, heck I was lucky to make it back. Do you want anything special for dinner?" she was obviously exhausted and was talking to herself about everything she needed to do, despite barely knowing her Arron always felt guilty when she came back home like this, that's why he'd always make extra food and would try to clean all he could.

looking towards her he replied"It's fine, I made some potato soup and left you some in the fridge." despite the monotone response she hugged "Thank you sweetie." and thanked him, Arron wasn't always one for affection but he could tolerate it for her, after all she worked all day to support him.

She went to the kitchen and ate the soup quickly, she was tired and although wanted to spend more time with her son, she didn't have the strength. She left the kitchen after placing her dishes in the sink and before reaching the stairs she patted Arron on the head and said " I'll be upstairs if you need sweetie, don't stay up too late, love you"