Diary of a Mermaid

Bawling in the dark

I put the password into my tablet, muster up all my courage and type this to Mom:

Me: There's been an incident. Text me back as soon as you can.

Less than a minute later, she replies.

Mom: Topaz, what happened?

I take a deep breath and reply:

Me: There was a breach of security at the Geneva's home. Steven, Jaclyn, Angel, Nemmy, and I went there when our house was broken into. We arrived at our new home today. But we just got a phone call from Peter Geneva. Ray's missing.

She doesn't respond. Finally I receive this:

Mom: Topaz, this is your father. Your mother had to lie down. Now, what happened?

Me: He was standing in his room. They heard a boom. Peter went to investigate. Ray was gone.

Mom: Topaz, we'll handle this. What are the Geneva's doing now?

Me: Cat and Finn are moving in with us. They'll be here tomorrow.

Mom: Smart. Your mother and I are trusting you to look out for Angel, Nemmy, and now Finn.

Me: I know. I love you

Mom: Me too

I throw the tablet on the bed and realize I'm crying. I sit down against the bed and bring my knees to my faces. I'm so scared. I look up and pray, "Please. Please let him be okay. I want this to be over soon. I know it's only been a week, but it's been so hard. Now Ray could be dead and then what? Then when all of this is over we go home without him? We would never be complete again. And how would we explain it to Angel and Nemmy? One day they have two brothers and the next day they have one? What would that do to their minds? Heck, God knows what this past week has done to them. It's scarred them! They will never be the same. All this time I've pretended not to be affected. But I am! I definitely am! I wanna go home. I hate this! Why can't-"

"Topaz?" Angel says, walking in. "Steven told me come check in you."

I try to stop crying, but I can't. I cry harder. All the memories are coming all at once: the talk at the dining room table. Fixing the photograph. Leaving on the WaterGo. The flight to Toronto. That horrible night. Almost getting killed the next week. Escaping to Miami. Taking the Go Train with the spy to Stratford. The phone call.

Angel sits down next to me like she did yesterday night at the Geneva's. It's dark out now and I didn't turn the light on when I came in since the sun was still up. The room is pitch black except for the hall light glowing from behind my nearly closed door.

Angel starts to cry along with me. We're both just bawling in the dark. I feel her lean her head on my shoulder.