I'm Still Breathing

eleven

I'm back. I'm finally back to the one place that I never thought of going back again. I'm back to the place where I'm eternally haunted with the places and people I've seen, for it made me an entirely different person.

They tell me that this is home, but home is just an imaginative thought for us to cope and be ourselves. Home could be a place, object, or even person, but mostly people tell us home is a place where you grew; a place where you can be you and no one will judge you. My hometown is a nightmare, full of fake and plastic people who never got the chance to accept the person I am. They tell me I'm different from them, I was always different.

A knock on the car window is heard and I open my eyes. I see Logan outside, smiling, and opens the door for me. I unlatch my seat belt and exit the car. Home. The doors open and to my surprise, I see my family, who are completely smiling, not faking it. I enter the godforsaken house and nothing's changed, but the four walls of this house are the only ones who witnessed the pain and anger each of us held.

They all crowd me, hugging out the shit out of me. I try to move and hug them back, but nothing comes to me. I just stand and wait for them to let go, which they do seconds after. My mother starts crying, making me roll my eyes at the sensitivity all of them showing. I look back to the front door and see Logan carrying my bag.  Alec had the heart to help Logan to carry my bags inside, while all of us are standing.

My eyes roam around the house and suddenly, I see a colorful banner that has a 'WELCOME HOME, MARGO' printed on it.

"A party?" I ask, crossing my arms to give warmth to my body.

"Yes! Of course," my mother exclaims in happiness. I'm glad she isn't barking about how I disappeared and hid in New York, never giving them one single clue where I was. "We need to celebrate your homecoming."

"I suppose you're coming later at seven o'clock, Logan," my father asks, looking at Logan. I follow my father's turn and at the exact time, Logan and I share a glimmer of eye contact.

"Oh, yes, of course," Logan replies and looks at my father, breaking eye contact.

"I missed you, Go," Alec says, walking up to me and enveloping me in his bear hug. "I missed you too," I say in a muffled tone.

"I should be on my way now." Logan says and it makes me let go from Alec's hug. My brother parts with me and I smile at him. "Mr. and Mrs. Stacy," he adds, looking at my parents and giving them a nod.

"Thank you for bringing Margo home safe and sound, Logan," my mother says, sniffing.

"I'm glad to go the honors, Mrs. Stacy," he replies and looks at me afterwards, and smiles, "Margo," And then, he's gone.

A second comes and Alec slaps my arms hard, saying, "What the fuck did you think? Are you fucking out of your mind for committing a crime and flying to New York?" I rub my arm to make the sting go away, while I roll my eyes at his anger.

"Language, Alec," my father says, wrapping an arm around my mother. "I never let you grow up and curse like a sailor."

"She deserves what she deserves," I sneer and let my arms fall down my sides. "What happened? Did they file a case against me?"

"Nope," Hadley says, picking of her nails. "Ashley thought it was just a threat to her business and really, Margo, you punched her in the face? I'm glad you're not in jail because Ashley's parents disowned her for her behavior. Thank the Fitzgeralds for disowning their own daughter."

"Well, might as well give them a call later," I reply.

"You punched her and Jamie, how the hell did you that?" Alec asks.