Ruth-less

No More Bad Parents

My mother hugs me like it's the end of the world. I shove her off me

"don't touch me, lets just go home" I shove past her and get into the truck moms boyfriend is driving his big truck which is just great

"Ruth are you ok dear?" he asks trying to sound like he's my father

"your not my dad and i'm never gonna see you as my dad so stop trying" I get out of the truck and start to walk home as I do I see Zuri's house I try hard not to cry when I get to the house there are lots of missing posters on the kitchen table I walk up the same creaky stairs I always walk up but they don't feel like the same creaky steps when I open the door to my room Zuri's backpack is on my desk I'm very confused I drop my back and grab her I run down the stairs "MOM! Why is Zuri's bag in my room?" she clear just came in the house a few minutes ago

"oh she came here when you first ranaway she thought you might have came back so she stopped by after school one day" I don't really believe that but I go back up stairs and set her bag on my desk I plug my phone in a relax the rest of the day I mean what else am I supposed to do? apologize? It's not like I have anything to apologize for... right? Maybe I was a bit of a bitch I head down the stairs where mom was coming up the stairs

"uh hey mom.."

"yes?" I stutter to say what I want

"I'm-i'm sorry..." she sighs and looks away

"I know" then she hugs me

"I'm sorry too honey I don't know what came over me" she lets go of me

"I know you were only acting on your emotions honey you just don't know what you want yet honey" she gives me a kiss on the forehead

"love you dear" she continues up the stairs I can't tell if shes being sincere or not her tone almost sounded dule maybe she's drinking again I enter the Kitchen moms boyfriend in on the phone

"oh shit sorry" he puts the phone back on the wall

"don't worry about it just finished," he says as he shoves past me. I made a sandwich. The house is so quiet it's deafening. I hear a quiet ring as I dash up the stairs. It must be my phone. I got there just in time. It's Zuri

'hello?'

'RUTH? You're actually back! When I didn't see you at school I was so worried heh but I'm glad you're actually ok will I see you at school tomorrow er sorry i'm saying so much I have like a million things to tell you ok sorry I gotta go' it felt so good to hear Zuri's voice again I didn't know when I would hear her voice again but after these long 8 days i'm glad to hear it even if it's a mouth full of words I feel I need a smoke and if not I'll go crazy the jar is empty so I need to scavenge my room for a pack when I find a pack there's only one left 'great looks like we need to go 'shopping' again' I head to the kitchen to throw the old pack out when I open the trash bin there are several whiskey bottles in the trash

'oh now thats just fucking amazing' I slam the lid shut and stomp upstairs to my mothers room

"Are you drinking again?" she's laying on her bed and slowly turns her head

"So what if I am? Hm"

"I'm not fucking taking care of the house anymore so get your shit together I mean come on it's fucking pathetic" she rolls her eyes and turns her head away from me again

"great my daughter is lecturing me now"

"fine have it your way" I slam her door and go outside to smoke I atleast have the liberty to do it outside of the house

"eh kid you shouldn't smoke" moms boyfriend is fixing his truck

"yeah tell your girlfriend she's an alcoholic" I scoff