I'm Fine

Chapter Ten - Nico

January 

Making my way down the school's hall, I saw Avery standing at her locker. All-day, it looked like there was something off about her. I couldn't tell if she was sad or angry?

Did it have something to do with the student council nominations? Did it have something to do with Bryson? I wouldn't consider us to be best friends, but I swore to myself never to just let someone feel hopeless.

"Girl, how are you?" I said as I approached Avery's locker.

"I'm fine." She stated quietly as she shoved her books into her locker and grabbed the ones for her next class.

"Okay, so are you going to stop lying now." I tried to make it come off as a joke, adding in some sassy attitude. I think she caught on because I saw a side smile sneak through.

"Just a lot on my mind right now." She said as she finally turned her attention towards me.

"The student council thing?" I asked.

"I mean, yeah, that is one of the things on my mind." She turned her attention down to the ground.

"Girl, my mom is a therapist, and I've learned a thing or two. You're hiding something, but you want to talk about it. So, just do it before I pry it out of you." I demanded, of course, adding a smile, so she knows I am harmless and impatient. She let out another small laugh. She took a deep breath, looked both ways in the hall, and finally opened up.

"It's the student council thing. It's the uncertainty of college next year. It's Bryson..." Avery stopped by the sound of the warning bell ringing.

"Want to talk after school?" I quickly asked before she could avoid anything. She responded with a small nod.

"Good! We're making progress. Meet me by my car after, and I'll drive us somewhere so we can chat!" I finished as I turned and made my way to class.

The whole next hour, I couldn't help but worry about Avery. She seems distressed about everything. I hated seeing anyone like this. It hurts my heart that people go through these emotions and how sometimes they feel so alone.

That's how my dad felt. Before mom became a therapist, she worked in a law office. She was always busy, barely ever home, so it was mostly my dad and me. The only problem was dad didn't know what he was doing, raising a kid.

He always tried to force me to play with boy toys and play in the dirt outside, but I refused. It confused him so much that he thought he was doing a lousy job. My family didn't help.

Aunts and uncles talked behind his back about how he's doing it wrong, how it's odd for me to be wearing girly clothes, and playing with barbies. Don't get me wrong, he loved me, he was just confused just like I was.

Mom didn't help, anytime he opened up to her about it, she would just say to let it go and let me do what I want. But she wasn't the one being directly criticized by the family this whole time.

Dad felt alone. He didn't have a job, so he felt worthless in the family. Initially, he chose that on purpose because he wanted to stay home with me. But again, he was criticized for being the one staying at home while his wife worked.

He had a few people call him lazy or unmotivated. Said that he should be the one bringing home the money and that my mom should be at home with me.

One thing after another wore on him. He started drinking. He would drink as soon as my mom went to work and even when she was home and in bed.

I never saw him drink; I didn't even know until he was gone. He never got aggressive; he just became sad.

I remembered, towards the end, that he would barely get out of bed sometimes. I rarely saw him smile, and the days of us playing together lessened and lessened.