Diaries

Chapter 14

I had the most fun of my life with Leo, exploring the different boroughs. It felt as if I was in a dream...  one of those dreams you fight to keep your eyes closed for as the sun starts to beam on the back of your eyelids ... the Universe's way of trying to shake you to your reality.

But this was reality.

There was no fighting it.

I was high on life and a teenage romance with Leonardo and a little blue pill.

We snuck on the subways,  hopping over the entrances without paying. We were chased down by security halfway through the station. They couldn't catch us, and as we skipped through the subway doors just as they began to shut slowly, Leo stuck out his middle finger and snatched it back in the nick of time.

My jaw dropped, looking at him.

"LEO!"

"Just having a little fun." He laughed and put his arm around me, pushing through the sea of people and hanging on to the poles to keep balance until we found a space somewhat to ourselves.

"Damn teenagers." I heard come from a middle aged woman sitting in the seats. I tried to avoid looking in her direction as we passed.

I instead looked at Leo and laughed. He looked behind himself as if it couldn't be at him.

"What?" He asked.

"You're funny." Our bodies swayed with the train.

"You're funny." He repeated.

"I'm nervous, actually." I sighed.

He looked at me through the lowest eyes I'd ever seen. I wondered if mine were the same, catching a glimpse of myself in the blackened window as we sped through the underground tunnels.

They were.

I dug deep into the pockets of my giant hoodie, pulling out a folded and wrinkled up sticky note.

"What's that?" Leo asked.

I opened it, revealing it's contents of an address in Manhattan written on it, "I found this in her makeup bag a few days go... I thought it was just another one of her don't forget notes but... I think this might be where she is."

Leo's eyes widened, "Jess do you know where this is?!"

I shook my head no.

"This is where all the multi millionaires live!" He snatched the sticky note from me, reading it again and again, as if it would change, "it's kinda fucked up she left you there with Swifty while she's probably having wine and shrimp cocktails every other day..." He handed it back to me.

I took it and stuck it back into my pocket, trying not to let it bother me.

"She probably knew Swifty would come running after her if she did." I mumbled, shrugging.

"He hits you, Jess. Do you believe that?" He asked.

I almost nodded, but I couldn't lie to myself or Leo. Swifty never stopped reminding me that he always wanted a son instead of a daughter anyway. Why would he come running after her for me?

Because you two are all he has...

I nodded at the thought.

Leo sighed, pulling me close.

The ride was long and the mystery was tiring. I prayed the entire way that we'd end up in the right place. I continuously imagined my mother and her new life. I imagined her smiling, I imagined her dark circles brighter than before. It made me smile... and while all these years I had learnt to resent her for being the most despicable person according to Swifty, and even more for being compared to her... I realized she wasn't. She was afraid, she was depressed, she was alone. I should have known better than to believe him.