Beyond What Meets The Eye

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Mom, why did you marry daddy?" Mira was sitting out on the balcony with her mother as they did almost nightly, talking as they watched the stars. Her mom let out a soft chuckle.

"Because I love him, honey." She replied simply. Mira rolled her eyes.

"Yeah I know that, but was it love at first sight?" She questioned, her young blue eyes looking up curiously at her mom. Her mother scrunched her nose up as she thought.

"It definitely wasn't love at first sight. I actually didn't really even like him when we first met. But, as I got to know him, I realized that I had misjudged him. I think a lot of people misjudge your father. You could say he hasn't exactly had an easy life. He's made mistakes, but his heart is good. I told myself that he's a good man set on the wrong path. And now he's finally found the right one. He's making changes for himself, and for us. All he needed was someone who believed in him."

Mira made a weird face. "Ok . . ." She drawled, too bored by her mother's answer. Maybe she was just too young to understand love.

***

Mira didn't fight the tears. She had broken down completely once she got back to her room, sobbing as she fell to the floor.

All these years, she'd wondered why her mom would leave her, why she wasn't good enough . . .just to find out that she never meant to leave her. She couldn't help the guilt that clawed at her chest for ever doubting her, for thinking that her mother would actually abandon her. No, she had a heart that could see the good in a man who'd been trapped into doing bad, and she fought for him, fought to save him, and she paid for it with her life.

She managed to crawl into bed, clinging to the sheets as she cried. She couldn't help but imagine the absolute horror her mother had felt in her final moments, to wonder what it must have felt like to know you're going to die and not be able to do anything about it.

She cried herself to sleep, grieving the loss of her mother for the second time, for her true death.

***

Her father said the preparations would take two days, and then she'd be free to go. A day had already passed and she'd yet to leave her room. Every time she thought she'd finally cried the last of her tears, more would come flowing out.

She ended up leaving her room once to get some fresh air, but otherwise, she remained cocooned in her bed, staring blankly at the walls.

She reminded herself that tomorrow it would all be over. She'd leave this place behind along with her father.

Mira closed her eyes, tired despite doing nothing all day, only for them to shoot back open at the knock that came from the door. She lazily slipped out of bed, walking over and opening the door. She nearly slammed it back shut when she saw Leo standing at the other side, but he managed to catch it with his foot.

"Hey, you're father would like a word with you." He said in a annoyed tone. Her brows furrowed as she glanced down at the time. It was 10:30 at night, could he have not called for her any earlier. She let out a sigh and slipped out into the hall with Leo.

They walked together to the elevator, riding up to the penthouse together.

"I can get to the penthouse on my own, you know," She stated, folding her arms over her chest.