Solace Survivor

Chapter 15

July 3rd, 2022 - 5:02PM.__

Isabella's Home._________

Isabella's POV

The sun shines on my skin as I rock back and forth in the rocking chair that Samuel recently got. One leg is overlapping my thigh and the other is pushing the chair to slowly rock myself. The slight breeze that is blowing outside hits me like a little gust, my hair flowing through it like someone had a fan in front of me. It's a beautiful day today and when I opened my eyes this morning I actually... Felt good.

My thoughts and mind have been relaxed since I stopped drinking and it gives me a clear thought instead of feeling that buzz all the time. Pushing that pain down was like swallowing glass every time I tried to think about when in reality I needed to face it. It has helped ever since with my best friend and my father by my side. Alcohol has been on my mind since but you can't turn to it when you're feeling down I learned that the hard way.

Half of my leg hits the sunlight every time my foot slowly leans on and off the wooden floor. Even though it's July it's still hot as hell out here for other people but this is where I go when I'm feeling down now. Samuel said about a week ago if I'm not ready to talk about my mom yet then I can take as much time as possible. But in reality I don't think I'll ever be ready, especially if I'm about to turn 18 and she won't be here... Alex knows this and she said that she'll be here in spirit smiling at me.

The 4th Of July is almost here and Alex is very hyped about it. She says it's the one time of year where you can actually go crazy. A car door slams, making me open my eyes in a flash. Alex is standing by the passenger side with her mom in the driver's seat. She waves at me through the slightly tinted window, I wave back in a nice gesture to not be rude. What is she doing here? Though it's Alex and she always shows up even when we have nothing to do.

She continues to stand there and starts to tap her foot. Another thing I picked up on when I stopped drinking, she has little to no patience anymore. You notice things that have changed since you've been on a bender.

"Do I have to?"

She folds her lips inside her mouth seemingly annoyed and purses them back out not responding.

"Fine."

Must've been something I caused since last month. I got up from the cozy rocking chair, already regretting that I left it. It doesn't take me long to reach the steps considering the front porch isn't that big. I turn around to take one last look at the chair that has relaxed me in ways I... Can't understand.

"Hurry up it's hot out here!" Alex says.

I don't bother testing her patience anymore when I step down, my sandals hitting the concrete. The July weather hits me immediately the sun being semi-bearable today. My wrist goes up to my forehead to block out the sun's blindness like a reflex as I follow Alex's shoes which are leading to the back of the car.

"Pop it!" She yells out to her mom who isn't getting out of the car. I don't blame her for a bit.

The car dings and the trunk slowly starts to open with ease. Alex doesn't wait for it to open on its own when she lifts it up, giving me a little shade to drop my arm. What's in there makes my shoulder drop and a little sigh escapes as well.

"Hey don't get too gloomy!" Alex says then elbows my arm.

What appears is a bunch of fireworks some little and some large plastic bags. She went all out this year again but my excitement is still not there. Independence Day has always been one of my favorites because it's the day before my birthday. So basically I get to celebrate two days in a row. But with my mom gone, it's not the same.. I turn to Alex who is looking me up and down from my sandals to my loose tank top.