Right Uppercut

Chapter 19

AN: I suck. I'm sorry it took so long for an update, but here it is.

Officially meeting Heidi's family was... uncomfortable and weird. They were nice and attempted to be comforting while not being overbearing, but it didn't feel right.

I definitely wasn't in any shape to be introduced to new people, but I didn't care that my hair was a gross mix of half-matted down and half-frizzy or that there were dark circles under my eyes that I would've otherwise concealed with some makeup.

Maybe I didn't care because I had just given up and let myself go, or maybe it was because I subconsciously knew they were family, so there was no need to impress them. I may have just known, or deeply hoped, that they would just understand why I was behaving so cold and isolated.

I wanted to feel an immediate sense of love and warmth when I first met them. I expected some scene from a movie where I would hug my uncle and just feel at home and at peace. In reality, I met them for the first time by accident.

I was sitting in my room in complete silence when I heard an unfamiliar voice speaking softly from down the hall. Heidi probably figured I was just sleeping, which is what I had been doing with most of my time. I couldn't make out what they were talking about, but I don't think it really mattered in the big scheme of things.

Heidi had said that she would introduce me to her family when I was ready, but I didn't know what exactly that meant. I don't think I would ever feel ready enough to meet new people. Each day, I slipped deeper and deeper into darkness where I was alone and no one could hurt me. I felt like that feeling would stay with me forever.

But something inside me gave me the energy to get myself up and look in the mirror. I barely recognized myself. I was so pale and the dark circles under my eyes weren't helping to make me look any more refreshed.

I took the few steps to my dresser and pulled out a pair of black leggings and a camisole. I slipped a red and black flannel shirt over my shoulders then returned to the mirror. I tried to smooth down my crazy bed head with a brush that was sitting on my small desk. I tied the frizzy red mop on my head into a messy bun and took a deep breath.

I walked to my bedroom door slowly and tentatively. I opened the door, causing it to make a loud squeaking sound, announcing my presence. I continued my slow walk towards the voices I heard from in the kitchen.

"Oh, Daphne," Heidi gasped and smiled. "I didn't realize you were awake!"

Standing next to her was a man I vaguely recognized from the funeral, but I couldn't remember whatever short conversation I may have had with him. He had dark brown hair that was stylishly slicked back. He wore a white collared shirt tucked into dark blue jeans. He had on a pair of black loafers that definitely matched his belt, but his most distinctive feature were his teeth, his bright, white teeth.

My lips curled into a half smile. "Yeah, I was awake and heard voices, so I decided to venture out of my room for a bit."

Her smile grew wider. "Oh, I'm glad." She turned to the man next to her and rested her hand on his arm. "Well, I'd like you to meet my husband, Dave. Dave, this is Daphne."

He smiled kindly at me and reached out his right hand, which I lightly shook with a tight smile spreading across my face. "It's great to finally meet you, Daphne. Heidi's told us so much about you already."

Heidi laughed nervously. "I've only had good things to say about you!"

"That's always a positive thing," I agreed, keeping my voice light.

I didn't know how I was supposed to feel meeting long-lost family members. He seemed like a nice enough guy and Heidi had already proven to me that she is trustworthy and loving, but I was still scared. I'm awkward as it is meeting new people, never mind meeting people that I should've known about my whole life.