Saving Each Other

chapter 2

Chapter 2

I woke up in my bed, wearing…not the same clothes I was the day before. I was now in an oversized sweatshirt and some shorts. I brushed it off, knowing that Danny changed me, it was a thing we did for each other when one of us passed out.

Walking downs stairs, I saw box after box invading my living room. Each had a label on them, and I felt the cruel reality sink in as I read ‘kitchen ware’, ‘living room pillows’ and ‘Family photos’ scribbled on boxes. He must have worked hard to get all this done since I left yesterday.

Walking into the kitchen, I saw my dad hunched over the kitchen island eating Subway and smiling into his phone. He looked up as I came into the room and put down the food.

“Mackenzie, start packing.” When he saw my jaw drop to the floor he shook his head, showing me he was in no mood for fighting with me. “I tried to talk to you about this yesterday, but you wouldn’t have it. You didn’t listen and you left. I had no idea where you were, or who you were with. I was worried sick, until Danny brought you home passed out. He told me you weren’t drinking, just exhausted, but you have tried pulling that one on me before. Get your ass up stairs and pack. We are leaving in three days.” He took in my pissed off expression, and went back to his phone. Without looking up he continued to bark out orders. “I need you to pack your room, bathroom, and the guest bed room by tomorrow night. We leave early Tuesday and won’t have time to finish. Boxes are upstairs already.” And he didn’t say anything after that. Too pissed to know what to do, I just walked away.

Once I got into my room, I screamed and punched holes into the wall. This wasn’t the first time I’ve done this. All the others are covered up with the various posters, now that we were moving, it wasn’t my problem anymore.

After about four hours, I had my room and most of the bathroom packed. I was bored and tired. I had cried so many times in the last 24 hours, I need to sleep twice that long to recoup. Deciding to go through with that plan, I laid down on the guest bed, and drifted off into a not so peaceful sleep.

“Mom? Where are you going?” I asked my mother as she walked out the door with a suitcase in her hands.

 

“Oh, honey. Mommy needs to…” She stopped as she took in my worried expression, and came to capture me in a hug. “I have a business trip I have to go to. I’ll be home soon. I promise.” She squeezed me tighter and I could feel her lightly shaking, as if she were crying. I breathed in deep, not knowing if I would see her again.