The Light That Shines From Above

Chapter 17

"Mom?!" I called out again.

The black boots I was given echoed against the wooden floor as I halfway jogged to my mother's bedroom. The house was cold but as if the fire hadn't gone out long ago. Still a hint of heat left.

I opened the door to her room. "Mom."

It was empty. Her convers were turned back and the room was trashed. All her clothes were scattered around, boots and flats flung around the floor.

I went into my room. It was the same. I noticed a shopping bag slug onto my bed. It had a fuzzy bejeweled material sticking out of it. I only peeked inside to see the sweater I had asked for then left the room. The bathroom was equally as torn up.

The place was a mess.

I sighed. This must have been her reaction to not finding me. I walked quickly into the hall, picking up the green wall phone and dialing her work number.

"Hello?" Kelly her work friend picked up.

"Hi, Kelly, it's Heather."

"Heather?" her voice held relief but it was a bit frantic, "Oh my goodness honey your mother has been so worried!"

"Yeah I know. I'm sorry," I wasn't sure what excuse to have, "I had something come up with my...dad. I had to go to Florida for a little while. But hey I was actually calling to speak to my mom. She's working today right?"

"No she's not here." She was worried again. "She didn't come back after coming home from the work trip."

"What?" I blurted.

"Yes I thought you knew, that she had seen you when I dropped her home. It wasn't until a few days after she called to ask if we had seen you. I told her—"

I hung up. If my mother spiraled as bad as I thought she wouldn't know where she was. I stood for a moment staring at the phone.

Spinning on my heel I marched into my room and nearly ripped my long parka off the hanger. It was a dark green color and would hang to my knees covering most of the unusual suit. I left the boots on and snatched my bag off of my dresser before leaving the house.

I unlocked the car, not getting in yet but turning on the engine to warm up the vehicle. While that started up I jogged across the street. I took a deep breath to appear calmer then knocked rapidly on the door.

"Heather!" His gravelly voice came out as a shocked breath when he pulled open the door.

"Hi Mr. Elrod," I said sweetly. "I just got back from a trip visiting my dad." I used the same excuse. "I was wondering if you had seen my mom?"

His bewildered expression cleared up a bit when my lie came out. He believed me easily.

"No dear I haven't." He sounded the same type of worried as Kelly, confused and weirded out. "I haven't seen her in the past two days."

I nearly sighed in relief. "Do you think she got a ride to the store?"

He shook his head. "I haven't seen any cars come by today."

He could have missed it.

"Alright thank you." I turned to leave.

"You should tell her next time you take off," he said almost like he was lightly scolding his own child. "Two months is too long for your mother to worry. You gave her quite a fright."

I'm sorry how long? Did two months really pass by? My ability to keep time was officially unreliable.

"Right. Sorry." Was all I could get out,