12. Not Perfect

106 9 31
                                    

I hear loud footsteps trudging up the stairs before the door is slammed open. Mikayla drags herself into the flat, collapsing on the sofa beside me. She kicks  off her shoes, throwing them across the room in frustration.

There's a few moments of silence, and she sighs deeply, "Aren't you going to ask me what's wrong?"

I take off my reading glasses and close my book, "What's wrong?"

"Why- why can't life be like the movies," She says dramatically, "Why can't I have those cheesie, romantic dates. Why can't relationships be perfect and amazing and just-"

"Girlfriend trouble?"

"No. I don't know. Maybe. It's just- not great. "

"You just have to work through your problems, because real relationships aren't like in the movies. They're aren't perfect,"

"Yours was! In every story you tell me you and Michael had the perfect relationship!"

"And you believe an old man's stories? I only remember the best days with him. Trust me, it wasn't like that all the time. But we but in the effort every day, through the good times and bad because it was worth it. It was so, so worth it,"

4th September 2024

45 years and 256 days ago

1 year and 134 days before

"I wish I could be spontaneous again," Michael sighs, tapping his fingers gently on the steering wheel as he turns a corner.

"This- this is spontaneous," I tell him, watching him as he drives.

He looks at me, eyebrows raised, "Really? So you didn't notice making sure the kids were out of the house, getting someone to take your shift at the store, not so subtly asking you if you were free, cleaning the car and packing the picnic!"

"Ha! I knew there was a picnic involved!" I grin smugly as Michael rolls his eyes, "You can't surprise me any more, Clifford. I know all your dumb, cliche moves. Which romantic comedy did you steal this idea from?"

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