Gracie Freaking Hall

Brianna

I never thought I would get the privilege of witnessing a mother-daughter stare-off, but here we were. Watching Sydney crumble to her knees in front of the woman who gave her life and her personality was a treat. People say that parents get mad at the kids they are most similar to because they see their worst traits in them. I couldn't help but wonder if that was what Essie thought.

Essie sits on a recliner in front of us while we are all squeezed into the sofa that only fits three. Her eyes were a darker shade of blue than Sydney's, but looking at them made me feel like I was looking at Sydney's older sister. "What do you want?" She speaks with her arms crossed.

I can see Sydney wants to cave into herself and bump my shoulder with hers. She glares at me in annoyance, but I pretend not to notice as I look down at my nails. I gave her a small push, what else did she want?

"Your forgiveness," she responds after a beat.

Essie sighs before nodding, "fine. You got it, now get out."

I don't remember Essie being a tough cookie, but then again, she did like me. "I want-" Sydney straightens up, "to be back in your life."

"Why? You didn't need us back then. Remember when you left?" Essie reminds her.

This catches my attention since I wasn't there, I can't vouch for the day. Essie seems to know none of us were there and catches us up. "She left a note saying she was getting married and to not look for her unless it was to give her our blessing." Then she turns back to Sydney, "you still don't have our blessing so why are you here? We already made up our minds that we have one less child."

"Mama-" Sydney whines in her childlike voice, which I can't help getting annoyed at. "I want to be a part of my family again. I know-," she looks down in shame, "I messed up and I'm sorry."

"Are you finally leaving that pathetic man you call a husband?"

Her eyes are teary again that I have to hold in my eye roll. Why was she so pressed on keeping an abusive asshole like him? I'm about to bad mouth him, but Essie beats me to it. "I mean what was a grown man thinking when he was going after my sweet girl. He belongs behind bars."

"It wasn't like that-" she tries to defend while all I can think is, It's exactly like that. "I can't leave my husband mama."

"Then leave this house. You did it once, what's one more time?"

"Why can't you forgive me but you can forgive all of them." She turns to point her thumb at me, "I mean she killed Gracy. You remember Gracy, right? How do you just forgive her and welcome her with wide arms?"

I scoff and get up, heading outside.

"She didn't mean that," Belinda says as she opens the door, letting me catch what Essie was telling her daughter.

"Because I assume she had her reasons. I trust Brianna and she needs someone on her side."

"What about me?" Sydney whines again, "I need you on my side too. I had my reasons too. I loved him and do. Isn't that enough?"

"No," her answer is curt.

I turn my attention to Belinda and sigh, "It's exactly like that. She brought us to use us as her worst examples."

"Can you blame her? We're not steller humans." I shrug at her response. "Besides, you're not a bad person because of one thing."

I give her a smirk, "I am and it's okay. Everyone needs a villain in their story and I just happened to land the role."

"We'll you're not the villain in my story," Belinda tells me, avoiding my gaze as she brings out a cigarette and twirls it in her fingers.

"You still smoke?" I ask her as I lean on the wooden door frame and cross my arms. "Is that why you're so skinny?"