Visions of Fate

3. A DOOR TO THE OUTSIDE

Mom was in the kitchen frying some omelettes as I approached. The intoxicating greasy aroma sizzled through the kitchen and into the living room, instantly washing up a smile on my face as I entered the kitchen.

Mom was in her work scrub, I noticed, though she had her popular '#1 Mum' apron thrown over it. Her blonde hair was tied up in a tight bun that rested on top her head as she hummed quietly over the sizzling eggs on the stove.

"Hey Mom," I greeted, allowing my confusion to mask my tone.

Mom halted her mumbled notes and turned back to me, briefly flashing a smile before resuming her work on the stove. "Hey Hun, how was your night?"

"I thought you promised to be home today?" I strolled over to where she worked, picking a perfect spot on the kitchen island beside her, getting a perfect view of her face from this angle.

She had opted for a light makeup today, unlike yesterday where her preparations were hurried. The heavy bags under her eyes had somehow been camouflaged under thick foundation and her usually chapped lips now wore on a glossy coat, lighting up her face like a beam of sunshine which I knew was as fake as a smile from a star in a reality TV show. Still, it did good to mask her stress and exhaustion, which I guessed was mission complete on her part.

"Yes I know I did honey, but I received a call this morning and apparently one of the nurses –my coworker– called in sick, so I have no other choice but to fill in for him."

"Oh, so you're working overtime now?" This was outrageous. She had promised to spend the entire day with me. She had promised to be my company in his this lonely house. She had promised to discuss my boy problems today. This entire day was reserved for the both of us, and now she was willing to walk out on our plans, her promise, because of her silly job?

"I'm sorry, but things like these happen," she said to the pan. "But you just have to put on your last minute shoes and get ready for it."

"But–"

"Pass the sausage, honey."

I looked across the counter, where she directed, to find the bowl of sausage sitted idly next to other disposed kitchen utensils near the sink. Eyeing Mom warningly, I scooted from my sitting position to fetch the bowl, making an embarrassing squeaking sound as my naked thighs shifted against the countertop. I grabbed the bowl and squeaked my way back to my position, grabbing a handful of the diced sausages as I handed it to her.

"So you just expect me to sit here all by myself all day until you're home? And I'm sure you don't even know when that will be." I folded my arms indignantly as I tried to swallow the sausages in my mouth, muffling up each word I tried to pronounce. But I didn't even care, I was way upset with Mom for failing her promise again and no amount of sausage could disguise my rage.

"Why can't you invite Ethan over? I'm sure he'd be overjoyed to be your company," the pan sizzled in hunger as Mom poured in the sausages. "And you both can even work things out," her hazel eyes danced in anticipation as she handed the bowl back to me, probably feeling like her solution could somehow end world hunger.

"Because he's got stuff to do, Mom," I eyed the bowl warily as I checked for and any piece of sausage that had managed to escape the pan. I huffed when I found none, and tossed it into the sink. "You know why? Because that's what kids my age do these days. Instead of sitting at home all day, everyone else has plans like visiting a friend or going on a date, or a trip to the mall like normal teenagers." My heart raced as I introduced Mom's utterly worst topic, knowing for a fact that she hadn't any time or headspace for this, but at the same time wanting to be heard for the first time in my life, and not just being dismissed like always.