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JACK STOOD IN FRONT of Elara's bedroom door with a bouquet and a pint of ice cream. He knocked waiting for her response but it was just silent.
"Mom? Mom? Mommy!" He opened the door. He peaked his head in to see his mom's silhouette on the bed.
Jack walked inside. On her nightstand was a vase filled with dying flowers from the last time Jack gifted her with flowers. He walked over to switch them out.
"I'm really sorry we got in trouble. I promise I'll wait 6 weeks before my next suspension," he said while looking at his mom.
Her face was red and puffy. He knew she had been crying. Every once in a while he'd find his mom in bed crying. He knew it was because of them and their dad, he only did what he could to ease her pain.
"Bye Mom," he started to leave the room.
"Don't forget it's laundry day," she called out.
Jack nodded and closed the door on his way out. Hope couldn't carry out the plan. He felt bad for hurting his mother. She had been through enough.
_____
Elara recollected herself and went to make sure her kids had done laundry like she asked. Of course, they hadn't. They separated clothes but that was it.
While going through Hope's clothes Elara found a packed bag with a passport inside.
She huffed and waited for her daughter to return. Hope stumbled into her room with a new vase of flowers from her brother, pausing when she saw Elara holding up the passport.
"Going somewhere? Is this why you needed the money?"
Hope took the passport from her hands. "Now you're rummaging through my room?"
"Laundry which I told you to do. Where were you going?" Elara knew where, but she wanted the answer from Hope's mouth.
Hope held a stone-cold glare at Elara. Elara really regretted all of her teenage years because her mom was right. It all came back to bite her in the ass.
"I met a guy online. He's in a band and he lives in London. He says he's 25 but I think he's older."
Elara rolled her eyes, "Yeah I bet. You wanted to see your dad?" She knew the answer but they had to start somewhere.
Well, she's stuck now.
Hope sat down on her bed. "I know it's stupid and he doesn't care, but maybe if we're in the same place for even a little while."
Elara knew how her daughter felt. She understood every word. "It's not stupid. He loves you and your brother. But he just knows that being near you would put you in danger."
