The Rink of Time

Chapter Four

When the morning comes, remember that the bright light indicates a fresh start.

DEXTER BARDO

The trip is about two days away and I really want to go, but my mom's not well and there's no one else to take care of her while I'd be away, I can't even imagine leaving her here, I'd be worried sick.

If only Diana could fly in from Cali for the next week to help out, but I know she'd rather drink hot sauce than do that.

Diana is my sister, she's about 7 years older than me, we don't talk much, or at all honestly speaking. After our dad re-joined in the army, she practically cut us –well particularly me—off and ran away, she would often send e-mails to mom, probably dad too, none to me though.

She doesn't really classify me as her brother since I was adopted, I'm okay with it, it's not like I see her anyways, I've grown to ignore her obvious hate towards me, but regardless of how she sees me, she loves mom, she's the only one I trust –besides dad—to leave mom in the hands of.

Dad, on the other hand, won't be back for another eleven months.

"Dolphin, you should go to bed" I hear my mom's voice approaching the living room.

My mom has been calling me dolphin since I was eight years of age, I remember how it started; I just wouldn't shut up about dolphins, they were my favorite sea creatures at that time, I begged her and Dad to take me to swim with them very often, back when money wasn't so tight.

"And you shouldn't be out of bed" I run up to her and escort her back to bed.

She has stage 3 lung cancer, the doctor says she doesn't have much time left.

She probably won't make it to my college graduation, it's a really difficult pill to swallow, I'm trying to make the most of my time with her.

On the bright side I probably won't have to worry about being alone at my college graduation because we don't even have the money to fund it.

Yeah...that's the bright side...

You know life is only sad when you allow it to be sad, when you put yourself in a position where you cannot be unhappy no matter what, everything starts to look up.

Although, it has been really hard to do that, knowing the first person that made me feel like I was worth it will be gone soon. Tragic.

"Dolphin" she pulls on my sleeve as I help her get into bed.

"Yes mom?" I sit beside her on the bed.

"You only get to be a teenager once, my child" she brings her palm to my cheek.

I smile warmly at her "I know"

"So, what are you waiting for?" she chuckles "live your life, don't worry about me my child" she giggles "I have lived mine, I'm not dying now, stop acting like I'm going to fall dead the next second"

I frown at words "Don't say that mom"

"I'm serious Dexter" she gives me a stern look.

"But-" She cuts me off.

"I won't allow it" She speaks before I even finish my sentence.

"I'm going back to the hospital tomorrow anyways" she smiles "You can drop me off and then sleepover with one of your friends"

She didn't even let me have a say. "Okay mom" there was no point fighting her about it, she'd probably just call Elijah's mom and ensure I was at his place 'living my best life' but little does she know, Elijah will probably just force me to watch the stars with him, or use me as a source of entertainment and make me play an instrument or sing while he stargazes or looks for new constellations.

Elijah's a weird kid.