Ghost Of You (Michael Berzatto X Black!OC X Eventual Richie Jerimovich)

31. Why Didn't You Stop Me?

2022-Chicago, Illinois

Angie stared at her tired eyes in the mirror. She had been up all night comforting Sophia, and then crying herself to sleep. She huffed and walked out of her room and over to Sophia's.

"You dressed?"

"No."

She opened the door and saw Sophia in the same spot as she was in an hour ago. "Honey, we gotta go."

"I don't wanna go."

"I know you're sad about Daddy, but you have to go to school."

"I miss him." A tear fell down her face.

Angie sighed and sat on the bed. "I know. And I am so sorry that you have to go through this. But we can't let someone else's mistakes stop us from going about our lives."

Sophia hugged her mother and cried on her shoulder. "Can we call him later?"

"Of course, baby. But I need you to get ready for school. Okay?"

"Okay."

She kissed her cheek and stood up. "I love you."

"I love you too, Mommy."

🤍

The room was noticeably quiet as the mother daughter duo sat at the kitchen table eating dinner. Sophia slowly picked at the remaining scraps on her plate while glancing over at the empty chair.

"What's Daddy sick with?"

"What?"

"Does he have a cold?"

"No. It's a different kind of sickness."

"What kind?"

"Um...you know he gets angry and sad sometimes?"

"Yeah."

"His sickness makes him act like that."

"Is he an alcoholic?"

"Where'd you get that from?"

"Grandma said it."

Angie sighed and reached for her daughter's hand. "I don't wanna paint a bad picture of your dad, but I also don't wanna lie to you. He's a great, amazing, kind man. But he's also sad, and angry, and confused, and sometimes he uses bad things to make him feel better."

"Is he gonna get better?"

"I hope he does."

"Then he can live with us again?"

"I don't know about that."

"Oh."

"Hey, why don't we do something fun tomorrow?"

"But I have school."

"I think you can miss one day."

"But you said-"

"I know what I said. But would you rather go to school, or the shed aquarium?"

"Shed aquarium!"

"Exactly."

"Can I show you the card I made for Daddy?"