Hora of Moldova (Volume 1)

Chapter 8

Stefan arrived home and slept away his drunkenness. On the morning of the following day, Laura was already awake, bustling around the kitchen with a stern look on her face. Sofia, still groggy from the events of the previous night, could hear the clinking of pots and pans from her bedroom. As she tiptoed down the hall, she could hear her mother’s voice rise sharply.

"Stefan, I can't believe you would be so irresponsible!" Laura’s voice echoed through the house, full of exasperation. "Do you have any idea what could have happened?"

Stefan, sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee, looked contrite but also defensive.

"Laura, it’s not as bad as you think," he began, his voice low and tired.

Sofia crept to the edge of the kitchen doorway, not daring to enter. She knew she should probably intervene, but the memory of how close they came to losing everything kept her silent.

"Oh, really? Not as bad?" Laura shot back, her hands on her hips. "You were  drinking on, on frickin’ bus, and did God-knows-what! How is that not bad?”

Stefan sighed and leaned back in his chair.

“I had everything under control.”
"Under control?" she echoed incredulously. "You call coming home at 2 AM stumbling with your bags 'under control'? You were drunk, Stefan! You weren't thinking clearly!”

Stefan's face flushed with frustration.

"You always overreact, Laura. It was just a one-time thing. I know what I'm doing."

Laura's eyes flashed with anger.

"Overreact? Stefan, this isn't the first time you've done something like this! How many times do I have to pick up the pieces after one of your 'one-time things'? We have a family to think about!"

Sofia, feeling the tension escalate, shifted uncomfortably. Perhaps she made the right decision in… omitting details in her story the previous night.

"Laura, you worry too much. I know how to handle myself. I was just trying to have a good time. You need to relax," Stefan said, waving his hand dismissively.
"Relax?" Laura's voice rose to a near shout. "You want me to relax after you came home like that? You're unbelievable, Stefan.”

Catching an eye in the storm, Sofia finally entered to bid her parents goodbye before leaving for school. She stepped into the kitchen, trying to avoid eye contact with both her mother and father.

"Morning," she mumbled, grabbing her backpack from the corner of the room.

Laura paused mid-sentence, her anger momentarily subsiding as she turned to face Sofia.

"Morning, honey. Do you have everything you need for school?"

Sofia nodded, avoiding the tension hanging thick in the air.

"Yeah, I got it all."

Stefan glanced up from his coffee, his face softening at the sight of his daughter.

"Have a good day, Sofia," he said, his voice weary but gentle.

Sofia forced a smile.

"Thanks, Dad. I'll try."

As she moved towards the door, Laura called out to her.

"Sofia, wait.".

Sofia stopped and turned, her heart pounding. She braced herself for more of the argument to spill over.

"Be careful today, okay?" Laura's voice was softer now, the worry for her daughter momentarily eclipsing her anger.

"I will, Mom," Sofia replied, feeling a pang of guilt for leaving her mother to deal with the fallout alone.