➺ 𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑫𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑶𝑼𝑹 𝑾𝑨𝒀 - E.McCord [𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗘]

Part 8

As the opening credits of "The Pursuit of Happiness" began to roll, the room settled into a comfortable silence, the kind that envelops you in warmth and connection. Avery focused on the screen, feeling a sense of calm wash over her, when suddenly, Elizabeth's phone buzzed again, breaking the moment.With a glance at the screen, Elizabeth's face fell. "I'm so sorry, but I have to take this," she said, standing up quickly. "It might be urgent."Avery's heart sank, worry creeping back in. "Is everything okay?"Elizabeth's expression shifted, her professional demeanor taking over. "There's been a major terror threat. I'll need to head back to the office." She looked at Avery and Stevie, concern etched on her face. "You both stay here. I'll keep you updated.""Mom, please be careful," Avery urged, the knot in her stomach tightening again."I will," Elizabeth promised, her voice steady despite the worry in her eyes. "I'll call as soon as I can."As Elizabeth hurried to grab her things, Avery felt the weight of the world pressing down on her again. She exchanged a worried glance with Stevie, who seemed equally unsettled."Do you think it's serious?" Avery asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Stevie nodded, trying to remain calm for Avery's sake. "Mom is strong, and she knows what she's doing. But let's stay focused on each other, okay? We'll keep the light on here."Elizabeth returned, her phone in hand, her expression focused. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Just remember, I love you both." She gave them a quick hug before slipping out the door.Avery felt a wave of fear wash over her. "What if something happens? What if she doesn't come back?"Stevie moved closer, wrapping her arm around Avery's shoulders. "Hey, let's not jump to the worst-case scenario. Mom is trained for this. She's dealt with crises before, and she's going to handle it. Let's keep ourselves occupied."Avery nodded, though her heart still raced. "I just hate feeling helpless.""Me too," Stevie admitted, squeezing Avery tighter. "But we can still support her by being strong here. How about we dive into the movie? It's a great story about perseverance. It'll remind us that even when things get tough, hope is always there."With a deep breath, Avery nodded again. They settled back into the couch, trying to immerse themselves in the film. As the story unfolded, Avery felt a flicker of inspiration igniting within her. The struggles of the main character echoed her own, and she found herself rooting for him, hoping he'd find a way through his challenges.Still, her mind kept drifting back to Elizabeth. Every time a phone buzzed or a car drove by outside, she felt a surge of anxiety. She needed to hear her mom's voice, to know everything was alright.After a tense thirty minutes, Avery could no longer focus on the screen. "Stevie, can we pause it? I just... I need to check my phone again.""Of course," Stevie said, hitting pause. "Let's take a breather."Avery grabbed her phone and checked for updates, but there were still no new messages. "I can't shake this feeling," she admitted. "What if something terrible is happening?"Stevie looked at her with empathy. "It's okay to feel scared, but worrying won't change anything. We have to trust her to do her job. What can we do to distract ourselves until she gets back?"Avery thought for a moment. "Maybe we could do something creative. We could draw or write or even start a project. I've been wanting to try my hand at painting again."Stevie's face lit up. "That's a great idea! Let's do it. Art can be a perfect way to channel all this energy."As they gathered supplies from the craft closet, Avery felt a sense of purpose begin to emerge. Painting might not solve everything, but it would give her a way to express her feelings, to let out the anxiety swirling in her mind.Once they had everything set up on the dining table, they dove into their creative endeavors. The vibrant colors splashed across the canvas, the strokes becoming a dance of emotion. Avery lost herself in the rhythm of painting, the act providing a much-needed release.Stevie was focused on her own canvas, but she kept glancing at Avery, checking in. "See? This is good for you. It's a way to express everything that's going on inside without having to say it."Avery smiled, feeling a small spark of joy as the colors blended together. "Yeah, it really is. It's nice to have this time with you, especially right now."The doorbell rang suddenly, jolting them both. Avery's heart raced as they exchanged a glance. "Could it be Mom?" she asked, hopeful yet anxious."I don't know. Let's find out!" Stevie said, moving toward the door.Avery followed closely behind, her heart pounding. As Stevie opened the door, they both held their breath, hoping for Elizabeth's familiar face. But it was just the quiet of the evening outside.Avery turned back to Stevie, frustration bubbling up. "I just want to hear from her! I don't like this waiting."Stevie took a deep breath, trying to keep her sister calm. "I know it's hard. But remember what we talked about earlier—taking things one step at a time. We'll hear from her soon. Until then, let's keep creating. You're doing amazing work here."Avery nodded, but her heart still felt heavy. She tried to focus on her painting, pouring her emotions into the strokes, hoping that when Elizabeth returned, it would be to share good news and relief. As they painted together, the minutes ticked by slowly, but with every stroke of the brush, Avery felt a little more empowered. She realized that even amidst uncertainty, she could find a way to express herself. The shadows might linger, but with her family's support, she could navigate through them, one brushstroke at a time.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for reading this chapter, please remember to vote & comment, it helps with the motivation to continue writing.