Faded Promises

14

Hanna POV

I'm walking down home, Lucy's left school a little earlier cause she had a fever.

She never complains so she must've been really badly, I need to text her when I'm home.

I come home to find the house unusually quiet, a stillness that feels heavy.

Usually dad is listening to music while making dinner, so this is odd.

As I step inside, I hear the faint sound of footsteps. My mom is standing in the kitchen, looking out the window. Her presence is unexpected, and a knot forms in my stomach.

"Mom? Where's dad?" I ask her and she turns immediately to me

"He's ok, honey. He went to grab us food, and give us some time alone"

"And why are you here?"

"You could be nice, I taught you better" she says with a that stern mother tone, I flinch in disgust since she's not been a mother for me since she left us.

"And dad taught me to be honest. What are you doing here?"

She turns to face me, her expression unreadable. "Hanna, we need to talk. This isn't right"

I sigh, already feeling the exhaustion creep in. "Mom, I'm really not in the mood right now."

"Well, I'm tired of being ignored," she snaps, her voice rising. "You can't keep shutting me out."

Her words hit me like a slap in the face. I feel a surge of anger and frustration "Ignored? You're the one who left, remember? You walked out on us!"

Her face twists with hurt and anger. "You don't understand, Hanna. It's not that simple."

"Then make me understand," I shout back, my voice trembling. "Explain to me how leaving your family is supposed to help anything."

"I needed to leave. But I still love you, you're my daughter"

"You left us and ignored me for 2 months then you remembered you had a daughter. Dad was waiting for you to come around to your senses"

"Has he told you about why I divorce him?" She's really worried dad badmouth her..... like she doesn't know the man she married. She could've cheated and he wouldn't said anything because he'd still want me to have a relationship with her.

"Dad is a saint, he never talks about what happened between you two. And you only told me you don't love him anymore. Either him or your daughter"

"Honey... I love you with all my heart, you're my life."

"Leave mom"

"No. I'm your mom, we're gonna have a meal together" she tells me like she can order me around "you have to respect me"

"I can't do this," I cry, storming out of the house. I need to escape, to breathe. As I walk down the driveway, I see Aiden arriving home.

He looks at me, his eyes filled with an intensity I can't read.

Without a word, he opens the door to his car. I hesitate for a moment, then get in. We drive off, the silence between us thick and charged with unspoken emotions.

"Wanna talk?" He asks

"Nope" I say as I clean my tears

He continue driving until we stop at the drive-thru of Gus Burgers. I don't say anything and he asks exactly what I want.

After he pays and puts the food in my lap, he looks at me and stares at me for some seconds.

I look at him wondering what he's thinking, I should be mad at him, but he's my safe place. One look, one touch and I'm all ok.