The Clay Girl

Nightmares suck don't they?

Odyssa clutched the handlebars of her small bike, her knuckles turning white. Her mama knelt beside her, adjusting the helmet and giving her a reassuring smile.

"You've got this, sweetheart," Her mama said gently, brushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"But... What if I fall?" The girl whispered, looking up with wide, uncertain eyes.

Her mama gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. "I'll be right here, and if you fall, we'll get back up and try again. It's okay to be a little scared."

Odyssa took a deep breath, glancing down at the sidewalk stretching out in front of her. "Okay," She said finally, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm ready."

With a gentle push from her mom, the girl's feet found the pedals. At first, her balance wavered, and her mom jogged beside her, hands hovering protectively on either side.

"Keep going!" Her mama encouraged her voice steady. "You're doing it!"

The girl's eyes widened as she realized she was riding without her mom's help. She felt the wind brushing her cheeks and noticed her mom starting to fall behind.

"I'm doing it!" she squealed, her voice filled with surprise and excitement. Without another thought, she pedaled faster, leaving her fear and her mom behind as her smile grew wider.

"Go, go, go!" Her mom called, laughing as she watched her daughter race ahead, fearless now.

"I'm not scared anymore, Mom!" Odyssa shouted with a giggle as she seemed to ride faster and faster, chasing the afternoon sun with a bright smile.

'Remember how happy you were?'

The world whizzed past her as the sun dipped down lower and lower into the night sky. Odyssa widened her eyes as she looked around, no longer on her bike but sat in the car as the world faded into the stars of the night sky.

"No, I don't understand, Theo! Please, explain it to me," Eleanor cried, her voice laced with frustration and desperation as she drove slowly through the familiar streets of their neighborhood.

Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles white as she tried to keep her voice steady. "You have to pay your child support. I can't keep doing this alone."

In the back seat, Odyssa tried her best to ignore the tension that filled the car, pretending not to listen. She pressed her forehead against the cool window, her gaze fixed on the passing houses and trees as if they held answers to all her thoughts.

Her heart ached, but she forced herself to stay quiet, trying to think about anything else as her mother's voice trembled and cracked. Odyssa was a good kid; she knew this conversation wasn't meant for her ears.

"I don't have to do anythin'," Her father's angry voice spat through the phone speaker, making Eleanor flinch. "Not after what you did! You went off with a, what, a goddess? And had a child!" His words were biting, each one filled with resentment. "I ain't payin' nothin'. You cheated on me. And broke our vows with that."

(Def giving good luck babe vibes from eleanor which i just realized now)

Odyssa blinked, fighting back tears that threatened to spill as her parents' bitter words stung the air around her. She stayed as still as she could, hoping if she sat quietly enough, they might forget she was there.

"We're having another baby, Theodore," Eleanor's voice cracked, now barely a whisper, raw with pleading. "Please, we can't... I can't raise Odyssa alone. Not now. I need you."