Butterflies

Chapter 17

"Hey, honey..." my mom said as she came toward me for a hug while I sat up straight.

"Hi, Mom," I said, hugging her back.

"I'm sorry we haven't been speaking properly lately. This week has been pretty busy for me," she sighed, pulling away from me and kissing my forehead. "Do you feel better now?" she asked.

I plastered a fat lie on my face. "Yeah, much better," I said, a chuckle following it.

"Want me to tell you all about my week over breakfast?" she asked, her green eyes shimmering beautifully.

"Yeah, I'd love to hear all about it." I smiled with my eyes.

****

Mom had rushed out for a meeting, leaving behind the faint scent of her perfume lingering in the hallway. The distant sound of the front door clicking shut felt like an exclamation mark at the end of her departure, sealing me in with nothing but my own suffocating thoughts.

The weight of the decision I had to make pressed down on me, a relentless ache in my chest that refused to ease. Every possible outcome played on a loop in my mind, each scenario more unsettling than the last. I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a sharp breath, but the knot in my stomach only tightened.

"I can't go through this again," I muttered, my voice trembling as I buried my face in my hands.

The silence of the house wasn't comforting; it was deafening. Every tick of the clock on the wall felt like a reminder that time was running out, yet my thoughts remained tangled in a mess of uncertainty.

"I should really stop lying to Mom," I added with a bitter laugh, the sound hollow in the empty room.

No amount of pacing, sighing, or muttering could chase away the heavy fog of frustration hanging over me. The walls felt closer, the air thicker, and despite the bright afternoon sun pouring through the windows, everything felt dim.

Just as I flopped back onto the couch with a sigh, my phone started buzzing. My face lit up when I saw the caller ID.

Angelica.

I swiped right without a second thought.

"How's my favorite Julia doing on this absolutely spectacular day?" Her voice burst through the speaker, bright and sugary, like sunshine wrapped in laughter.

I couldn't stop the grin spreading across my face. "She'd be doing way better with one of your magical hugs."

"Well, lucky for her, she's getting one!" Angelica declared with mock grandeur before her tone softened into something warm and playful. "Alright, listen up, sunshine—get ready, I'm coming over, and I'll be there in ten!"

"Get ready? For what?" I asked, giggling.

"It's a surprise! And don't even try to tell me you're not still in your PJs. I know you, Jules. Now, chop-chop!" she said before blowing an exaggerated mwah and hanging up.

I laughed softly as I set the phone down, Angelica's warmth still lingering in my ears like a comforting melody. But as the moment faded, the smile on my face began to waver, slipping away like sunlight swallowed by gathering clouds. The weight of that choice crept back in, settling heavily on my chest, dragging my mood down with it.