The Journey: Tears

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I look down, pondering on the situations of getting down. I could jump. No, I might break my feet.  I could climb down. Too bad there's nothing to really climb on. And just like that, I came out of ideas. I didn't know what to do as usual.

"Honey, open up your door.  Let's talk." my mother calls, jiggling the dorrknob.

"I don't wanna talk to you!" I scream, "I'm sick and tired of you guys comparing to Holly.  All right, I get it.  I'm not your smart daughter you wanted.  I'm nothing compared to dreams and expectations.  But it's who I am.  Why can't you guys just accept it?!"

Silence comes from behind the door.

"That's what I thought," I answer, no longer caring what my so called mother had to say.

My mother mumbles something I can't understand or care to hear. So I don't answer.

"I'm sorry," she states while my eyes open with astonishment, "I'm sorry we treated you this way.  I'm sorry that you--we---compare you to Holly. I'm sorry about everything."

I step away from the balcony and go to my door.

She doesn't mean it, I think to myself but say something else out loud.

"Really?"

"Truly."

I stride over to my door and unlock it.  There she is.  On the ground, crying, when her voice sounded so strong just a few seconds ago.

"Mom?" I ask, wondering if she is stable enough to talk.

"Yes."

"I love you," I say as I fall to my knees and hug. 

Tears falling out of my eyes as well.  I didn't know how my mom and I looked at that moment but all I cared about was making her feel better.  My mom was taking Holly's death hard and I was being selfish.  My mom astonishes me sometimes and others she amazes me.  Her voice can sound so strong and confident when she doesn't feel--or look like it, as in this matter--it at all.

"Well I'm sorry I was being selfish and not thinking of the effect this had on others." I whisper to her.

"Do you know how much we miss her?"

"Mom. We all miss her.  That's sorta an understatement."

She laughs.  For once, in a tense situation as is this one, she laughs.  She laughs a whole-hearted laugh, not like the ones on television.  I've never seen my mom so...so...giddy, I guess.  It surprises me so when I pull back to look at her, she laughs even harder.  So I join in.  I mean, laughing is contagious.  So we stay like that for a while until my dad calls us down for dinner.

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