When We Were

Chapter 2

Chapter Two (Christopher's POV)

I entered the back door with two grocery bags in my arms. "Mom! Dad! I need help! Are you home?"

My mom met me at the door and took one bag from me, "What's this for?"

"Just some stuff."

"For us or for Lizzie?" my mom asked jokingly. She had that twinkle in her eyes. I can't believe my parents are still hoping we end up together.

"Mom..." I warned.

"Okay, I won't say anything more. I put her in your old room. Wake her up in ten minutes, dinner will be ready by then." I ran to the stairs and heard my mom call out, "but if she doesn't wake up don't bother!"

I slowly turned the door knob and slightly pushed the door open. I saw her on my bed lying on her left side curled like a baby, the blanket tangled between her legs. She looked so innocent. I heard my mom and her mom talking on the phone months ago. I knew she would be staying for sometime, "to heal". I kept hearing those words. Heal from what? What happened? 

From the conversations I caught something happened during her senior year in college. I hope it wasn't that bad, but the whispered conversations and the regular phone calls between the moms told me it probably was serious. Part of my wanted to ask my mom then, but it seemed out of place to suddenly ask her about Lizzie.

I stood by the door for several minutes just watching her before I decided to wake her up. Kneeling down beside he bed, I just stared at her face longer. Her hair had grown longer since the last picture I saw of her, now up to the middle of the black. Still black and wavy as before. She looked thinner too, it showed on her face. Her cheeks a bit hollow.

What are you healing from Lizzie? I wanted to ask. Instead I pushed her hair away from her face and she stirred. Her eyes slowly opened...

"Hi Christopher." she sleepily whispered.

"Lizzie..."

She pushed herself up and fixed her hair. "Did you just arrive?"

She's talking to her like being in their house was just an ordinary thing for her. "Yes. Mom wanted me to check if you're awake. Dinner's ready." I stood up and gave her my hand.

She ignored it and stood up, "Uh, okay. Thanks. I'll just look for my shoes..." She grabbed her sneakers and sat at the foot of the bed and put them on.

We walked down for dinner together. Steve was out with friends so it was just the four of us. My parents ask her about her parents, their work and their health. There were lots of moments reminiscing about their college days and their childhood. I couldn't help but steal glances at her every now and then. I noticed she would look at me too but would look away whenever our eyes met.

"Coffee dear?" Aunt Cynthia asked.

"Oh, is there tea? I don't want to stay up the whole night." she answered.

"Oh, sorry. No tea..."

"Why don't we go out and get some? There's a coffee shop a few blocks away. It's near enough to walk" I interrupted my mom.

There was a few seconds of silence. Both of my parents looked at each other and I recognized those looks. "You kids go ahead. Walk off all that steak we ate."

All three pairs of eyes were on Elizabeth waiting for her response. Cricket, cricket!  I could feel her hesitation. "Let me get my coat."