Game Over: Life's Over

The Year I Had

So... I feel old. I did my first poll in the previous chapter but didn't know the results would come in. I thought they'd come through like a comment would in my notifications. I just looked at the chapter and found the results -_-. Why didn't I do that the first time? Anyway, since Daddy and Papa were tied, the 'poll' is still going. Comment below which name you like better and the name with the most comments will be the winner. I put Daddy in the story now but know that it can change.

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My time at Mom's felt too short but I was glad to see Eric and Theo again. Getting back into my normal routine was sure to help my mood improve and get my mind off of everything that had happened with Mom.

After I realized she heard my call with Soleil, I was anxious that Mom would be mad or she would want to talk. But she didn't. We acted like nothing had happened and enjoyed the last of our time together.

But it didn't mean it wasn't still on my mind. I was sure it was on Mom's mind too.

Having to sit in the car for nearly two hours gave me plenty of time to think.

I felt guilty that Mom heard me say what I did. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her feelings. But maybe it wasn't all bad. Mom got to hear how I felt, too. I had every right to feel the way I did and it was about time my opinion was listened to.

It was hard to feel like my opinion was worth validating when I was sitting in a carseat made for toddlers with a stuffed animal hugged into my chest and a pacifier in my mouth. I spent more time acting like a baby than I did as an 18-year-old and I hated that. No one was going to take me seriously if I acted like a baby all the time.

I always tried to take Soleil's advice from one of the first times we had talked to one another. She said there was nothing wrong with being a baby and so what if we acted differently from other people. It made me uncomfortable but I couldn't change the mutation. I couldn't reverse the effects that I'd started noticing and feeling since turning eighteen. I was who I was and there was no changing that.

I had to accept it and who I was because if I didn't, how could I expect anyone else to?

I didn't think I'd ever tell her but Soleil was actually really smart.

When we got home, I took my duffel bag to my room and unpacked the things I'd taken to Mom's. All I really took were a few outfits and my usual comfort items. Those were already waiting for me on my bed.

I was piling up the clothes I wore while I was at Mom's into a pile beside me. My anxiety was a bit high so I was sucking on my binky to try and ease that stress somewhat. It wasn't working but at least I was trying like Dr. Simmons wanted me to.

Eric walked into my room and leaned against the doorframe, a mug of coffee in his hand. "Hey, did you have fun with your mom?"

I looked over at him and nodded. I pulled my binky from my mouth so I could talk. "Yeah, it was nice."

"Just nice?" He watched me, like he was waiting for more information.

I nodded, an unspoken sentence lingering in the air. Both of us knew there was more to be said.

Eric walked over to where I sat on the floor and sat down across from me. He rested his arms on his knees. "Do you want to talk?"

I raised my eyebrow as I looked at him. Did he know? "Did Mom talk to you?"

Now it was his turn to be confused. "No. Why? Was she supposed to?"

I lifted my binky from where it dangled against my chest and started chewing on it with my larger teeth in the back. "Mom overheard me talking to Soleil. She hasn't said anything to me but I feel really bad. Like I need to apologize."