Eden's Fall

Falling Apart

Bella jolted awake. She breathed heavily, pushing her thick brown hair back. She almost called for her mom, then froze. Mom. Bella would never she her again. And it was all her fault. If Bella hadn't wanted to go to that party with Summer and Ella, Mom wouldn't have been driving that night, and she wouldn't have been distracted when Bella texted her that she'd be waiting in the front, and that truck wouldn't have slammed into Mom's car, making it tumble down the cliff into the ocean.

"Bella?" Charlie knocked softly on the door.

"Yeah Charlie?" Bella swung her feet onto the cold wood floor.

"Mommy's birthday is tomorrow." Mia poked her head around the door.

"Yeah." Bella choked back a sob.

"We miss her." Mia and Charlie clutched at each other's hands.

"You guys snuggle in. I'll get Wendy, and we'll all sleep here tonight, ok?" Bella picked Mia up and put her on the bed. Charlie scrambled in next to her. "Bye." Bella closed the door softly.

Bella walked up the stairs, twice,  tiptoed past Charlie and Mia's rooms and stopped in front of Wendy's nursery.

"Wendy?" Bella peered into Wendy's room.

"Bewa?" Wendy was awake, staring at the door as if she knew Bella was coming.

"It's Bewa, honey. Come on, you want to sleep in my room with Mia and Charlie?" Bella raised her arms out for Wendy.

"Why Wendy not walk?" Wendy cocked her head.

"Because, we don't wanna wake up daddy." Bella reached for Wendy.

"Okay." Wendy circled her arms around Bella's neck. "Good?" Wendy asked.

Bella looked at Wendy in her heart pajamas and messed up hair. "Better." Bella answered.

*

"Come on everybody, school time!" Bella shouted at the bottom of the stairs.

Mia appeared at the top. She was dressed in all black, but some of it was sparkly. "For Mommy." She explained, hopping down the stairs.

"I'm coming." Charlie followed, also dressed in black.

"Dad asleep?" Bella asked, hoping for a good answer.

"Yes. Probably till noon." Charlie rolled his eyes.

"Be quiet, Charlie." Mia scolded. "Daddy's trying."

"But we're hurting too. We miss mom, it's not fair that Bella has to be the parent! Daddy should be helping!" Charlie exploded.

"I know Char." Bella knelt in front of him. "I miss her too." Charlie began to sob in her shoulder.

"I'm okay." Charlie said, five minutes later.

"You don't have to be." Bella pulled him back and stared him in the eye.

"I'm fine." Charlie took a breath. "Come on Mimi." He held out his hand for Mia. "Let's have breakfast."

"Okay Charlie." Mia followed him into the kitchen.

Bella jogged up the stairs. "Wendy! School time! Brita will be here in twenty minutes!" Bella raced into Wendy's room.

"BEWA!" Wendy clapped in delight. "Clothes time!"

"Mia, Charlie, and I are going to wear dark colors today. Do you want to?" Bella dug through Wendy's drawers.

"Wendy's gonna be like Mia!" Wendy jumped excitedly on her bed. She idolized Mia.

"All right. How's about your dark purple flowers long sleeve, black jeans, your black boots, and your dark blue pea coat? Ooh, plus this super cute black cat beanie." Bella held them out for Wendy, who already knew what she liked and hated.

"A-dooooor-a-bllllle!" Wendy trilled.

Bella swallowed painfully. Her mom used to say that. Wendy must of heard her say it, before. Bella carefully dressed Wendy and walked her downstairs.

"Mia! Charlie! Sunny and Harper are here! It's time for you to go!" Bella yelled.

"Why do we have to walk? It's cold!" Mia complained.

"Bye!" Bella reached the bottom. "Summer and I will pick you up after school. We are going to ride in a car!" Bella emphasized.

"Yay!" They all cheered, walking out.

Bella placed Wendy in her booster seat.  "Cheerios with bananas today, Wend."

"Yummy!" Wendy smiled, sloppily using her spoon, although all of the food was in her mouth, or fell back into the bowl.

Bella sat down and ate her toast. All of a sudden, Bella heard a beeping outside. "Wendy, are you done?" Bella asked.

"Yeppity doo da." Wendy laughed.

Bella felt another pang. Mom said that too.

"Zoe?" It was her father, leaning over railing hopefully.

Bella's back was turned, helping Wendy with her coat.

"Zoe! You're alive! I knew it was a bad dream!" Dad flew down the stairs and hugged Bella.

"Dad?" Bella turned, confused.

"Oh. It's you. I'll be going back to bed." Dad turned and trudged back up.

Bella took a deep breath. It was fine he was cold with her. 1. Mom's death was her fault, and 2. Bella wasn't even his real kid, so it was fine.

"Bella?" Bella jumped as a cold hand touched her shoulder, but it was only Brita. "I saw what happened... is he always like this?"

"No...." Bella lied. "Here, Wendy is ready to go." Bella faked a smile.

"Alright." Brita took Wendy's hand and began to walk toward the door. "Oh! I almost forgot, wish your mom a happy birthd-" Brita froze.

Birthday, Bella thought, she forgot, Mom was so.... Bright, that it was hard to believe she was snuffed.

"Oh Bella...." Brita placed a hand on Bella's shoulder. "I'm sorry, I just forgot."

"It's ok. I forget too." Bella closed her eyes.

Brita pushed her hair back. "I'm sorry. Come on Wendy." Brita lifted Wendy and ran out of the house.

"Bye, Brita..." Bella sighed.

Mom, I need you now, dad's gone nuttier than a granola bar. Charlie's getting in fights, and Mia, I don't know what's happening to Mia, but her eyes crack a little more everyday. I don't want Wendy not to remember you. Charlie, Mia, and I, we can remember, but Wendy, Wendy will only have faded memories and stories. I can't be YOU. And I'm trying really hard, I promise, I just want things to be back to normal. Back to the way it was three weeks ago. Happy 32nd birthday, Momma. I love you.