Kristen looked like she was about to break down. William, having expected to see a chirpy, happy Kristen, was rather surprised. They hadn’t seen each other in almost two weeks. Apparently a lot had happened.
“Hey- hey, what’s wrong?” he asked, concerned.
Kristen opened her mouth to explain, but decided she couldn’t. Instead, she launched herself at him, burying her face in his chest. Within seconds, she was crying, and she was furious with herself for it. She was always crying around him and she hated that. She was so weak. So stupid and emotional. Stupid because nothing was really that big a deal. Her life was pretty great, and yet she was always upset about something.
William didn’t ask again what was wrong, but held her close, rocking her back and forth a little to calm her down.
Kristen turned her head so that her cheek was pressed into his shoulder loosened her grip a little. “It’s my mom,” she said shakily, sniffling. “Every time I call her, we… fight. Not- not like anything horrible, but we’ve never done this before. And I just get the feeling that she’s disappointed in me and she hates that I’m here and doesn’t think I should have come, but she won’t just say that. She just keeps hinting that she’s not pleased with what I’m doing. And that hurts a lot, because they’re supposed to be my biggest support.”
All the while she spoke, her fingers tugging at the back of his collar.
“Parents can be like that. But you know… I bet she’s more proud than you think. I bet she just missed you a lot and isn’t sure how to deal with it.”
“Did your mom do that?”
“No, but I have siblings.”
“Oh, yeah…” she sniffled a little. “I just don’t know though. We’ve never fought like this.”
“Just get your mind off it. Don’t be mad at her, or it’ll get worse.”
Kristen nodded against his shirt. The fabric made her hair static a little. “Mmkay…”
“You alright?” he checked, giving her a gentle squeeze.
“Yeah. I’m fine. Let’s just do something fun.”
“Let’s.”
It was Halloween. The city was bustling with parents and kids in their trick or treating costumes, something Kristen had never bothered to think about, but that now amazed her. “How do they trick or treat in the city?” she wondered aloud.
“They… go.”
“Wow. That was so helpful, William,” she deadpanned.
He laughed and shrugged. “I don’t know, I guess you’d have to ask someone who grew up in a city.”
“I will,” she decided. “I’ll ask Allie sometime.”
They wandered down the street, observing the many little pirates, princess, superheroes, and monsters that roamed the area, neither of them looking for anything in particular.
After a few blocks and unplanned corners, they happened to reach their usual café, now decorated for the holiday. The windows were blacked out and fake spider webs hung from the corners of the doorway. The paper tablecloths were orange instead of white and the waiters were costumed. Kristen felt rather inadequate. Perhaps she should have been more festive. A purple shirt had been her only effort.
“Let’s go in here. I forgot they have specials for Halloween… a lot of stuff is cheaper and there’s candy on the tables.”
“I take it you went here last year,” she laughed, following him over the threshold.
