Something Beautiful

THREE

The bathroom door swings open and I'm about to complain when my mom says,

"Pack your stuff. We're leaving."

I almost swallow the toothbrush.

"What? Why?" I mumble with the toothpaste still in my mouth. I spit it out.

"Pack Lauren's too."

"Mom you can't be serious."

"I'm dead serious. Now get dressed, and do what you're told I don't want to argue with you."

I hear my dad trudge up the hallway towards us, grunting with every step he takes.

"You're being unreasonable Rose we can discuss this." he says.

"Discuss what?" My mom snaps with her hands on her hips. "That's what we always do, discuss and nothing happens. This time, you will not stop me. I am leaving.

"With both children?" He asks.

"Aren't I the one who gave birth to them? So yes I am."

At least Lauren and I would be together.

"How about school mom?"

"That doesn't matter. We can always find you another school where we are going."

"Where are we going?" I ask her.

"Yeah, where will you go Rose it's not easy to get a place to stay these days."

"I'll figure that out. I could always go to my mom's." She says.

"Your mom's? Your mom is in a retirement home.What do you want to do , join her there?"

She remains silent.

"I said I'll figure it out I'm not a child. I have plenty of friends."

"Do you think-"

"Er, guys, can you step outside I still have to shower. I'm going to school."

"No you're not." My mom protests.

"Yes she is Rose, its okay sweetheart we'll give you some space. I'll take you to school when you are ready." My dad says dragging my mother out of the bathroom and closing the door behind them, leaving me solitary.

I stand stock still. Trying to to absorb what has just happened. How I wished this was all a bad dream and I was going to wake up. 

"Fine!" I hear my mom say.

Oh mom, give it up, please.

"Have it your way. But we are leaving Max. I am sick and tired of your lies. You will see my lawyer about the divorce and sharing of the estate papers."

For a moment, I had a feeling that the dead level floor in front of me was sloping downward. They really were going to divorce.

"What?" he laughs. "No, this house belongs to me."

"Max you didn't buy this house with your own money."

I cant bear this any longer. I open the door and they both stare at me like children who have been caught doing something illegal by their parents.

"You know what? I'll take the bus. Clearly you have some unresolved issues."

"You really don't have to Soph." My dad pleads.

"Yes I do. And I am taking Lauren to preschool too."

I march past them before they have anything to say.

Make matters worse, Mittens is not behaving. She hid one of my  shoe I just know it. Its her game.

"Mittens where did you put my shoe!?" I drop to my knees and look under my bed. Her favourite hiding place. There's nothing. If its not under my bed, it will probably take days for me to find it.

I grab another pair from my wardrobe. As I sit down on my dressing table to brush my hair, I realize my hair brush is missing too.

"Mittens!"

Mittens pounces onto my dressing table, scratching it.

"Whats wrong with you today?" I ask as if I expected a reply.

After I'm ready ready, and Lauren is too, I walk to the kitchen counter where my dad's wallet is and open it for some money.

"I took money for the bus and lunch" I yell to him, take Laurens hand and leave the house.

Lauren and I are quiet until we reach the bus stop. Even on the bus we had nothing to say. We were both shaken.

We drop off at Laurens preschool and I kneel in front of her at the entrance.

"Don't be scared Lauren, we are going to be alright you hear me?"

She nods.

"I"ll never leave you okay?"

"Okay" She says.

"Good. I'll be here to pick you up after school so wait for me."

"Okay."

"Okay, now cheer up dear, everything is going to be just fine."

"Bye." She says as she enters the large double doors.

"Bye-bye." I say to her as I watch her slowly walk through the doors.

I look at my watch. I'm late.

                                                    

                                 *********

After school, I rush to the bus stop to  pick Lauren up when hear my name being called from the car park. I swing round.

Its my mom. Lauren's in there. And the car is loaded. With our stuff.

I run over to the car.

"Mom what is this?"

"Get in the car I'll explain on the way."

I get into the car.

"Where are we going? And you don't look too well mom are you sure you are able to drive?"

"Somewhere, and yes I'm fine, just a bit tired, you know, pregnancy issues."

"How about daddy?" Lauren asks.

"Daddy will be fine sweetheart." She says whilst driving out of the school.

This is actually happening.

                                     *********

We've been in the highway for almost an hour and when I look at her to ask where we are going, she's passing out.

"Mom!" I scream. The car swerves and I try control the stirring wheel, but she has let go of the gas pedal and we now headed for the nearby forest.

"Mom wake up!" I cry out shaking her violently but she is out cold. Lauren is screaming her lungs out in the back making it hard for me to know what to do. I couldn't drive a car and didn't have the slightest idea of what to do.

"Please mom wake up" my voice becomes a broken road. "Please mom come on."

Then everything became a slow motion movie.

The sound of crunching metal and breaking glass surrounds me.

I felt the cold ground underneath my body. I couldn't move and didn't understand what had happened. It takes me a while to realize what has happened.

Lauren. Mom. I want to call out.

The world slowly fades away then,

Its pitch black.