The Peyton-Harris Equilibrium

Musicians Unite

- Musicians Unite -

Finn leaving to go to University tore a hole in my heart. I always thought I wasn't an overly emotional woman but as soon as he began packing up his bags I was overwhelmed by tears. He had grown into the most beautiful young man I could have hoped for, and I was so proud of him, but he just kept laughing at me whenever water would begin to cloud my vision, and then of course would pull me into a hug.

"I'll be back for every holiday," he would promise into my hair. "It's like I'll have never left."

He was so tall, taller than Max even which I never thought would be possible. He towered over me, and wouldn't let me forget it either. It was one of the many things he and his father enjoyed teasing me about, their similarities more evident as he grew up.

But all of that was a few years back, and now it was summer and he was coming home. The motherly concern I'd never expected of him driving such a long distance was almost overwhelming, but both Nyah and Tadashi were accompanying him and as a result, I was getting frequent updates.

Nyah: We just left. Mum said I have to come home first but I don't wannaaaaa.

Nyah: We're just coming through Melbourne. Finn's complaining about our music taste... I blame you

Nyah: We're about ten minutes out. Finn's dropping us off first and then he'll be home. Don't cry too much :')

Nyah: Oh, btw, see you soon Aunty Rylie xx

It was like nothing else to be able to watch three people grow from tiny little babies into such kind hearted albeit slightly mischievous young adults. The three of them had been inseparable for most of their lives, and quite frankly I was waiting for Finn and Nyah to date. I loved them as friends but sometimes I would catch Nyah staring at him and her lips would subconsciously tilt up, and as soon as she would look away Finn would glance in her direction with a matching smile.

Two peas in a pod, they were.

Tadashi was unlike his fathers; confident and outgoing. Finn continued to compare him to the Mad Hatter because apparently he was "just that crazy", but it was a side of him I didn't see often.

I was excited to be having them all over for tea, along with their familial counterparts. Also known as my friends. It was just lucky that us three families had chosen to stay living in the same town we grew up, meaning we were able to stay close. Tessa and Seth had moved to the U.K but soon after we heard they had split up, but neither returned. And the last we heard, August was backpacking around the world and Chase had met a girl and moved interstate for her.

"What are you thinking, Mumma?" The familiar lilted voice pulled me from my reminiscence, realising where I was and what I was doing. I quickly turned the heat down and moved the pan full of almost burnt mushrooms, setting it on a cool hotplate before wiping my forehead with the back of my hand.

"Dad wouldn't have been particularly happy if you burnt his mushrooms." Her constant smile broadened as her laugh rang through the kitchen, her deep blue eyes dancing with amusement.

This was my daughter; my beautiful, soft-spoken sixteen-year-old daughter who was said to have looked like me when I was her age. Her dark hair hung in ringlets down to the small of her back, of which she often pulled up into a ponytail. All of her features were small and delicate, and her eyes were as soft as her voice was when she spoke at all.

She was shy, and brilliant and very grounded for such a young girl. She knew who she was and was comfortable in her own skin, but had this grace about her which was all too far from me.