Breathing Water

CHAPTER 22

As my car comes into view I stop running and take a deep breath while thinking about the ocean. I climb in carefully and start the car. As I pull out of the parking lot and onto the road home I feel something wet fall down my cheek. I blink several times to make sure that no more tears flow out of my eyes. I glance over to Glimmer and thankfully she is back to being distracted by her phone so she didn't see the tear.
After dropping Glimmer off I head home. As I come inside I yell "Mom, are you home?" When there is no response I take a seat in the front room again to wait for Shelly.
It doesn't take very long to arrive, but before she does another tear marks my cheek. I hear her car pull into the driveway, so I open the door before she can knock. I try hard to hold back what I am feeling, but as I look at Shelly's face I break. Water flows from my eyes uncontrollably and I start to collapse. Shelly moves forward quickly and catches me and carefully brings us down to the ground. She cradles my head against her chest as I continue to cry.
As I start to calm down again Shelly helps me stand up saying "Why don't we go inside and you can tell me whats wrong?"
She starts to take a step inside when I say "No I don't want my mom to see me like this?"
"Ok. Where do you want to go?"
"I don't know. Somewhere new. Somewhere I've never been." I look at her with pleading eyes as she tries to think of a get away location.
Finally she makes a decision and says "Kay, got it. Come on lets get you in my car." I nod slowly and walk carefully leaning into Shelly's side.
We drive on the road for a while before I ask "Where are we going? I don't recognize this area."
"Good then I have met your criteria." She smiles at me and I feel a little lighter. After another few minutes she announces "Here. Oyster, welcome to the town's lighthouse." She gesture out the front window to the tall, white tower in front of us.
Before I can do it myself Shelly jumps out of the car and rushes over to open my door. She gives me her hand to help me out of the car. Closing the car door with one hand she places her other hand in mine. Shelly guides me to the door of the lighthouse and does a special knock. An old man opens the wood barricade and says "Shells long time no see. Oh and who is this?"
"Hey Marty. This is Oyster and I just wanted to take her up to see the view the light has everyday."
"Sure anything for you." He turns to me and says "And how very nice it is to meet you Miss Oyster." He makes a bowing sort of gesture and moves to the side to let us past.