A ghosting girl

Familiar face.

Mother took a small sip of coffee and then stared at me, a content look on her face. " you look happy." I said smiling at her as I leaned against the door frame in the kitchen," so do you." She responded. I didn't expect that kind of response out of her, I can't say I expected any response at all. I mean she does talk, just not as much as she used to. When I was younger, my mom was a real chatter box and loved conversation, when I was a toddler actually my mom pretty much breathed conversation. My mom sat quietly, sipping her coffee shallowly, I watched her run her long skinny fingers through her long dark brown hair. I observed my mother, the way she combed through her hair with her fingers, the way she admired her professionally done fingernails, the soft purple nail polish on her fingers, everything about her made me who I was today, the young curious Leigh. Mom arose from the table and put her coffee stained mug in the sink. I took a seat on the couch, the living room was connected to the kitchen by one wall so the couch sat right between the living room and the kitchen, so whenever I was on the couch I could just turn around and see mother doing whatever in the kitchen. I stood up on the couch and watched mother take her place at the table once more and fiddle with the newspaper. Her bright blue eyes were very focused and I could tell she found an article she wanted to read, I leaned over the back of the couch studying her dark hair, her big eyes, her focused look, the stillness of her lips, her slender nose. Her face was so perfect. Mothers big blue eyes soon met with my small green eyes and we observed each other for about a second before she went back to reading the newspaper and I went back to being a lazy bum on the couch. I stared at the ceiling, listening to the barely noticeable buzz of the ceiling fan. I sat there again before hearing mothers raspy morning voice," why don't you draw me a picture Leigh, you know, your father was a wonderful drawer and he even sold a few paintings." I smiled and stared at the picture of dad above the tv. I tried not to cry considering my dad was a very understanding person who was always there for me even when I thought I did something so bad I'd go to kid jail. I then remembered the picture of the girl, she looked sorta like me, and when I was getting older mom said I was beginning to look more and more like someone. I didn't remember if the person was related to me or anything,
So maybe I could ask mother a few questions and just maybe she could fill in the blanks of my mind. I got up dashed to my room grabbed the photo with the name on the back and returned to mother who was still sitting at the table looking at the newspaper. " mother, is there any possible way you may know this girl?" I pointed at the girl and showed mother the photo, she had a slight smile before but now she was just frowning at me. I could now tell that I had made a huge mistake and knowing mom as well as I do, she may not let me forget it. I looked at her," so do you know her, mother?" I said with a hopeful look, mother glared at me," no, no I do not know that little girl, at all, whatsoever." She then snatched the photo from me and ripped it up. " and if you ever speak of her again, your grounded, no phone for a year!" She yelled. I was so shocked in mothers sudden mood change I almost broke out in tears. But now I knew that mom had to have some kind of relation to this photo.