I woke up in a cold sweat, scared, the fire alarm was going off down stairs, there was no smoke...the house wasn't on fire. I slowly got up and opened my door. "Mom?" no answer, i ran down the stairs to the kitchen where my mother, yet again fell asleep with something in the oven.
I grabbed the nearest chair and ripped the cover off the fire alarm and took out the batteries. as i took a look over the room i noticed that she had fallen asleep at the table. "damnit" i let out a sigh and went to wake her.
"mom?," I slammed my hand on the table, scaring her away. "what the..." she jumped up, "Audrey, baby whats wrong, what happ--" i glared at her and shook my head, pointing to the oven, "second time this week, mom, whats going on?."
"nothing Babe, go get ready for school," she walked out of the room like nothing happened. "i graduated five years ago, mom...thanks for remembering.." i looked at the time, it was four a.m. i still had three hours till i had to be to work. I'm physical therapist at a veteran's hospital, i only work there because i love listening to the stories they have to tell as your taking care of them.
as i walked back up to my room to get my things ready for a shower, i thought about the last week and how my life has changed so much.
I grew up knowing that my father was a hero, he fought for our country, it was the best thing ever when i was 7. When i 17 all i wanted, was for him to be home, to take care of my mother.. on my graduation day, my mother was so excited for me and that now it was off to college and that my father would be home in just a matter of weeks...all i remember of that day was, seeing two marines, dressed in the dress blues walking up to my door.. i didn't need them to tell me what happened... i saw it in their eyes.. He wasn't lost at war, he was not capture by the enemy...
I slowly opened the door and watched them, "Is Mrs. O'Neil present?" my hands shook, i didn't take my eyes off of them as i called for my mother. she came walking up, the smile on her face, vanishing in seconds. "Mrs. O'Neil?" my mother nodded her head trying to keep her emotions together. As they started talking, i coulding focus on what they were saying, i wrapped my arms around my mother giving her support as she cried into my shoulder. Thats all I remember of that day.
I went to my room to grabb my clothes, heading to the bathroom I heard my mom calling my dad's phone; she kept it on so that whenever she need a calming voice she could call it. “Hey, its Michael couldn't make it to the phone or im probably on the phone with my beautiful family, leave it after the beep.”
I quickly took my shower and got ready, I looked at myself in the mirror and noticed how much I looked like him, I had the same chocolate brown hair that went into curls down my back, bright blue eyes, thick but thin lips, and short straight nose.
I stood at 5'3” at the age 23, I didn't really have that eciting life that your probably hoping for, I had a boyfriend for three years, Matthew, see the word had. Yeah, when I moved back in with my mom to take care of her, he just up and left. I didnt really have a reaction to it, I knew that it was going to happen, I wasn't going to stop him.
I looked at the clock and noticed it was already 5:30, I walked out the door, keys in hand, bag in the other, I got in my carand stopped by starbucks before work. I had this feeling that is was going to be a long day...
A/N: tell me what you think, havent written in a long time /:
