Almost

The Call From Home

"It's sad how quickly people can forget about you until they want something from you."

                 -Anonymous 

You've probably heard about the baby. I was surprised, as she had already passed the first trimester. But five months into pregnancy she lost the baby. 

It was a girl.

Mother called to me tell me. She also told me to come home, that I needed to be there for Willa. It wasn't a pleasant conversation. 

"Mom?" It was one in the morning and I had just gotten home from work. I had just gotten a job at the twenty-four hour diner in town. "What do you want?"

"It's your sister. She lost the baby." Her voiced cracked with an emotion I'd never heard from her. It almost sounded like she cared. 

I'm sure I stopped breathing for a second. I never liked my mother or my sister, but this was a baby. A small innocent baby that lost its life. "W-When? I mean, like- did you just find out?"

"No, no. It's just that she- I've been with her all day....She just fell asleep." She let out a breath, as if to calm herself. I felt tears well in my eyes. Though I'd never seen this baby, never saw a bump as I left before I could, my heart shattered for my niece. 

"You need to come back."

Back. Not home.

I may have been in shock, but those words struck me like a punch in the face.

"What?"

"You need to get back here. Your sister needs you to support her. She's going through a tough time and Kaleb can't be there when he feels the same way." Her words froze my heart that melted for that child.

"And you? Aren't you her mother? It's your job to be there. Not mine. She's never been there for me, why should I give her the time of day?"

It had only escalated from there. She called me selfish, told me I needed to find myself a heart. I listened until I realized I wasn't her toy anymore. I could hang up.

So I did.

Yet, here I stand, packing my bags. The second they come crying I run back. I shouldn't, not after all they've done. But I dignify it by saying I won't stoop to their level. 

So I will drive back to the reality I ran from, right back to my own personal hell.