Afraid » l.t

Chapter 2

Song: A Drop In The Ocean- Ron Pope

"It's like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert, but I'm holding you closer than most, 'cause you are my heaven"

Delilah

I wake up the next morning, eyes fluttering open to the sunshine peaking through my shades.

I sit up, confused on how I got to my bed. The actions from last night pouring into my memory. I look over to see Joseph and Will sleeping next to me, my eyes drooping.

Every time this happens, I feel worse and worse for Joseph. Don't get me wrong, I hate that we all have to go through this, but Joseph being so young doesn't always know what's going on and the conditions of it. He's only a kid.

I slowly get out of bed, trying to be quiet so I don't wake them up. I open my bedroom door, closing it and walking down the stairs.

I sniff, the smell of eggs and pancakes filling the house. For some reason I'm relaxed by the smell, turning the corner into the kitchen to see my mom cooking.

"Hey mom," I say, my mom not looking back at me.

"Good morning," she says. I furrow my eyebrows, sitting at the bar anyways. I continue to look at my mom, waiting for her to turn around.

It's silent until my mom finally turns around, head hung low as she puts freshly baked pancakes on a plate.

"Mom?" I say, my mom quickly turning back to the stove. I stand up, walking over to her.

"Yes?" She says, turning away from me to put more pancakes on the plate as I approach her.

"Mom," I say more sternly. She places her hand on the stove, quickly retracting it in pain.

"Fuck!" She yells, cradling her hand. I quickly grab her arm, pulling her to the sink to put it under cool water.

"Mom..." I whisper, my mom finally looking up at me.

What I see takes my breath away and completely shatters my heart.

My mom has a big purple bruise around her right eye and a huge gash on the top of her forehead.

I start crying, pulling her into a hug.

Till the day I die I will forever hate my father for treating the best person on earth like this. She deserves so much better.

I pull away from the hug, resting my hand delicately on her cheek. I stroke my thumb over her cheek, my mom grabbing my hand while smiling.

"I love you," I tell my mom. My mom smiles wider, nodding.

"I love you too," she says. "But I'm fine. Your father is gone for a while now... I hope-"

"I hope? Mom..." I trail off. She gives me the stare, my mouth closing.

"But until he comes back- if he comes back- we will continue our daily lives and not worry about the past, because it's called 'the past' for a reason," my mom tells me. I nod, not really approving but not wanting to argue with my mom.

I walk back to the bar, taking a seat as I rest my chin in my hand.

I hear footsteps coming down the stairs, turning my head to see Will walking into the kitchen.

"Morning," he yawns. His hair is going in a bunch of different directions, bags under his eyes.

"Morning love," my mom smiles at him.