Paper Airplane [s.m]

Twenty-Three

It's Friday.

I have support group in an hour. I thought maybe Aunt June would say 'oh just kidding, it was all a prank!'. Unfortunately, she only sits in the living room and waits for me to leave for support group. 

I throw on black ripped skinny jeans and a black shirt. I know Aunt June will say I should change into something less intimidating. I throw on combat boots just to mess with her.

She gives me a questioning glance but doesn't say anything. I leave the house with only my wallet and my phone.

I arrive to the building in a taxi and walk up to the front desk. The woman smiled at me but keeps typing something.

"I'm here for-" I swallow down the bile rising in my throat. "-support group."

"Oh of course, room 11 on the left." She smiles and points down the hall.

I enter the room and see a couple teenagers already sitting in chairs. The chairs are set in a circle. I take a seat furthest from everyone as I can get.

Nobody smiles at me or greets me at all. They all seem just as miserable as I am. After 10 minutes, the room has filled quite a bit and I have someone sitting next to me. It's a girl with long black curly hair. Her skin is dark and she's very beautiful. I look around and I can't seem to understand why any of these people are here.

"Mrs. Veronica Lang, you're new aren't ya?" A woman asks coming into the room. She sits in an empty seat and crosses her legs.

"Yes." I mumble and look down. I can tell I have a few eyes on me. Most people don't care but I hate having the attention.

"Well let's get started." She says and throws her hands up. She calls people's names and they all say either good, great or fine. One boy has his name called on him and he only stares ahead of him.

"Aaron." She calls his name again.

"Not good." He shakes his head.

"If you are comfortable sharing, we'd like to know what's wrong." She says concerned. She seems to actually care about the people sitting in this circle.

"I feel like my mom is keeping something from me." He pauses for a second. "About my dad." He adds.

Lots of people in the circle frown, probably already knowing his story. I only watch with curiosity. I want to know what his mom is keeping from him. Is his dad okay? I just want to know his story.

"I don't think he's coming home." He shakes his head, trying to keep his emotions inside.

"A lot of men and woman come home after a war, I'm hoping your dad is one of them." She tells him. He nods with a blank expression. I can't feel his pain, my dad has been gone for years.

"Tasha." She calls the girl next to me.

"Good." She says with a genuine smile.

"Veronica, we'd like to know why you are in a support group, if you're comfortable with that." She says.

"I don't belong here." I say. These people have real problems, I only have teenage drama.

"Neither do we, now spill." Tasha says from beside me.

"I guess I've been acting up at home so my Aunt thinks it's because of my parents." I give a vague explanation.

"What happened to your parents?" She asks. She's very nosy but she just wants to know my story. I know what curiosity feels like.

"My mom and my little brother are in Tokyo for her job and my dad has been stationed somewhere for the military  for 9 years now." I say with a tight smile. Aaron's head lifts and he looks at me.

"And is this the reason why you're acting the way you are?" She asks.

"No. I'm just a teenager, I'm going to do things that will get me in trouble." I roll my eyes and cross my arms.

"And how are you?" She asks me.

"I'm fine." I answer.

After about 2 hours of talking about all of our problems, we are dismissed. I stand from my chair and walk out the door. While I'm walking out of the building, I feel a tap on my shoulder. I look behind me and see that boy from support group. I think his name was Aaron.

"Hi?" I say curiously.

"My dad has been away for 9 years too." He says, getting straight to the point.

"What a coincidence, maybe they are stationed together." I say.

"Yeah maybe." He smiles with half of his mouth.

"Well, I'll see you next Friday." I say and wave. He waves at me as I turn and head towards my apartment. I don't think I'll hate support group as much as I though I would.