Brenden stood on the Alston driveway with Stephanie and Nathan, feeling confused as James put the last of the bags in van. He was getting a somewhat depressing vibe from his parents. Mirabelle was bent down, telling Cerise something in the distance. Brenden tried to eavesdrop, but no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't make out what they were saying. His head tilted as he asked his mother, "Why is Uncle James putting bags in the car?"
Stephanie seemed too distracted to say anything, licking her lips and looking down at her son. Nathan broke in, putting an arm on Brenden's shoulder. "You'll find out soon enough, son," He simply said. Brenden looked at his feet and back at Mirabelle and her daughter, not being able to figure out why everyone was acting so strange. After a few minutes of Ben pondering and staring, the Alston's finally made their way over with distraught expressions on their faces. Cerise's mother nodded to Ben's and finally bent down, her eyes boring into her son's eyes.
"Sweetheart, Cerise and her family have to move. Out of town. You probably won't see her again for a very long time," She explained, causing Brenden to slowly turn his gaze to his friend, finding that she had tears in her eyes. "No!" He shouted and ran to Cerise and wrapped his chubby arms around her, both of them beginning to wail. The parents looked at their children with sorrow and walked over to the car to talk, giving the kids a moment. Cerise and Brenden squeezed each other until their fingers turned white.
The five year olds stayed like that for a few more minutes before breaking apart and looking at each other. Almost as if telepathically, they both knew that they were thinking of the same thing. How much fun they used to have, running around and chasing bugs. Trying new things even when they were scared. Even sharing snacks when there wasn't enough for the both of them. "I don't want to leave you, Cece..." Ben whimpered.
"Don't worry. My mommy and daddy said that we will visit a lot." But they never did.
YOU ARE READING
Love Before Birth | Book One
Short Story{0.5 in the Love Before Birth Series] Two couples: the Reed's and the Alston's have known each other for the longest of time. They've stuck together through middle and high school- even marriage. Now they'll have to help through birth and, of course...
