Resolution

One : Saffron

One : Saffron

We'd only been back a week and I already hated it – being back in the same house, in the same bedroom was like a kick to the stomach. My kid sister loved it though and that made me angrier because she was too young to remember what happened, she was too young to know the real reason my parents divorced three years ago.

From downstairs, my lying, cheating bastard of a dad called out to me. I pretended not to hear him but then the intercom near my door rang. Knowing I couldn't ignore it, I picked it up. "Yes?"

"Saffron, can you come downstairs please?"

"Do I have to?"

He sighed. "Yes."

"Fine."

I hung up and slinked downstairs. Dad was standing in the huge, granite-covered kitchen and in his tailored business suit, he belonged next to the sharp edges and dark designs. My sister, however, looked oddly out of place with her eccentric dress and ice cream covered face. She grinned when she caught sight of me. I couldn't help it, I smiled back. Then dad saw me smiling and I remembered how much I was supposed to hate him so my face dropped back into a frown. He pretended as if he didn't notice. 

"So what did you want?" I sulked.

Coral beamed at me. "Daddy bought us tickets to the One Direction concert!"

He looked at me, smiling. "I thought you could go. I heard it's fun."

I deadpanned. "What am I? Twelve?"

"No but your sister is," he replied, trying to reign in the anger in his voice. "I thought you'd like to take her. Their show is tomorrow night."

"I'm going to go pick out an outfit!" Coral exclaimed, jumping off the bench and running full speed out of the kitchen.

"Be careful Coral, don't drop your ice-cream and don't make any mess!" I yelled after her.

I turned back to dad who had a smile on his face. I narrowed my eyes. "Do you really think that's a good idea? Coral in an arena of screaming girls? She'll get trampled."

Dad sighed. "She'll be fine. Don't worry. Let her have some fun. You can't keep sheltering her."

"She has an intellectual disability, dad. She was bullied and she had no friends back home. I'll shelter her because no one else will. You think she's handy-dandy but she's not."

"I treat her like a normal kid and that makes her happy,” he retorted.

I knew he was right but I didn't want to give him the satisfaction so I stayed quiet. I've always protected Coral, ever since the doctors told us she was a slow developer and that she'd always be a few years behind and have difficulty learning. She needed protecting because girls out there could be cruel.

Dad peered at me. "I know you hate me and I understand that but sooner or later you're going to have to forgive me. It's been three years, Saffron. Even your mother has forgiven me. I’m trying to make it up to you."

"You ruined our family. I won't forgive you for that,” I said simply.

He sighed. "I'll leave the tickets on this bench tomorrow morning. I'll be working so call me if you need anything."

He waited for me to reply but I didn't so he went to find Coral to say bye before he went to work. 

Then he left and we didn't utter a word to each other. 

When I heard the door click shut, I raced upstairs to find Coral. She was in her room, an outfit laid out. "I'm ready!"

"You're going to look beautiful. Are you sure want to go tomorrow night?" I asked hesitantly. "I mean, it might not be the best idea, Coral."