Life for the imperfect

Life for the imperfect-chapter eleven

Zane's was my dojo. It was where I would go to vent out my frustration on the poor punching dummies.

Ever since the start of elementary, I've been doing karate. At first I'd learnt it because mum and dad decided it was important for someone like me; a know-it-all; to learn.

Then I started to like it, love it even. I loved the lessons so much, and showed so much 'potential' that Zane(who's three years older than me and goes to my school) decided to teach me how to work with weapons; swords, staffs, and bow and arrows, mainly.

Eventually, karate and the dojo became the place I would go to whenever I had a particularly bad day, or week. And today definitely qualified.

I showed up and Zane wasn't there so I helped myself to a dummy from the store cupboard and started destroying it.

I tried starting off using the old fighting routine Zane had taught me, but eventually my frustration was too much and I just hit the dummy over and over as hard as I could.

"Hey Clo, you right there?" I heard a voice behind me, full of concern.

I turned to see Zane come in.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I replied, but even I could hear my voice shake.

"What happened?" he asked, coming closer.

I eyes started tearing up and I quickly glanced away so he wouldn't see. I have this strange weakness for people questioning me when I'm upset that makes me cry. Suddenly, he stepped closer again and hugged me. I leaned into him automatically and started telling him everything.

90 minutes later

As I walked up to the door, my heart was pounding in my chest. I opened the door and stepped inside. After Zane's, I felt much braver and more reasonable than before.

"Chloe?" I heard mum call, in a voice that told me she'd been crying.

"Yeah, it's me. Look, mum..."

"I'm sorry." Mum interrupted me.

"What?" I asked, surprised.

"I'm.."

"Yeah I heard you, but why are you sorry? I'm the selfish one, I didn't consider your feelings. I only thought about myself and I'm so sorry."

"Oh, hun." mum ran up to me and hugged me. I wrapped my arms around her.

As much as I didn't want to ruin the moment, there was just one question I needed to ask, or else I might explode.

"Are you and dad getting divorced?" I asked, worriedly.

"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry, yes we are." mum whispered.

"Why?" I asked, knowing I was pushing her, but I still felt I had the right to know.

"He found someone else." Mum was almost crying.

"I love you mum, and the divorce won't change that." I smiled and untangled myself from her arms, I walked upstairs and collapsed on my bed, thoroughly exhausted from today.