Waiting For Superman

In The Way Of Love

“This sucks,” Glenn mumbled as he flipped through his case files. Kara sighed and stared at her laptop. “We have to crack this case soon, or Matthew’s cover could be blown,” Kara groaned. Glenn glanced up at the clock and said,” We better get going. Alice made dinner tonight.”

“It’s weird how you call your mum by her first name,” Kara pointed out as she began packing up her things. Glenn shrugged and said, “She wanted it.” As they climbed into Glenn’s car, his phone began ringing and he looked at the caller ID before sighing.

“Yes Alice, we’re on the way home,” Glenn said as he put the phone on speakerphone and started the engine. “You’re working later and later,” Alice chided. “The food’s getting cold.” Kara rolled her eyes and stared out the window as Glenn pulled out of the car park.

“I already told you we’re on the way back,” Glenn said with a sigh. “It must be that Kara,” Alice said snidely. “You’ve been staying late in the office ever since she came into the picture. I knew she wasn’t a good person.”

Glenn felt Kara tense up beside him and hung up. “You know she doesn’t mean it,” he said softly, looking over at her as he stopped at a red light. “Sometimes it’s hard to believe that she doesn’t mean it,” Kara whispered, feeling the tears well up in her eyes.

“She hates me so much. She looks down on me and never gives me the chance to explain myself or my past,” Kara said quietly. Glenn mulled over her words and after a while said, “That’s quite true unfortunately. Have you actually tried explaining yourself to her?”

“She never gives me the chance,” Kara sighed. “Do it over dinner tonight,” Glenn said encouragingly. “I’ll be there to support you, and it’s better to settle it sooner rather than later.” Kara nodded and turned back to looking out of the window, her heart pounding.

She never told Glenn, but she had tried explaining herself to Alice once. Glenn had been sent to the supermarket with a grocery list and Kara was sitting on her bed with a book when Alice barged in, once again accusing Kara of many things. The harder Kara tried to make Alice understand her situation, the more Alice hated her.

As they pulled up to the house, Glenn turned to Kara and said, “You feeling better?” Kara shrugged her shoulders and got out of the car, only to find Alice at the door, poised for attack.

“You shouldn’t make Glenn stay in the office so late Kara,” Alice huffed, her arms crossed on her chest. “It wasn’t my idea Alice. Glenn just wanted to finish up some work before leaving,” Kara said monotonously as she stepped past the bitter woman.

As they sat down to dinner, Glenn piled up Kara’s plate with food but stopped when he saw Alice staring at him. “What’s wrong Alice?” he asked. “I don’t know why you bother giving her so much food when she doesn’t even eat,” Alice said contemptuously.

“Who says I don’t eat Alice?” Kara shot back, her voice shaking. “Are we gonna do this again?” Alice said with a sigh as she turned to Kara.  “Honey, you and I both know you still have that silly eating disorder of yours. You and I also both know some small part of you is depressed. No point lying to yourself Kara.”

Glenn looked up at his mother in shock and said, “Alice, you’re being ridiculous. You know Kara is getting better.” “No, let her carry on Glenn. Don’t you see it? She thinks I’m a waste of space, don’t you Alice?” Kara said, tears streaming down her face.

“Come on Kara, she never said that,” Glenn said, rolling his eyes. “You’re just being overly dramatic this time.” Kara turned to look at Glenn, her eyes bearing holes in his.

“Overly dramatic? You think I’m overreacting?” Kara whispered. “You were the one who promised to help me make everything better. You were the one who promised to keep me safe from anyone like Johnny. You said you’d help me get through it, and I trusted you. Do you have any idea how tiring it is to be living with someone who’s constantly picking on you and criticizing you? Alice isn’t helping me get better, she’s making things worse.”

“Kara-” Glenn said but got cut off by Kara. “She makes me question my self-worth Glenn. Every time she says I eat too much, do you have any idea how much it hurts the little bit of self-esteem I have?  I’m still sick with all the disorders because of her. Because of her harsh words,” Kara said hoarsely, crying.

“I’m so sorry,” Glenn said, reaching out a hand to her. “Sorry? Whatever for?” Alice asked incredulously. “This isn’t your fault Glenn.” Kara stepped away from Glenn and said, “I’m sorry, but I just can’t do this anymore. You have to choose one of us Glenn. I really hate to be the one to ask you to choose between your girlfriend or your mother, but I just can’t do this anymore.”

Glenn’s eyes flickered from his Kara’s face, to his mother’s, a sense of impending doom dawning on him. “I love you Kara, but I just can’t-” he said after a while, but Kara held up her hand.

“It’s fine, I get it. You love your mum,” Kara said sadly with a small smile. “It’s fine, I can stay with Sharon.” She climbed up the stairs to their room, and heard Glenn follow after her.

“Kara, I’m really sorry,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “It’s fine,” Kara said with a shrug. “I’ll just bunk in with Sharon. I’m sure she won’t mind.” She started grabbing a few things and throwing them into a bad when Glenn stopped her.

“Kara, we can’t put this off,” he said gently, sitting down on the bed and pulling her down next to him. “What does this mean for us? As a couple?” Kara looked over at him and gave him a small smile. “I always thought this day would come, just not this early on in the relationship,” she said.

They both sat in silence for a while before Glenn said, “You know I love you right Kara? More than I’ve ever loved anyone before.” “I know you do Glenn, and you know I love you too. It’s just that… this thing with your mum doesn’t seem to be working out,” Kara said gently.

Glenn sighed and said, “Well, what happens now?” “I think… we should take a break for a while,” Kara said slowly, looking over at Glenn. Glenn froze and said, “A break?”

“I really love you Glenn, but I just need some time to think everything through,” Kara said pleadingly. Glenn looked at her and said, “You know what, I get it. You just need a little space.” Kara gave him a grateful watery smile and said, “Thanks Glenn.”

As she walked out of the room, Glenn felt tears well up in his eyes. The door opened and Kara slipped back in and pecked Glenn on the forehead. “I love you,” she whispered, before closing the door behind her. “I love you too,” Glenn whispered to an empty room, letting the empty feeling in his heart take over him as the tears slipped down his face.