The Land Split by Sea

Coffee

I couldn't stop smiling.

And it was because of Scott, because he made me feel something I hadn't felt in a long time, hope, as corny as it sounds. He made me feel like maybe I didn't have to just survive in this world, I could live, actually live, and be happy. Like there was something greater and better hidden beneath the thick layer of an undeniable mediocre existence.

Something worthwhile.

I could see myself being happy. I wanted to be happy, and I was willing to try. I was willing to remove a few stones from the wall I had built up years ago. I was willing to let the light in.

And I was ready, I thought.

_________________________________________

My sister had arrived home later that evening to find that I had cooked her dinner. And dessert.

She was skeptical as to what my intentions were, as me cooking was a rarity, but I assured her it was nothing, that I was just in a good mood.

As we sat on the couch munching on peanut butter cookies after dinner we watched Pretty Woman, which was on the tele. I could feel her eyes on me throughout most of it, watching me, assessing my mood. It wasn't a surprise when she asked me what the hell had gotten into me.

"What? Nothing!" I replied exasperatedly, chewing on my bottom lip.

She sighed, nudging my shoulder in disbelief, "I don't believe you," she said, "Something's different, I can tell. Something happened, what happened? I'm your sister, you should tell me. I want to be here for you. Will you tell me, please? Are you okay?"

She was rambling. That's what she did when she was curious... and desperate for answers. I laughed at her, amused at the way her eyebrows knit together with concern and confusion before turning to frustration.

"What's so funny?" she demanded, shoving me further against the couch. I shook my head, holding back tears of laughter. I don't know why I found it so funny, maybe it was the situation, and the mildness of it that I found to be amusing. That she was making a big deal out of it when it was quite the opposite.

"Why do you think there's something wrong with me?" I tried to ask her with a serious tone, but it came out through spits of laughter.

"Because you wont stop laughing and you've been in a good mood all night! And you're typically not this happy! I know you Mitch, your mood doesn't change for no reason."

I sighed, shifting into a comfier position on the fairly lumpy couch. Evan was right, she could read me like an open book and I couldn't hide anything from her. I don't know why I wanted to hide it from her, maybe I just wanted her to believe that I could be happy just for the sake of it, so she wouldn't worry about me anymore. But she knew me too well, and she was too observational to have missed my sudden change of mood.

"It's really nothing," I started with, biting the inside of my cheek. She rested her head on the back of the couch, looking at me with concern in her eyes, "I was knocked on my ass earlier today."

She grinned, asking me jokingly, "And that put you in a good mood? I don't buy it."

I chuckled, sticking my tongue out at her, "No, queen, but the person that knocked me over was hot as hell. That's what put me in a good mood."

Evan let out a shrill of laughter, "I should've known! I can't believe I expected it to be something more. Wow, maybe I don't know you as well as I thought," she grinned, "So, who was it? Did you get his name?"