Seven Summers Ago

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

            I wake up to the sound of someone knocking on my door.  I look up and see Nate sleeping peacefully above me.

"Who is it?" I yell.

"It's dad."

            Oh shit, I shake Nate until I see a small slit of blue of his eyes.  I point to the door and mouth 'my dad wants to come in.' He gets a panicked expression on his face as I motion for him to hide in the closet.  He jumps out of bed, grabs his clothes, and sprints to the closet.  I quietly close the door behind him.

"Come in," I say, smoothing my bed sheets.

"Hey kiddo," he says, walking over to me.

            He envelopes me in a hug.

"How was the trip?"

"It was fun," I say.

"And how was your date last night?"

"It was amazing," I smile.

            I then remember all the letters I never received and my face hardens.

"What's wrong sweetie?"

"Nate says he sent me letters..."

            My dad's face changes from worried to scared.  His eyes widen and he starts fidgeting with his shirt buttons.

"Jess..." he starts.

"No dad, don't lie to me," I say a little too harshly.

            Pain crosses his face.

"You were just so depressed I didn't want to make it worse, so I hid them.  I didn't want you to have to relive that night."

"You had no right to do that dad!  It should have been my choice!"

            I am standing up yelling at him.  He keeps shrinking away into the sheets on my bed.

"I'm sorry Jessica," he cowardly whispers.

"Things could have been so different.  I wouldn't have been afraid to come back if I would have been able to hear what he had to say.  I wouldn't have had to live in fear of parties and drunk people; I would have had a normal social life!"

"Jess..."

            I silence him with one look.

"Please, just leave," I whisper.

            I can tell I have hurt him but I don't care.  He had no right to hide my letters and I don't think I will ever forgive him for this.

            He slowly stands and walks toward the door.  I stomp after him and slam the door in his face.  My dad and I have never fought like this and as I slammed the door in his I felt a tinge of regret for what I said but I quickly shake it off.

            I hear my closet door open and in a split second Nate's arms are wrapped around me.

"Are you okay?" he whispers into my ear.

            I didn't realize I have been crying until now.  I wipe away my tears and turn towards him.

"I'm fine," I sigh as he wraps he arms tighter around me.

            In that moment I realized what I was going to do.  I break away from Nate and walk over to my desk.

"What are you doing?" he asks, confused.