Behind Closed Doors...

Diarys Days

My jaw dropped as I saw mom staring hard at me while clenching my diary. It felt like she had all my life squeezed tightly in her hand and it couldn't wriggle free. I started pacing towards mom to snatch back my personal property back when she opened her mouth,
"Stop right there."

I hesitated but something inside myself made me stop, even though I wanted to yell at her.

"So you keep a diary!" Mom stated matter of factly, "You never told me. You see, I thought it would be nice and friendly gesture if I did u laundry for you today when I came across this stuffed in the bottom of your washing box."

She held the diary up and stared right into me. I knew it's was very unlikely but I just hoped and prayed she hadn't read a single thing from that diary.

"I didn't want to be rude but I thought I would just read a page or two."

Great.

"And what I read was not at all what I expected."

Why was this happening?!

"Ethel darling, if you had told me you still felt alone at night and afraid when the door is shut behind you,I would have helped you. I never experienced what happened to you and to be honest I had a feeling something was going on. You don't talk to me anymore. But I at least thought you were happy now you were at home and had stopped those counselling sessions."

Oh yeah. Counselling. Didn't benefit me in any way. Some old women explaining 'feelings'. Yeah, that helped loads! Not.

"Me and your father want to help you and we clearly can't help you if you are stuck her in New York. You don't seem happy here."

Erm... where on earth is she going with this.

"So while you were at school we had a word with your Grandma."

The women I was named after who thinks I act like a spoilt brat. Wonder what you had to say to her about me. She's never really taken an interest on me or Taylor. We just get $50 from her every year on our birthdays.

"We decided you will be going to Austria for a while."

What just happened...
"Austria? But that's like in Europe! Why are we going there? And why is Grandame involved, she lives in England!"

"Ethel, I'm not going, just you are. Your Grandma has agreed to pay for you to attend the best boarding school in Europe for the next 9 months. It will give you a chance to make new friends and forget the past. A new start, to make you happy again," mom looked worn out after all that but I just stared at her, barely able to think.

"But what about Kaly? And Taylor... And you and dad! How will being with a bunch of strangers help me out?"

"Ethel it's a great opportunity for you to become happy and you'll make new friends and have a great education at the same time. The decision has been made and I'm sorry but it's not up for discussing. You leave tomorrow morning; you need to pack. Get in the car, we're going home."

I felt like my world had been destroyed. I wouldn't be able to see my friends or family in 9 months. I'd just feel more alone than ever in a foreign country...