First Love (David & Liza)

Chapter 42

May 14th, 2016 / Saturday

A cold shiver runs through my almost numb body, making me unable to move a muscle nor react in any way. I feel small and insignificant like a mot on a library shelf as I stare with eyes wide open and lips slightly parted at the heinous picture before me. They are both standing right in front of me holding hands, their fingers laced up together in a tight grip while their eyes filled with hatred and disgust are drilling a hole in between my eyes. I force my mouth to move, to say something, but the words are stuck somewhere deep down my throat. Two eerily smirks appear on both their faces as they advert their eyes from me and look at each other before smashing their lips in a passionate kiss. All that manages to come out of my mouth in this very moment is a long and loud shriek.

"Liza, wake up! It's over! It's just a nightmare, sweetie! Calm down!" My eyes shoot open and I realize that someone is hugging me tightly. The scent of strawberries and vanilla invades my nostrils even more as I wrap my arms around my mother's body. It takes me a few minutes to collect myself before I manage to say something. I've had the same nightmare almost every night for the last five months, so I think my parents are already very used to all the screaming and crying by now.

"I... I'm sorry, mom!" I stutter, pulling away from her to wipe the tears, streaming down my cheeks.

"Don't be sorry. You can't control your subconscious even if you want to." She tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "I hate to tell you this, but we're leaving in a minute. Your father is outside with the luggage waiting for the cab. Are you sure you're going to be alright?" My mother asks with a worried tone in her voice, stroking my cheek.

"Mom, I told you the last two thousand times you asked me that, I'll be fine. Don't worry! I have tons of homeworks to do and if I have any spare time I'll be hanging out with Chase." 

"You've been spending so much time with him lately. Are you two..." My loud gasp interrupts her and she gives me a wide smile, like she's already knowing what I'm going to say to her.

"Oh, God! No, mom! We're just friends!" I raise my voice a little and get up from the bed, covering my eyes with my hand while vigorously shaking my head. Seriously, even the thought of being involved with another person in a romantic relationship is making me gag. I bet that in 50 years I'm going to be one of those mean old ladies that never got the chance to marry someone and end up living with 19 cats in a big smelly house. All of the neighbors will hate me and their children will be scared to even look at my face. Ah, all those kitties though!

"Well, you know you have to start from somewhere. Your dad and I were just friends at the beginning, but look us now. We've been married for almost 25 years and now we have a beautiful, smart and kind daughter." She makes a small pause as she also gets up, stepping towards me and putting her hands on my shoulders. "I like him. He seems like a good boy and maybe you should give him a chance. Living in the past is not good and healthy. It's just torturing yourself with "maybe-s" and "what if-s". I know it's hard, but it doesn't hurt to try." We hear a loud honk from outside and she sighs, placing a finger under my chin to lift my head up, so I can look her in the eyes. "I have to go, but I promise we'll be back before prom. And perhaps you and I may go shopping for a dress if you want to, of course?" Her eyebrows are raised up in expectation.

"I don't know if I even want to go to prom, but if I do you better clear your schedule, because finding the perfect dress isn't as easy as it sounds." I smile at her instant wide grin and pull her for a hug. "I'll miss you, mom!" I mutter, my face buried in the few strands of hair on her shoulder.

"Be safe and have fun. We'll call you as soon as the plane lands. I love you, sweetie!" She quickly kisses my forehead and rushes outside to the cab my father's already in.