The Light Side Of The Crystal

8. Parents

I pulled up the car in oh so familiar driveway. The engine died soon after, leaving me in the silence.

My eyes roamed to the two story house in front of me and instinctively stopped at one particular window on the top floor. Nostalgia filled me. I haven't been here in so long.

Gathering up courage, I made my way to the front door.

I looked at my skirt trying to smooth it out nervously, even though it didn't need to be smoothened.

I felt nervous and I didn't know why. Maybe it was because of the big change I had over the past month. Maybe I was a different person from the one that left the house. Maybe because now I can kick someone's ass, do spells and make clones.

And back then I was this shy girl with only a few friends, that in the end, they end up really shitty friends.

I made a step toward the door and I swear I felt like my heart was going to break free from my body. My hand rose and with last heavy sigh, I pushed the button.

A soft melody echoed through the entire house, making it know that I was outside.

For a second I panicked and actually considered running away. But then I had to mentally slap myself for thinking such things. They were my parents and they wouldn't know about my abilities and how much I had changed. The only change they would see would be my appearance.

Quiet steps were coming from the other side of the door. The sound of unlocking the door and my mother's figure standing in front of me. I smiled.

She looked like she aways does. Maybe a little bit older since the last time I saw her. Her brown hair was tightened up in a messy bun and her warm green eyes were looking at me with so much love. She must have missed me.
She was wearing her simple jeans with a T-shirt, that was hidden by the apron. Which immediately led me to the conclusion that she was cooking or baking something delicious.

"Oh, Val! You look so grown up" she gasped putting her hand over her mouth. I could see her eyes starting to water.

"Mom, don't cry please," I told her, pulling her for a hug.

"But you have changed so much! And you dyed your hair?" her hand softly held a single lock. Little did she know, it wasn't a hair dye. I nodded.

"I thought I might change it a little bit. Do you like it?"

"It brings out your eyes" she smiled softly and pushed me toward the kitchen.

The house from inside looked the same. Like the time had stopped. Everything was in the same place as the last time I saw it. I had a feeling that I didn't belong here anymore. Maybe I was right. That made me think of the first time I stepped into the House when Martin brought me. I felt home, I felt like I belonged even then.

Now that I was in my family home, filled with memories and old pictures of me as a child, I didn't feel home. I felt like a stranger.

I sat on the kitchen table and looked at the garden. Even the same swing set was still there. How it was still standing after all these years, it was beyond me.

"Where is dad?" I asked looking over to my mom, which was on full host mode and started to pour coffee and bringing up biscuits.

"He will be home shortly. He wouldn't miss seeing you" the smile on her face never faded. Then it hit me how much I missed her and my dad. I was the only child, so, me leaving the house to live on my own was very hard for them.

She placed a cup of steaming coffee in front of me and sat on the chair, facing me.

"So tell me are you still at that awful apartment?" I let out a laugh and shook my head.