Solitary Confinement

The Resolution

Come Saturday, my mother and Evan had planned a barbecue with the neighborhood and some close friends. I decided to invite Charlotte, of course. Two weeks passed since the whole "who is my real mother" debacle happened, and I didn't get the chance to see her after that. I'd wanted to let her know that I had come to terms with everything.

The sun brightly shined into my eyes as I held Emberly in my arms on our back patio. Yesterday, my mom and I went shopping and got Emberly and I the same sundress to wear for the special occasion today. Passerby's of the neighbors in our backyard quietly complimented us on our outfits with the occasional, "How cute!" and "Don't you two look adorable?" Pride filled my chest, causing a bright smile to make its way onto my face.

Looking at Emberly, I quietly spoke while tickling her sides, "You here that Ember? We look adorable. What do you think?"

In response to me, she babbled and giggled while twirling my hair around her fingers. Reflecting on the emotions that I had gone through a few weeks ago, I couldn't fathom how I ever thought about leaving her. I couldn't imagine a life without a smiling Emberly.

Across the yard, my eyes locked with Charlotte's. She seemed to be studying Ember and I, watching the two of us interact. She and my mom exchanged a few whispered words before she made a move in my direction. A gentle smile dressed her face while she walked towards us.

"Matching dresses, huh? That your idea?" Charlotte smirked at me.

"I guess I just finally took up the shopping spree offer from my mom," I replied to her obvious teasing.

"It's crazy how everything has changed in such a short period of time. You look like a completely different person; happier."

Nodding with a smile resting upon my face, I replied, "I am happy." I looked towards Emberly, noticing the drool that fell below her lips and down her chin. Glancing around, I took notice of my mother and Evan standing next to one of our neighbors. They're faces were broken out into smiles while they laughed and conversed. I looked back at Charlotte, and spoke once more. "Things seem to finally be falling into place."

"Charlotte, darling," my mother shouted from across the yard, but walking in our direction, "Could you take a picture of all four of us?" she asked her, pointing to Ember and I with Evan attached to her hip.

"Of course. I'd love to." Charlotte grabbed the digital camera from my mother's hands and directed us all next to one another on our patio. We all lined up, arms around each other. My mom looked towards me while she gave my hip a gentle squeeze, smiling the whole time. Her cheery disposition didn't weird me out anymore, but made me feel a sense of security and identity. Even through everything that happened, I don't hold a grudge against her anymore. I've come to the conclusion that she did what she had to do to not only keep me alive, but also keep herself alive. That in itself was enough for me.

"On the count of three! One, two, three."

A final flash went off as the camera processed the four of us. Gesturing towards the camera, I grabbed it from Charlotte's hands, wanting to see how it turned out.

There we were, a small, but seemingly happy family. I looked at myself, up and down, with Ember on my hip. No longer had I looked to be this pessimistic girl I once was. I'd looked happy, content, at peace. Finally, I had no longer been alone. I not only had found myself along the way, but I also found a family.