A Spark of Love

Unexpected

When I get home, Mom's car is still gone and Dad's is in the driveway. I really didn't want to come home and find that he too was gone and the thought had definitely crossed my mind.

I look around the house and Dad isn't around. I head upstairs and his door is still closed. My phone chirps as I walk down the hall, so I head into my room and throw my tired body down on the bed. I grab my phone and see that I have a text from Kevin.

K: Hey, hru?

What do I even say to a question like this? I want to be mad at him for being weird and not really paying attention to me at his party. Is it worth it? Did he even notice? I decided to not mention it right now. There's too many other going on right now.

Me: I'm alright, hru?

K: Good. just started packing a few hours ago.

Right. Of course. I forgot that the football team wanted him there next week. Something about summer practice. My heart sinks. We talked about it a few weeks ago and we had decided he would come back on the weekends to visit me and his mom.

I don't even want to respond. I just want this all to go away. It won't though. I know that, but a girl can dream. My phone chirps to signal another text from Kevin.

K: Sorry I didn't think about that text before I sent it.

Me: It's alright, it's not your fault.

It's not alright, but the second part of my text was the truth. It's my own fault that I didn't get into State.

I hear my dad's door open and then close again and I jump off my bed, tossing my phone on the pillow and I open my door. My dad stops and looks at me. His head hung and his eyes full of sadness and tears.

"Dad?"

I wrap my arms around him and he starts to cry again. I was so wrapped up in my own drama that I didn't even pause to think about what he might be feeling and thinking about Mom. He clearly knows something about the whole situation that I don't and so far he hasn't been able to share it with me.

"Let's go downstairs. We need to talk."

I nod and follow him into the living room. We sit on opposite sides of the couch and turn towards each other. I want to be strong for him, but tears start to flow from my eyes before he even opens his mouth.

"Your mother... she has left us...and she isn't coming back."

Based on her odd behavior this week, I could've guessed that. I just don't think I wanted to admit that to myself.

We sat there in silence. The tension builds to an unbearable point. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and get ready to say something. He beats me to it.

"She met someone."

Word Count:509