Cancer

Day 5

Levi

Day 5: lovely lani

we got back home yesterday. I asked my doctor to not tell my mom about what happened yesterday. all she knows is my back started to hurt. they told her not too worry and that it was normal. so she let it go.

my mom still seemed a little upset with me.

she wants me to stop talking to Violet.

I don't think that's possible.

I look to my left and see Violet, sitting beside me in my backyard, watching my little sister play in the garden.

my mom isn't home at the moment, and dad's watching sports on the couch. "you kids okay out there?" I hear him shout from the living room. he doesn't know Violet is here, she kinda snuck in.

"yeah dad, we're fine."

"so what happened to you?" Violet says to me.

"what do you mean?" I stare at her with confusion written all over my face.

"you were at the hospital, I came by and your mom-"

"oh yeah, im fine. nothing to worry about. I uh," I try to think of something. "i passed out and my mom sort of freaked and called 911. nothing serious. im fine." I give her a small smile, hoping she can't hear the panic in my voice.

"okay, Levi." she says, bringing her knees up to her chin and rests her head there.

"Levi! look! a butterfly!" Lani yells from the patch of pink tulips, pointing into the air with one hand as a beautiful, sky blue butterfly flies by. and in the other hand she holds a tulip. "Violet did you see that!?" Lani says running over towards us.

"yeah, that butterfly was almost as beautiful as you, Lani." Violet says as she smiles hard at Lani. my sisters face mirrors hers.

"i got this for you." she says to Violet, as she gives her the flower.

"for me? thank you, no ones ever picked me a flower. I shall cherish this tulip forever." she smilies playfully, making Lani giggle.

I smile at them.  they are both so beautiful.

******

my mom came in the house later with groceries. Violet was still here.

but I didn't panic.

I stayed calm.

"mom, dad. this is my friend Violet." I say, a little worried about what they might say. but then I breath in and out to calm myself. "she'll be staying for dinner."

Violet looks at me with wide eyes. and she clears her throat and says "only if that's okay with you guys."

"no it's fine. I would love to get to know my sons new friend." my mother  says. im surprised at her. I thought she didn't like Violet. but if she's willing to get to know her then that's fine with me.

but somewhere in the back of my mind I could tell this dinner would be a disaster.

******

"dad is Violet living with us now?" Lani asks at the dinner table.

we all sat at the rectangular table. my dad sat at the head of the table. Lani on his left, me on the right, Violet next to me. my mom would sit across from Violet, but she was in the kitchen.

"no honey, she's just eating with us." my dad responds to her.

"awe, I want her to stay. can she come back tomorrow? Violet, can you come back tomorrow, pleeeaasseee?" Lani folds her hands and pokes her lip out into a pout.

just as she says this, my mom walks out, carrying a pan of salmon.

"only if im welcomed back here." Violet replies.

"of coruse you are welcome here, Violet." my dad says. "your a good friend of Levis, we wanna keep you close."

I internally face palm, but im  glad my dad likes her.

"she's also my friend." Lani says.

"well she was my friend first." I say.

"well.." she stops to think. "she likes me better than you." she huffs and sticks her tongue out at me.

"where are your table manners, Lani!" my mom comments.

"sorry, mommy." Lani says sadly, looking down into her lap.

"its okay Lani, I do like you more." Violet says, smiling playfully.

"ha! I knew it!"

"okay okay. that's enough." my dad says, laughing a bit. "lets eat."

"its pan seared salmon with avocado remoulade." my mom speaks, reaching for the knife to cut the salmon.

Violet just stares at her plate.

whats wrong with her?

"are you alright, VIolet?" my mom asks.

"yeah, ive just never had anything that looks this good. it looks delicious. ive never had salmon before either." she says, looking at the dish.

"its good, I promise." I said and waited for her to take a bite.

"yeah, Violet its really, really, super good!" Lani says, her month full, salmon flying out.

"Lani!" my mom snaps.

******

dinner wasn't a disaster as I thought. nothing went wrong.

Violet loved the food, Lani loved Violet, so did my dad, and I think mom liked her too.

sometimes she's hard to read.

Violet left.

we stood on the porch and she hugged me, making my heart beat so hard I was afraid she would feel it against her chest.

she kissed Lani on her forehead, took the tulip from earlier, and got into her buggy. we both watched her drive away.

"Levi?" I hear Lani call while i stood still, looking out into the darkness of the night.

"yes, Lani?"

"I really like her."

"me too."