The Bad Boy's Heartbreaker

Twenty-three//Love makes you do crazy things

My mother was beautiful. She always looked radiant and her hazel eyes determined, ready for anything that comes in her way. Not only did she marry a successful businessman, she too, was successful herself. She went to Stanford and became an editor and an author. Though, she never published any of her works for the world to enjoy. She was liked by everyone around her for her kindness and hard work. I adored her all throughout my life and wished I would grow up to be just like her. Just as beautiful, just as successful and just as kind.

But the moment I discovered what she did to my father, it felt like her beauty was wiped away in a blink of an eye. She looks the same, same hair, same eyes, and buttoned nose. But I can't seem to look at her the same way I did when I was little.

She broke him.

She turned his life around and built a new life of her own as if her life with dad never happened. Like Will and I never existed.

I never understood why she did that, I still don't understand and I don't think I ever will. Dad loved her so much he would risk his life on it, and she knew it. He showed his affection every single possible way he can. I remember every Tuesday they would have a date night, and every single week my dad would knock on their bedroom door as she was getting ready, to give her a bouquet of flowers.

Everyone was a witness to their love and happiness, but why did she leave?

"A penny for your thoughts?" Dad says across from me at the dining table.

"I think it's worth more than that, Dad." I take a spoonful of the mashed potatoes.

"What were you thinking anyway?" He asks again, "you seem very out of it."

I take a deep breath, not sure on how he will respond to my answer. "I was thinking about Mom."

Saying the word Mom feels so foreign to me now since I've only said it less than five times in the span of almost five years.

His face hardens and the grip on his fork harder it looks like it might break. "What about her?"

"I don't understand, Dad." I start, "you did everything to make her happy and you loved her with all of your heart. But she left us, Dad, that was very cruel. She broke your heart, our hearts, and broke this family. But you still accept her."

He scrunches his eyebrows in confusion.

I explain, "The dinner, you gladly welcomed her back with open arms even after everything she has done."

He sighs and leans back in his seat. "Love makes you do crazy things, Madison. One day you will understand."

Before I can say my further arguments, he stands up from his seat and walks over to me."I need to check some emails. Are you okay alone?"

I nod and he rubs my shoulders. "Don't think about her, she didn't break this family. We don't need her after all." And with that, he leaves the dining room.

My father can't even say the word Mom or call her by her name.
———-
"I can't believe she thought I was gay."

I laugh at Marvin's absurd conversation opener. He places his food tray on the table, sitting across from me, beside Ally.

"What?" I chuckle.

"The lunch lady," he explains. "She told me that she thinks she found a perfect match for me. Being very desperate, I told her that I was intrigued. And then she proceeds to tell me that her son, I repeat, her son would be a perfect match for me."

Ally and I laugh even harder at his frustration.

"I... I mean... You can't really blame her." Ally says between chuckles.