"Love Battles"

Chap. 1 'Death, Moving, and Goodbyes'

(Roe's POV)

My brush glided across the canvas releasing the added colors forming a beautiful beginning. The colors bloomed a picture of feelings and escape.
I didn't know what I was painting at the moment I just let my hand do as it pleased. I lifted my brush and swished  it in the blue cup that held my rinse water into it. I then dipped the tip of the brush into a different paint.
I took the brush and smeared it onto the canvas adding other features to the painting.
I removed the brush and looked at it tilting my head slightly.
My eyes locked at what seemed to be a dark angel.
The black paint soaked into the canvas showing the depressed human sit sadly against the wall with wings like an eagle.
The wings reached across the canvas spreading out its glory and hope.
The halo was tilted on the humans head. Expressing differences and imperfections.
"Rosemary!" A voice yelled coming from outside my room. I placed my paint brush into the rinse water and hollered,
"Yeah"
My mother's face appeared from the door and looked down to her feet.
"What's wrong?" I questioned.
She didn't answer at first instead she just bit down on her bottom lip slightly and nervous like.
"Um" her voice replied chocking back,
"Hunny I got some news"
Her face was pale and her eyes were red and bolgy, you could clearly see that she had been recently crying.
The snot from her nose was visible as she sniffled.
"Oh uh okay?"
My face was questioning and my heart was pounding out of my chest.
I could feel the nerve wracking beat.
She put her arm out to my bed in a
'sit down' gesture.
I did as offered and rested my body onto the soft cushion as did she.
I sat straight up and locked my eyes with hers focusing on every word that was about to drain from her soft and smooth lips.
She finally spoke, "Papaw just died.."
It didn't quit register as to what she had said at first. Once it finally did it hit me like a wrecking ball.
My heart sank to my feet; my lips turned dry.
I held my tears back trying not to show them to her. I didn't want to make thing worse on her, instead I just nodded and looked down at my purple bed sheets.
We both sat in complete dark silence.
   My papaw and I were really close until we moved away two years ago and now I'm 17. This news struck me harder because of our past.
"That's not the only thing sweetie"
She added taking her fragile hand and brushing my hair behind my ear.
I looked up at her locking eyes again.
"I need you to pack up your bags because we're leaving to go to visit and comfort grandma for awhile, okay?"
I nodded my head at her statement as she brushed my hair from my forehead and kissed it.
She stood up and started for the door. Without looking back she left my room. As soon as she shut my door the tears began to roll down my cheek.
I pulled my body back and rested myself onto the bed laying down.
I placed my hands over my eyes and began to to silently sob hoping I was unheard.
I'm not exactly a big fan of crying in front of people including family.
My stomach twisted in pain as the tears kept draining from my eyes. I lifted my arm and whipped my runny nose with the sleeve of my shirt.
I rolled my body over facing the wall.
I looked at the white paint then suddenly closed my eyes in sorrow.
I sniffed my nose avoiding a runny nose, then let out a small whimper.
My whole body felt like a 10 ton anchor had just crushed it.
My mind began to drift from reality as I slowly shut down.
My brain turned off as my body rested in a fast sleep.

        As I awoke the day was still young. The light was shining a bright gleaming golden shade through my window into my face. I rolled over removing the light from my crusty eyes.
I noticed a brown leather suitcase sitting against my wall towards my door. My mind flicked as I was reminded I needed to pack.
I pulled myself upwards and rubbed my puffy eyes. I could feel the crusty eye sleepis around my eyes although I had only been sleeping for a short period of time.
I lifted myself up and started for my door. As I opened it I made eye to eye with Andrew, my brother.
"Finally your up!" He announced surprised.
"I've only been out for a few hours."
I added.
Andrew wasn't as shooken up as I was because wether he liked hearing it or not he is a grandma's boy.
I was always with papaw; He was my best friend.
I turned my body from Andrews direction and started down the hall.
As I made my way down stairs I slide my hand down the curvy rail. My eyes were stuck on the line of family photos that made their way down the steps on the wall. 
The pictures were mostly beach photos with mom, Andrew, his wife Kiera and their baby Jacky.
A cough came from the kitchen drawing in my attention.
As I finished down the steps I noticed mom sitting at the table with a glass of water and her palms over her eyes.
"How ya feeling?" I asked not quite sure as to what to say.
She shook her head then took a breath,
"Not good."
Her voice was fluttered full of emptyness , sadness and pain.
I couldn't help but pity her sorrow. Her face was unpleased and sucked out of reality.
I lifted my arm and slowly began to rub her back, back and forth showing her my comfort.
My hand slid towards her shoulder pulling her into a hug.
"I love you" my voice spoke in a comforting tone.
"I love you too"
My head laid on her shoulder as did hers on mine. After a few minutes she pulled away and spoke,
"You should probably go pack."
I nodded.
I turned my body and headed for up stairs. Once I made it back into my room I grabbed the brown suitcase that rested against my wall. I dragged the suitcase towards my dresser and unzipped it. I opened the dresser and started rummaging through it trying to pick out what was needed.
I pulled out a silky grey crop top blouse with a dream catcher on it. I set the blouse to the side because I decided I was going to wear it tomorrow. I began to grab a handful of shirts, unsure as to which ones they we're, and fit them in the suitcase.
After words I grabbed a good bit of my leggings and jeans, and added them into the case after that it was all my underwear, bras, and socks then I felt completed. I kept a pair of light blue pair of high wasted cut off boyfriend jean shorts out and put them with my blouse.
Once it was time to zip up the suitcase I had some troubles. I pushed the clothes down into the case hoping and praying it would then zip. I put solo effort into closing it. I pushed with all my force at the same time I pulled the zipper around half way making unusual groaning noises.
After five minutes of unsuccessful zipping my bedroom door opened and Andrews face appeared.
"Are you in need of some help?"
He laughed.
I let out a little chuckle and nodded my head.
He walked towards me then bent down. His arms straightened out as his hands were placed onto the case. He pushed down as I zipped and before we knew it....It zipped!
As I released my hand from the zipper I layed back against my dresser and sighed in success.
"Thanks" I said happily.
He replied in a sarcastic joking voice.
"Ohh It was nothing"
We both slightly laughed.
"Is Kiera and Jacky coming?" I questioned.
"Well yeah" he added "Their at home packing right now as we speak."
"Ahh"
I looked to the carpet and bit my bottom lip then looked back up and spoke truthfully,
"I wish we never moved away from papaw."
His face turned a white shade as he nodded in agreement.
We stood in awkward silence until Andrew finally said,
"I better go check on mom."
"Okay."
He turned away and left my room not shutting the door, which simi annoyed me.
I moved my suitcase over some and grabbed the blouse and jean shorts I had setting out for tomorrow. I set them on top of the suitcase and then stood up. I started for my closet and reached inside for my pink string throw under armor book bag, and turned towards my makeup stand and tossed it onto it.
Suddenly my phone buzzed, distracting me from packing.
I walked over to my vanity, in which my phone rested on, and picked it up.
The bright screen lit up and read,