Free™

Chapter XVIII

Zoe's POV

"Hi Zoe." 

I couldn't believe my luck. I was standing there, mouth agape, eyes wide like I just saw a ghost. Well, honestly, a ghost would be better now. Sitting very comfortably on our living room sofa was my one and only father. So he was the reason my mom was acting all weird.

When I didn't respond, he stood up to engulf me into a hug but I stepped back. 

"No! Don't you dare touch me. You can't just come back into our lives like nothing ever happened. Where were you when I needed a father. Where? I needed you Dad. Do you have any idea, how many nights I've spent crying myself to sleep because I was missing you? But how would you know? You abandoned your family when they needed you the most. So no Dad, No! you can't just come back and expect everything to be normal because I've lived without you and it's not that hard anymore." 

And with that, I rushed out. Tears flowing down my cheeks like a waterfall. 

"Zoe, wait. Just hear him out first." 

I heard my mom say, but too late. I was already out. I ran and ran. My feet kissing the ground. A little while ago I would've laughed at the mere thought of running this fast and far, but here I am. Guess life is unpredictable. 

My throat was parched by the time I came to my destined place. The park. I've loved the park. It has been my secret place for so long. Every time I was worried or stressed I came down here. I felt like a kid again. All my worries and sorrows slowly slipping away. I sat under the same tree. Watching kids play. My eyes were puffy and red. My hair a mess. I looked too creepy to be in a children's park, but hey!  who cares? No one ever gives a damn.

My mind was racing with many dark thoughts. My thoughts like little sharp needles slowly turning into bigger sharper daggers, piercing my head. A slight pain slowly forming from the side of my tummy and all of a sudden, I started feeling nauseous. In midst all the drama, I forgot to take my medicine. 

"Shit." 

I  mumbled under my breath. 

"Shit. Shit. Shit."

My misery and gloominess slowly subsiding into rage and frustration. I wanted to scream, all the wrecking balls inside my head. I wanted someone to listen. Tell me it's going to be okay and that they'll be with me no matter what.

"Zoe? Zoe! Hey, hey, hey. What's wrong? Is everything alright? Are you hurt? Why are you crying?"

 Liam, worriedly came to my side asking me all these questions.

"Do I look alright?" I spat clearly annoyed. 

Talk about being bipolar.

"Okay? someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today." He chuckled.

"I'm just going to sit here, right beside you in case you want to talk about it." 

He plopped on the ground, right beside me, watching the kids play. We sat in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying the soft, cool breeze. The pain in my tummy, bought me back to life. I looked at Liam and he was already staring. 

"Uhm, I'm hungry. All that crying and running is exhausting. Can we grab something to eat?" I asked slightly embarrassed of pushing him away first. 

"Oh yes, please. C'mon munchkin, I know just the place." 

He stood up, helping me get up too. He called me munchkin. Munchkin! My dad used to call me that. Shoving all the nasty thoughts aside, I trailed behind Liam as we went deeper into the park. I didn't ask where we were going, or how far the place is. I just wanted to eat.