The Craft: Rebirth

3. Bonnie

Bonnie Harper sat on her bedroom balcony. Taking hits from a cigarette, she listened on as her husband's drunken ramblings inside their bedroom quietened. The silence following the smash of something, most likely their bedside lamp, signaled that he'd finally fallen asleep. 

She rubbed the end of the cigarette on her ashtray and walked back into their room. Her husband, Matthew, lay sprawled on top of their bed in a drunken stupor. As she predicted, the bedside lamp was shattered near the bathroom door. 'I just bought that fucking thing..' She thought as she cut her eyes at her unconscious husband. 

A quick knock sounded at the door. "It's okay you can come in, he's asleep," Bonnie spoke walking over to the door and pulling it open. Her daughter, Melody, stood at the door in her pajamas, a long oversized sweater with pants, with evident bags under her eyes. "I texted you like thirty minutes ago, Mom." She eyed her father on the bed and shook her head. "I heard a crash and thought something bad had happened." 

Bonnie's eyes drifted over to her phone in the far corner of the room, the screen shattered in a spiderweb pattern. Matthew had taken it and smashed it against the wall but not before she could get a call out to Rochelle. "Looks like I'll finally be getting a new one. Let's just try to get some sleep okay? We're leaving in the morning."

She wrapped her arm around Melody and together they walked back to her room. They climbed the stairs up to the third level of the home where Melody's room was. "Pack a big suitcase okay? We're going to stay at Aunt Ro's for a little while." Bonnie told her as they entered the room. Melody nodded already used to the routine.

Bonnie sniffed, recognizing the smell of smoke, and instantly turned towards a lit candle in the corner of the room on top of Melody's desk. "What have I told you about candles in the house Melody?" She licked her thumb and pointer finger and put the flame out. "Sorry I was reading," Melody told her as Bonnie moved the now extinguished candle into the trash can. "This isn't the 1800s you don't have to read by candlelight, that's what you have a lamp for. I keep telling you I don't want any open flames unattended in this house." Melody flinched at her mother's harsh words.

Bonnie's expression softened. She knew she was overreacting but she hated the idea of a single spark setting fire to the house. She would be damned if what happened to her ever happened to Melody.

"I'm sorry you know I hate fire. What book were you reading?" Melody picked up the half-open novel from her bed. She bookmarked her page and closed it, showing her the front cover. 

Bonnie couldn't help but chuckle at the irony as she read the title: A Discovery of Witches.

"Nice choice. But get to sleep, it's past your bedtime." Bonnie pulled the comforter on top of her daughter, tucking her in. "But it's Friday!" Melody whined. "And tomorrow is Saturday and Sunday comes afterward, now go to bed missy." Melody heaved an over-dramatic sigh and closed her book, placing it on the shelf with the many others she had. "Happy?" She asked sarcastically, falling backward onto her bed. "Very. Now goodnight." Bonnie gave her a kiss on the forehead and walked to the door. 

She stopped before exiting, hand resting on the door frame. "Melody I'm-" She stopped, her hand resting on the doorknob. "Mom, I know. It's okay." Melody stopped her, already knowing what she was about to say. Bonnie smiled. Melody was always so intuitive.

"Goodnight. I love you. Make sure you lock the door." Melody nodded.

Bonnie closed the door, making sure she heard the lock click before walking away. Arriving back in her bedroom, she couldn't help but look at her husband in disgust. She picked up her pack of cigarettes and lit another one, staring at the entire scene before her.