SINcere.

Innocence.

A million trickles of rain water slide down the window pane. Smaller drops slowly run down and if lucky, they converge with other spots of water, creating wider and faster running lines of rain on the glass. This goes on for about an hour, and to me it appears like a competition of sorts- to see which drop slides down the window faster than the other.  

Lightning flashes into the bedroom, illuminating a white light onto my face and parts of the bed and the carpeted floor. Seconds after a terrifying thunder booms into the silent room and I hear dogs bark in fright. I jolt up right, startled. That took me by surprise, but as I focus on the window pane again, I notice that the competition has ended- no more running drops of water forming into wider spots. It can only mean one thing; it has stopped raining. The cloudy afternoon sky has ceased it's pouring.  

I jump up from our bed and head to the bathroom to wash up and change into more socially acceptable clothing for going to the supermarket-pyjamas just don't cut it, sadly. Thirty minutes later, I am back from the grocery store with three bags full of ingredients. I set them on the counter and begin pulling them out one by one. 

''Let's see we've got: lettuce, tomato, olives, onions and green peppers.'' I set those aside for the salad and reach into the other bag for the chicken breast and potatoes. The third grocery bag has a pack of lemon meringue pie; Eve's favorite dessert. I take out the knives and the pots from the drawers and cabinets- it's about to get serious. 

I know what you may be thinking, dad. Why does it seem like I'm about to cook? A long time ago I couldn't cook to save my life. But I had to learn, my girl forced me to take up classes with her. She said it was ''romantic'' and I reluctantly agreed. At that time we were at the stage of trying to impress each other romantically. I smile at the memory of our first lesson; we made a fool of ourselves. Eve and I made a great mess of things and we were kicked out. I found that more than hilarious, but obviously Eve was upset that day.  

I frown. My lips quickly turn upside down and a sad mood takes over my mind. I wash my hands and begin to prepare the late lunch for my girl who is out at some meeting with the lawyer and possibly her relatives. I almost cut my fingers off when I realize that she may be with her father right now. Chop, chop, and chop. That's the chicken breast being cut into tiny pieces. Her father's devious smile from that other night rests onto my retinas and I struggle to keep violent and psychopathic thoughts out of my mind. 

I grab the onions and tomatoes next and cut them up slowly. My mind drifts back to last week. For seven days now, Eve has been giving me the cold shoulder. She is mad about the incident with her father, at the restaurant. When she came back that night, I was awake, but I pretended to be asleep, because I wanted to avoid speaking with her. I was still furious and in disbelief, that she didn't trust me when I said that we needed to leave. Disappointment fills my chest at the way she snapped at me and didn't even give me a glance when the idiot of a waiter pulled me away. Maybe I did over react, but no, I was mad and I just wanted to protect her. 

The next morning we obviously had a confrontation and she scolded me the way a mother would to a burden of a child. Her eyes were clouded over with fatigue and disappointment. It hurt to know that even though I was trying to save her from her father, I was on the receiving end of such a hopeless look.  

She said, and I quote, ''Nick, that was so childish of you! Dad was just trying to be nice by inviting us to dinner.'' I instantly gave her the- are you stupid?-look. She ignored it and continued with more grit. ''I know that he can say really upsetting things sometimes, but you shouldn't have reacted like a buffoon!'' My patience began to break. ''I am aware that you are an impulsive person, but yesterday was the last straw. I don't want you ever doing that again...! Understood?''