Chapter 17

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I woke up with puffy eyes this morning and tried to cover up my looks with as much makeup as possible. It doesn't work. I actually miss mom. It has been three days and she still hasn't turned up.

Dad is taking it well enough. He hasn't really expressed his worries outwardly, but I can read them in his features. He still loves her, I can tell.

When I walk into school after eating a slow breakfast and going out to coffee with Mark (who tries to tell me it's not my fault in any way possible), I walk into school and post as many of the posters in the halls as humanly possible.

Ironically, it was pollution that took my mother away from me.

I walk to my locker and I already hear people whispering as I take the shortest route to biology.

"Is that her?"

"You know that girl?"

"Apparently, her crazy mom was."

"Is it true?"

"Is she seriously gone?"

I didn't arrange to meet with Mark after school, but he knew where to find me.

My eyes are closed. I try to take deep breaths as I dig my toes deep into the sand and let my worries for my mother drift away to sea.

Nothing helps.

As I take a deep breath, I feel the sand next to me sink into the ground. I open my teary, puffy eyes and survey my intruder.

Mark smiles back at me. His eyes bore into me.

"You know, I can always tell when you're stressed. Because you end up here."

It's true. Anytime anything that changes anything comes up, this is where anybody in the world could find me. On our beach.

I lay my head on his shoulder and cry. He rubs my back, comforting me. Even if mom is gone, I will still have Mark. And Marlee. And dad.

When my sobs slow, I hear him slightly chuckle.

"Wh- What?" I stammer as I wipe my eyes on the back of my hand.

"Oh, you girls. Do you remember the first time I met you?"
"You mean the one where I passed out?" I weakly laugh at myself as I consider my problems then compared to now. It was so simple then.

"Well, it seems that any time we are on this beach, something bad happens. Maybe we need some good."

Yes, we do, I think to myself.  

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