A Stone Turned Soft

Chapter 2

As Zoe scrolled through the internet, a website about adoption caught her attention. Her mom, Chloe's grandma, had been urging her for quite some time to consider becoming a foster parent. And now, since today was Chloe's birthday, she figured there was no better time to consider it. Ever since Benny passed, Zoe felt worried about her daughter. She used to be so lively in the house - always talking with her brother, always getting along with people around her. But now, she seemed quiet and secluded. As her mother and a former teenage girl herself, she could sense that her daughter had much to say, she just never said it. She knew she was smart and she had beautiful things to contribute to society, she just never had an outlet to do so. Maybe - just maybe - becoming a foster parent to somebody would allow her to open up just like she did with Benny. Oh, but what are the odds of that? It could also cause her to do the opposite and close off even more. There were still so many things to consider.

As she pondered what to do, Zoe heard the door unlock and she immediately closed the laptop. She didn't want anyone knowing. Not yet. She turned her head and saw Chloe coming back from a run.

"Hey, Lo. Happy birthday! Do you feel any older yet?"

"I'm only 17. That's not a big year. Next year will be the big one."

"Noted. It seems like only yesterday you, Ben, and Anthony were playing in the backyard making mud birthday cakes for each other."

"Oh gosh! Don't even remind me of that. I remember you coming home from the store and seeing 3 toddlers in their underwear, covered from head to toe in mud. That babysitter never came over again. We were disgusting!"

"You weren't the one who had to wash everything."

"Oh! Speaking of wash, I'm gonna hit the showers."

"Okay. Then breakfast afterwards."

"Yes. I'm starving. French toast right?"

"As always."

"Sweetness. Alright. I'm really disgusting right now so I'll see you in a bit," she called as she ran up the stars.

As she washed up, she couldn't help but feel a pull at her stomach at the mention of her brother's name. He would have cringed at the memory as well. Had it really been only 2 years since he passed? It seemed like an eternity. She missed him. She missed his laugh, his smile, his voice; but the thing she missed most was their conversations. Oh, the things she would give to get a chance to talk with him again! To hear his voice, to feel his hug! Her heart ached as she thought on those endless conversations and countless sleepless nights where they would just talk about the most random things. Since his passing, she had not had another conversation like the ones she had with her brother. How could she? Her best friend and the only one she talked to was gone and he wasn't coming back. She couldn't trust anyone with her emotions anymore. When Benny died, so did a part of her - the part the was willing to share her innermost feelings.

It's not like she wanted to keep everything in. She really (really) wanted to tell people how she felt. But what's the point if they're just going to eventually stab you in the back and leave you when you need them most? When Benny died, he took her emotions with him to the grave, and that left an emptiness inside her that seemed like it could never be filled again.

Later that day, Chloe's grandmother came over to celebrate her birthday. After singing "Happy Birthday," the family sat around the television to watch a slideshow Anthony made for her. As they reminisced, Zoe got up to clear the dishes. Her mom followed quickly after to help, holding a pile of plates. "Be careful with that, mom," she cautioned

"Oh hush. I'm fine."

"You heard what the doctor said. You're not supposed to carry heavy things or it'll put a strain on your heart," she warned, "Let me help."