Indelible

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* Chapter 4 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

"Happiness looks gorgeous on you."

It was mom. I heard more screaming at the door. I looked through the window and saw her. She looked... tired. Her nose was red.

"I need you, Savannah!" She banged on the door again and I jumped. Was she drunk? I watched silently. She sat on the doorstep and continued to talk. "Sav, please open the door. It's me, your mother. I saw you come back from school," she said in a slurred voice. More banging. I shivered and backed away, just in earshot. I couldn't move. I didn't know what to do.

"Do you not miss me, Savannah? Open the door for your lovely mother."

Ha. Lovely? LOVELY!?

「Flashback: "Savannah, why haven't you prepared your father's dinner? You are nine years old!"

"I-I was doing my homework..."

"That doesn't matter. You will become a housewife."

"What if I don't--"

"YOU BETTER GET STARTED ON DINNER RIGHT NOW!"

I flinched and rushed to the kitchen, taking out the frozen meatballs. When my father got home, the spaghetti was ready. I placed it on the table for him with a handkerchief and utensils. He thanked me and began to eat as I ate a sandwich my mother made earlier for me. 

"This is great! What a great cook you are, Sav--" my father was cut off by Mary.

"I've made it all myself, without Sav's help."

"But--" I started.

"What is it, Savannah?" Mary glared in my direction.

"Nothing."

"Did you need help with homework?" She asked, opening her eyes wide, signaling for me to say yes. So I did.

"Yes, mom."

"Come on then, let's go to your room."

I walked in with her, afraid of what she was going to do this time. She stepped in after me, grabbed the key to my room from her pocket and showed them to me.

"Wait-- mom!"

Too late. She locked me in the darkness of my room. I couldn't see where the light switch was. 

"Don't disobey me EVER again." 」

Yeah, she sure is lovely. 

"SAVANNAH! SAVANNAH!" 

I couldn't take it anymore and grabbed my phone, dialing 911.

I felt relieved when I heard the dispatcher pick up. "911, what's your emergency?"

"Um, someone is trespassing. I know her but... I think she's drunk and she's not supposed to be on our property," I whispered.

"Are you alone?"

"Yes. My dad's at work."

"Did you ask her to leave or speak to her at all?"

"No..."

"Do not open the door, someone will be there soon. I repeat, do not open the door."

"Yes, sir. Thank you."

The call ended and I continued to stare at the window. "You know, I'm trying to get your father to fall in love with me again. So I can have custody over you again. To teach you how to be a lady. A proper young lady. A good housewife. Even if you warn him, why would he believe you? You're absurd." I saw her open a flask and gulp down more of whatever she was drinking. Then she lay on the doorstep. Laughing at nothing. 

"I hate this facade I have to pull. But it's this or never seeing you again. Is your father home, Sav? I want to talk to you with complete transparency." What? I heard a car pull up and I looked outside. Thankfully, it was the police. I watched two armed cops walk up to Mary.

"Excuse me, Ma'am. Is this your home?"

"Yes," she burped and stared at them. "And she's my property."

"We seem to have a report that you have been trespassing."

"Me? Trespassing?"

"We need to see files proving that this is your property."

She burped and continued to drink.

"Ma'am. We need them right now or the real owner can press charges."

"Shuddup. I want to see my lovely daughter," her voice slurred again.

"You have custody over someone who lives here?"

"Yeaghh, my ex-husband moved here so I would--," she hiccuped. "Not see her at all. He's cruel." She laughed but without a smile on her face. I cringed. Why wouldn't she just shut up? She even showed them a file to prove it. After scanning it, one of them nodded.

"You can see your daughter, just not here, ma'am. Because this isn't your property. Would you like us to ask her to see you?"

"I mean, in a state," she paused. "I mean, in this state. I don't know if she should see me. But please ask. Savannie..."

The police looked at each other and shrugged. Mary was still now sitting at the doorstep. A policewoman rang the doorbell. "It's the police!"I sighed and opened the door, barely showing my face.

"Is she gone?" I whispered. One of the police officers pushed the door open so she could step inside. I stepped back and she closed the door.

"Your mother is outside. Technically she is trespassing, but she has custody over you, so she wants to talk to you. Could you two step off the property and have a chat?" I didn't want to cause a scene and explain how she treated me so I just complied and stepped out, away from our property. By the time I did, Mary was standing too. She stared at me and I stared at her. I was the first to look away. She looked tired, but I realized just how much we look alike.

"Savannah. You're all grown up." When I turned to look at her, she ran and embraced me in her arms. I hesitated but stood there, letting it happen.

"I've missed you, Sav."