It Started With A Kiss

Seperating and Connecting

The smell of bacon and eggs comes wafting through my door. Mum cooking breakfast that isn't normal. I try to open my door without it creaking.

"Jenna?" Shit she's heard me.

"Yes Mum?"

"Come set the table were having a proper breakfast this morning just the three of us."

"Where's Brad?"

"Ughhh he's umm, he won't be home till tonight. When your father gets back from the shops where going to have a talk."

What about this time? Brad in trouble? Financial problems? My grades? This is all really strange Mum cooking, setting the table usually mum uses her magazine as a place mat. She's even polished the cutlery. Something's up.

I hear Dad's car pull up in the drive way. Shit.

Awkward silence as we sit at the table. Mum's got egg on her boob and Dad's gnawing as his overcooked toast.Just as I pick up my fork Mum starts...

"Now Jenna, your father and I have something we want to tell you. As you may know things haven't been the same lately and your Dad and I haven't been as close as usual. And we don't seem to connect as much as we used to.

Dad starts. "We have been arguing a lot for a while now and we think it's best for you and Brad that your mother and I get a divorce."

I speechless. I run to my room slamming the door so hard my window cracks a little. Just another thing Mum and Dad will yell at me for later. I know because I can fell the breeze as I am curled up on my bed. The cool wind is making my tears feel like ice against my red hot face. This is just one more crack....

I call Brad. Stuff Mum and Dad I'm telling him now.

"What?!"

"Did you know Mum and Dad are getting a divorce?"

"Yeah known for ages now, gotta go."

You can clearly see my brother doesn't show a lot of emotion. And he has quite the mouth on him. I leave the house and go for walk. Doesn't matter because I'm already in so much shit from Mum and Dad anyway. I've got on an old hoodie, my pyjama shorts and some converse. Classy. I really don't care what other people think. I pull the hood over my hair to hide the fact I haven't washed it in a few days.

I see Jack standing over by the corner shop. He looks pretty wrecked. I slowly walk over hoping he won't have a go at me. He doesn't even recognise me.

"Heeeeeeyyyyyy."

His slurring his words and his eyes are bloodshot I can tell he is stoned.

"Let me walk you home Jack"

"How do you know my name?"

"I'm psychic"

"Ooooohhh"

As we walk to Jack's he tells me a lot about his life. Like how his Dad abused him as a child and now hid Dad is living thousands of kilometres away with his new wife and children. I feel really sorry for him. I really shouldn't have judged him before I knew him. I am a hypocrite. I hate people judging me yet I have gone and done the same. I'm ashamed of myself. I ask Jack for advice on getting through a parents divorce.

He says "You gotta go on with life, and don't make bad choices just because your parents did. It's hard but you just have to push through it.

We reach Jack's house. It's a small house with a fallen picket fence and some overgrown weeds. I help him up the front steps. We stand at the door just looking at each other.

"Thank you for walking me home"

"Good bye Jack"

"Good bye stranger."