Save Me - clifford (a.u.)

9.

A.N. Kinda short chapter just an intro to Michael's life.

Michael

"You should ask her out." Said the barista that Dani was talking to earlier.  She was washing the blender container.

"I know." I said walking out of the starbucks and into the chill October breeze.

                I thought about my mom as I usually did.  Especially on long days like today.  Ever since My dad left us, its been just me and Mom; through it all.  My mom never went to college, because my dad didn't want her to work after I was born.  She got pregnant with me  half way through senior year, got kicked out of her house, and went to live with Dad.  He and her were "high school sweet hearts" or some bullshit.  When he found out she was accidentally pregnant he took it really well.  And then told her that it was best that he got a part time job aside from college to help out with the baby and for her not to go to college so that she didn't work after I was born and they could save money at the same time.  Long story short, I turned 3 and he had an affair.  They weren't married or anything so no divorce fees, but my mom works her ass off for every meal she puts on the table, every pair of sock on my feet.  Everything.  After my jackass of a father left, he left nothing.  Mom worked day and night, left me with cheap babysitters or the neighbours.  Then, when I was 5 we sold the house we were living in and put the money towards buying a new apartment and some school clothes because I would be starting the next week.

                I'm not saying that after that everything went smoothly, but by the time I was 8, Mom and I had become a team.  I took the subway to and from school.  There were usually a few things in the fridge that I could whip into a dinner. Mom was just waitressing at that time, now she has a small management job at a furniture store in town.  We are living pretty well right now.  When Mom got her promotion and a pay raise last year, she bought me my very own phone.  Not just any phone; the newest iPhone.  I knew from growing up with money problems how much this costed and I wouldn't accept it. But she didn't take no as an answer.  She said that she didn't want our smaller wallet prevent me from not having things the other kids had. 

                I still wore things the neighbours gave me or things we bought from thrift shops and black markets, but it was nothing.  My mom has sacrificed so much for me and continues to.  Although she's not home as often as I wish and our fridge isn't always full and our house isn't all that great, It's perfect to me when I think of how much work it took to get us here.    

                I opened my door and to my surprise, I saw my mom holding a news paper and drinking a mug of tea.  Her dark brown hair with wisps of white coming out of her messy ponytail, and her hands looking fragile, as if the mug of tea she was supporting was going to shatter it into a million pieces.  She turned to look at me with her bright green eyes, my favourite trait I got from her, and she warmly smiled at me.  I couldn't help but smile  back at her and at the fact that she was home when I got home.   This is what it felt like to be happy.

"Hi love how was you day at school." She asked still smiling.

"It was great you know, it was school." I said dropping my backpack.

"Are you doing well in all of your classes?" She asked curiously.  It seemed like she was trying to get me to ask or say something.

"I guess... Mom what gives?" I asked.  She couldn't hold it in anymore.  She got up and hugged me excitedly.

"I got a new job." She said.  A new job as in a better job? I hugged her back.

"That's great mom. What is it?"  She smelt faintly of the perfume she always wore.  She pulled back.

"You know that really snotty store in town that sells the shoes and the hats?"

I shrugged.  There were so many stores in town like that.

She rolled her eyes. "The one across from that cute diner?"

I started getting flashbacks at that diner, when I accidentally bumped into Dani.  I nodded and smiled.

"It's a very nice store, my hours are shorter, they're still long but I'll be here before you leave and I'll be home around 11 every night.  How amazing is that?" She said pulling away but still grabbing onto the sleeves of my flannel.  She and I both wore a smile that wouldn't fade.

"That's great Mom, I'm so proud of you."  As I always was to call her my mother.