The Stranger I Met

The Next Step

I look around my room once more  before zipping my bag close, to not leave behind anything important. My eyes stop on my reflection in the mirror. Standing in front of the mirror in a grey peacoat and brown boots, I look a lot like my mother, the one I grew up with not the woman who opened the door of my house for me.

I sigh thinking about how it had all gone down an hour earlier.

" I thought you'd come." She says as soon as she opens the door.  She turns around and I follow her into the house. " Well, this is my house." I shoot back. She pulls out a dining chair and sits down. " I'm guessing your lover saved you." She says after giving me a once over.

" His name is Jason, and yes, I do love him." I reply and turn towards the stairs that lead to my room. " Love?" She says from behind me." Aren't you exaggerating it a bit, sweetheart?" My ears perk up at her term of endearment and anger flares through me. I whip my head around to face her.

" What the hell do you know about love. You've never experienced it in your whole life, moreover hurt the people who actually did love you. Dad, me and what about Tristen? At least care a little about the guy who has worshipped you more than his own mother. Do you even know where he is?" I throw at her, making her scowl. She stands up from her chair and faces me, supporting her back on the edge of the table.

" Trust me when I say this, you are never going to find love, I've made sure of it." She starts and crosses her arms. " Your father was stupid in letting me raise you. He never thought it through, but I did. I've raised you Aurora and it is in your blood, in your subconscious to run away from a perfect life." She starts walking towards me and stops a few feet away.

" So even if you think that this Jason you love is going to give you a happy ever after, think again cause I didn't brought you up to aim for that life." She brings a finger in the middle of my chest and presses hard." Whenever your heart will start melting for someone, your head will make you run for the hills, cause you are my daughter, Aurora, and I've made sure you never get what was taken away from me."

She holds my face gently and gives me a menacing smirk before kissing my forehead. " I've prepared you to create your own little hell wherever you go, sweetheart." She winks at me and turns around to go sit back but I catch her wrist and jerk her back to look at me. Before she can balance herself, I do what I've wanted to for so long. I slap her. Hard. And it echoes throughout the room.

She holds her cheek and looks up at me with wide eyes, even I'm shocked at my boldness but I don't let it show. " You pathetic, despicable selfish old bitch." I shout at her not knowing where all of it is coming from. " You've hurt many because they let you, but not anymore. You don't get to tell me about me or about my relationships. I'm nothing like you cause yours is not the only blood that runs through me. I am like my father and I know it. I'm not self centered or an evil sadist like you, I'm compassionate and empathetic like him and I'm warning you to stay away from me and my family or I swear to god you're going to face the same fate as Tristen." This time I walk towards her and lower my tone when I say the next sentence.

" And trust me when I say this, nobody's going to care when you go missing." With that I finally turn around to go to my room upstairs.

Picking the duffle, I adjust my coat and and walk towards the door, the folder in my right hand weighing heavier than ever. No problem, I'll be getting rid of it soon. I turn around to give the room a last look. Everything looks pristine and untouched, almost new. My clothes have already been transferred to Jason's house. I shut the door and walk down, the boots echoing on the stairs.

I find my mom sitting in the same chair with a cup of coffee. I place the folder on the table. " These are the papers of this house. Dad had made them in my name, but I don't want it." She doesn't answer and blows at her coffee." Here, these are yours now." I say and push the folder towards here. She stops midsip for a second but continues. " You did bring me up, no matter how, and this is my gratitude." I say.