Green-Eyed | Violentine

Part Twenty-Seven | Goodbye My Love

3:56 pm

Clementine: Got to stay here late for a seminar, I'll catch up with you after university, I love you. X

Violet stares at the text as she looks up and down the empty corridors for her girlfriend. The message was sent over three hours ago but because Violet's been stuck in back to back classes, she's only just had the chance to read it. It's now just before 4 pm, Clementine is probably in her last seminar for the day. Violet slings her bag over her shoulder as she heads away from the main body of the building and towards the carpark.

Louis has already gone home so Violet settles for walking back towards her trailer, popping her headphones in her ears before making her way up the road. She sends a text to Clementine but given that the brunette is in a seminar, she doesn't expect a reply. The roads are busy at this time in the afternoon and Violet slips through the throngs of people in silence as she makes her way home.

As she nears the trailer park she slows when she hears shouting coming from the middle of the mobile homes. Old men and women balancing babies on their hips look over their porches to the confrontation unravelling within the park. Violet stands still as she recognises the sound of her mother's exasperated cries and her father's drunken yells. She holds her breath and feels rooted to the spot, unsure of what to do next.

The cries suddenly die down and Violet spots her father weaving his way through the trailers, head down clutching two bottles of beer in his hand. Violet quickly moves to get out of his line of sight but he spots her and heads her way. Violet screws her eyes shut and wishes that she could disappear at this moment. In front of families standing around outside their trailers, her father grabs Violet's collar and leans his head down, so the father and daughter are face to face. He reeks of alcohol.

"You're testing my limits Violet," he snarls, someone behind her coughs and her father drops his tight grasp on Violet's shirt. He gives her one final look before swearing and storming off towards the entrance of the park. Violet calms her erratic breathing before smoothing down her shirt and heading towards her trailer.

As she steps inside she becomes aware of her mother leaning against the kitchen sink sobbing lightly, "mom?" Violet says as she tentatively steps into the mobile home. Her mother exhales and wipes her eyes before turning around and addressing her daughter.

"Hello sweetheart," she says as she tries to hide her puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks from her daughter.

"Is everything okay?" asks Violet even though it's clear it isn't. Her mother forces a smile and clears her throat.

"You're fathers just a little annoyed that your girlfriend came over uninvited."

Violet scrunches up her face in confusion, she's aware that Clementine had a two-hour free period today but did she go to Violet's home? Why? And why didn't she tell Violet she'd be doing that? Especially when Clementine knows about her father's aggression.

"Did you see her?" Violet asks as she tries to piece together the puzzle.

"Yes, she's... um very forward, I'm glad you're happy Vi but I didn't expect you to end up with someone like her. She seemed to be purposefully trying to irritate your father, and you know what he's like."

Violet feels anger begin to bubble beneath her skin. She balls her hands into fists at her side as she drops her bag filled with university books and papers to the floor.

"What colour was her hair?" Violet asks as she tries to calm her breathing.

Mrs Adlon looks at Violet with a confused look on her face, "Violet, what are you talking about, she's your girlfriend, you know what colour her hair is." Violet can tell that her mother is getting frustrated. Almost as frustrated as Violet feels herself.