Right in Between

The Aftermath

We stayed like that, crying in each others arms, for quite a bit. Time seems to slow down when you can finally get your feelings out. 

I sniffled quietly, and pulled out of my mom's arms so I could look right at her face. First, her expression was unreadible.

Then, she smiled. Fresh tears made her eyes shimmer and sparkle in the moon's soft, yellow-white light.

"He's gone-really gone!" Mom quivered and her smiled wavered as she told me this.

"Dad?" I whispered, trying to put on a brave face. My eyes began to shimmer, too.

"Yes, but don't worry, Alyissa. We'll be fine."  Mom's face tightend as she squeezed my hand that had wandered into hers.

I had stopped crying by now, but my face was still wet. "What about Nathan, and Suzie, and Patrick..." I looked down at my flowered bedspread. Normaly neon, the colors seemed pale when I looked at them. 

"They'll be a little shocked at the news, but that's all!" Mom's smiled became a grin, and she pretened not to have a care in the world.

But I knew what she was thinking. What would happen if Daddy got posetion of Suzie, or Nathan, or Patrick?

What if he got ownership of me?

Fresh tears watered in my eyes, and I blinked forcefully, trying not to cry.

"Let's go downstairs and have something to eat, ok?" Mom asked gently.

"Sure." I replied, jumping of my bed and hurrying down the stairs. Right now, I just wanted to get away from my room, the place where I see, hear, and understand it all. I felt that I needed  to escape to where my mind would be clear. I yearned to go to a place where fathers and mothers would stay together, anbd sadness wouldn't exist.

I wanted ot go to a place where my heart would be whole.