Perfectly Imperfect

chapter 40 - right by your side

"kids! dinner's ready!" aunt jaelene yelled

i got up from the bed, and walked downstairs with jeric and james behind me.

as i walked into the kitchen, i find katty sitting down on a high chair next to another girl, about her age i believe. i think her name is callie.

i smiled at them and took a seat next to my mom.

jeric took a seat next to me, while jeric sat in front of me, and his mom sat next to him.

we all began eating our dinner in silence. i couldn't really eat my dinner because i'm not hungry, and this silence is killing me!

"is there something wrong with the dinner lexi?" aunt jaelene asked

i looked up and shook my head. "no. nothing is wrong. i'm just not hungry" i said

"alright. well you could wrap that up with foil and just place it in the fridge so you can eat it whenever you'd like" she told me

i nodded and stood up, as i stood up. i grabbed my plate as well.

i found the foil on one of the cabinets, and wrapped my dinner.

when i was done, i placed it into the fridge.

i sat back down with them.

"you still haven't told me what happened layla" aunt jaelene said and stared at my mom

"uh.... um... w-w-" before my mom could say anything else, i disturbed her because she seemed like she's having a difficult time speaking

"it's okay mom. i'll tell her" i said as i placed my hand on her shoulder, and smiled at her

i sighed and began to speak. "i bet you're all wondering where's my dad, am i right?" i asked them, and they all nodded

"well... as i was looking for him, i saw him talking to this guy. i started walking towards him, but then out of no where he collapsed. later that day, he was in the hospital having surgery. but the surgery failed. my father died from a heart attack" i said and kept my gaze at the table cloth

i felt something wet hit my hand, and i i hadn't noticed, but i was crying.

i wiped it away and looked up to see my mother, aunt jaelene crying, james just looking blankly down at his plate,
jeric had tears in eyes, but nothing was commif out, katty and callie had scared looks in their face because they didn't know what was going on.

"i am so sorry layla" aunt jaelene apologized ti my mom while she was wiping her tears

"it's alright. it wasn't your fault" my mom replied as she sniffled

"it wasn't anybody's fault" i added

*******

"i'm sorry about your dad. he was an awesome uncle" jeric said as he sat next to me on the bed

"it's alright. no one is to be blamed for his death" i said and sent him a weak smile

"what's going to happen to you and your family?" he asked me

"honestly... i don't know" i said and sighed

"well i know you're strong. you'll get through it. and i'll be there right by your side when you do" jeric said and hugged me

"good night lexi" he said as he got off the bed and smiled at me

i smiled back at him. "good night jeric" i replied before closing my eyes and falling asleep instantly