Departure

Indiana

I haven't talked to Alivia in days. She is distant and sad. Whenever I try to talk to her she turns away and locks herself in her bedroom. I feel like this is my fault. That somehow I caused this to happen.

Luna Rose isn't in our house anymore. America is taking care of her for a few days. I call her every night and every night she gets more and more disappointed when her mom doesn't come wish her goodnight.

Slowly I am getting more frustrated by Alivia. I understand that something is bothering her but she still has responsibility as Luna Rose's mother. If she isn't going to talk to me she should at least say goodnight to her kid.

With Alivia walking around our house like a zombie I feel so lonely. I haven't really had any human interaction in about a week and a half.

I really don't know what to do. Should I get Alivia a therapist maybe? I feel like I've burned out. All I want is for Alivia to tell me what she needs to be happy again. When I walked downstairs Alivia was sitting at the table.

"Indiana I need to talk to you."

I burst into a grin and ran over to her, I was overjoyed that she was talking to me. I took a seat right next to her and waited patiently to hear her talk to me again.

"I've been thinking about it for a while,"

"Yes." I smiled.

"I want you to move out for a while."

At that moment my heart broke.

"What why?" I stammered as I begged to know why she would do this to me.

"This obviously isn't working and I want to see how I would do by myself."

"No, it would work if you let it but you are refusing to talk to me when I try so hard to take care of this family."

"Oh you try hard?" She scoffs.

"Alivia don't you act all high and mighty. When was the last time you did anything for this family?"

"I-" She stammered.

"Exactly. You haven't been there. Who takes Luna Rose everywhere? Who makes her food when she's hungry? Who goes out of their way to make sure she is happy? Me! So don't act like you are the one taking care of this family."

"Get out." She said unhesitantly.

"Where would I live Livia? Last time I checked this is my house too. It has been my home for the past five years."

"This isn't my concern."

"Oh but it is. By the way you have been acting for the past couple of weeks you've made it clear you don't want to care for your daughter but I know you still love her you are just being selfish. So if Luna Rose doesn't live with you she will live with me and if I am out on the streets then your only daughter is on the streets as well."

"I can take care of Luna Rose. I just don't want to see your face again."

"I don't want you to take care of my daughter!"

"Fine, go stay with America. I don't care but I am seeing my daughter Indiana!"

"No you aren't! I don't want you anywhere near her."

"Why?!"

"BECAUSE YOU ARE TOXIC!" I screamed.

"What?"

"Alivia you are toxic. You spent the last two weeks moping and whenever I tried to help you, you pushed me away. When your daughter wanted to be with you, you pushed her away too. I have tried to be patient with you but you refuse to be patient with your family. It's become clear to me that you don't want anything to do with me so I won't see you anymore. However that includes your daughter. So call me if your mindset changes because we will forgive you because that's what families do."

"You think that I will beg for your forgiveness like some dog? Then I believe that you are sorrowfully mistaken."

"We will see Alivia." I answered as I walked upstairs to pack my bag.

------

As I walked the brisk streets of Sun Ridge City I began to feel tears well up in my eyes. Perhaps I was too harsh on Alivia. I should have just swallowed my anger like I have always done and just waited for her to talk to me but now I am standing at America's Highrise with a suitcase and no wife.

At least I have my daughter. Speaking of my daughter, I have no idea how to explain this to my six year old little girl. Hopefully Alivia and I can sort through everything before we have to explain to Luna Rose why her parents aren't living together anymore. I felt a pit in my stomach at the thought of having to explain.

When I buzzed America's apartment she let me up immediately. When I got to the apartment I felt miserable. America could see that so she took my suitcase into a guest room where Luna Rose was sleeping and I flopped onto the couch.

I didn't ever want to get up. I just wanted to sink into this couch and forget my troubles. When America walked back into the room she got two glasses and whisky. She sat next to me and offered me a glass. I took it and she poured the drink into the cup.

When I took the first sip I recoiled a little. I wasn't prepared for the taste because I hadn't drank alcohol in about five years. Alivia didn't like it when I did so I stopped. Now this seemed like an act of rebellion against her and I liked it. I took another sip and smiled.

Before long I had emptied three and poured myself a fourth. When I was bringing it up to my lips America stopped me by putting her hand on mine.

"Take it easy on the whisky my friend." She laughed as she drank her own.

I ignored her warning and downed it all in one gulp. America laughed and shook her head.

"It's almost like being back in the library huh?" America giggled.

It took me a little bit to remember what she was talking about. Years ago, back when I was 17, America and I would steal all her mom's whisky and drank it in the history section of the library. We would get so drunk it was quite funny. I could always take more whisky than America because I was quite a lot taller than her. One day when America got really drunk she began reading, or at least trying to read the history books.

After struggling with that for a while she made me read them because my vision was clearer than hers. And soon our Whisky in the library turned into history in the library with a couple sips of alcohol.

And that's when America decided she would drop her medic courses and become a historian. So if it wasn't for our alcoholism America probably would have been a doctor and not the leader of a colony.

"I do remember that actually." I laughed.

"Wow that was quite a long time ago wasn't it?"

"It was back when I was like 17 or something so I guess it was a while ago."

I was reaching to pour myself another glass when America took the whisky out of my hands and capped it.

"What!" I protested.

"We are working tomorrow and you aren't going to be hungover." America put the bottle up high.

When I turned to get up I was suddenly face to face with Eden and he jumped and made a silent little gasp.

"Oh," I sighed, "hey Eden. I was just going to sleep."

Eden nodded and walked over to his mom where he pulled her shirt slightly to get her attention. I decided that America was probably right and I should go to bed but I didn't want to because I feel like it would be strange to sleep in the bed alone. I sighed and realized I had to do it sometime.

When I got into the bedroom Luna Rose was sleeping on the Queen sized mattress and I then realized I didn't have to sleep alone. I climbed into bed next to Luna Rose and cuddled her close to me.

I soon fell asleep to the rhythmic sound of her soft breathing.