They spent some more time sitting together, not really talking any more, it was rare for them to have a peaceful quiet moment when it was just the two of them. But when Sara came home from school, Stevie wanted to talk to her right away, Lindsey disagreed. They didn't know anything, they thought and assumed things. We want her to talk to us, not shut us away, he said and she agreed reluctantly.
Stevie waited for as long as she could and when she got Lindsey to drive down to the store for something she didn't need at all, she went up the stairs and to Sara's room. She sighed, seeing things hadn't changed a bit. There was her girl on the bed, turned towards the window with her headphones on. She approached the end of the bed and made herself known.
Sara smiled wryly and waved, pushing the pause button. "Hey."
"What are you listening to?" Stevie sat down, already thinking of ways how to start.
"The Doors."
"I've raised you right."
"What else am I going to listen to? Besides, you're my mother better known as the Queen of Rock and Roll, I can't embarrass you."
"You would never embarrass me, bab... Sara." She quickly corrected herself once Sara looked at her with warning eyes.
"Is there something you wanted to say to me?"
"You're such a bright girl, Sara. You're beautiful, wise beyond your years... But I can't help but notice some changes in your behaviour lately. You've got me a little worried."
"I'm fine."
"That's my line."
"Mom, I swear, I'm ok."
"Then why are you always here, you barely talk to me or your dad anymore. This is not how I remember my girl."
"I..." Sara looked away, but she felt Stevie's hand grasp hers and she faced her mother again. "There are things going through my head..."
"Someone said she was fine?"
"I am! I think." She shrugged. "I'm just... You know my worst fear is disappointing you and dad."
"Have you done something for us to feel that?" Sara refused to look at her. “Come on, baby, I know you have something on your mind.” Stevie smiled softly at her so she wasn't so nervous.
“Yeah, you’re right.” She nodded. “You’re always right, mom.”
“What is it?”
“I'm glad dad is not home, I didn't dare to approach you with him around.”
“Whatever it is, sweetheart. I will love you no matter what.” Stevie said, encouraging not only her daughter, but herself too.
“I want to ask you about your past…”
“Well… I was ought to know this day would come.” She swallowed uneasily, boy, was there to tell her teenage daughter.
“But I want you to be open with me.”
“Of course. Although I do feel like our roles have slightly changed, I very much feel the daughter now. Don’t grow up, baby, never grow up.”
“I’m seventeen, you’re sixty five, I have about fourty five more years at least of not growing up!”
Stevie thought how Sara seemed to be so much older to her than she actually was. “Where do we begin?”
“I… I don’t know how but my friends seem to know more about your past than I do sometimes… just, some of those assholes call you names occasionally that aren’t nice on any woman.”
