Romance Monsters

Before.

The booming knock on my door at three A.M. still rings in my sleep sometimes. The red and blue lights illuminated my room and instantly gave me the motivation to jump up. I'll never forget how quickly I was out of bed and down the stairs.

My stomach dropped.

I felt like I was moving so slowly. It was an eternity before I unbolted and opened the door.

I swung the door open to two officers on my porch. Their hats in their hands and they were obviously trying their hardest to keep their faces neutral.

"Excuse me," One began, "Is this the home of Theresa Jones?"

My mother. She wasn't ever here anymore, i didn't even know what to say.

"Uh... um... yes?" I stuttered.

What did she do? Was she going to be arrested? Was I outing her?

"But she's not here," I interjected quickly.

"We know," The other said, "Is there um, are there any other adults around with you?"

"No," I said shortly. "It's just me and my mom."

"Okay. Well, we don't know how to tell you this but, there's been an accident with Theresa."

I felt like I didn't absorb anything else that they told me.

My mother was reckless these days. She was out until three, four, even five in the morning most nights. She quit her job and was living off money that wasn't hers.

I wasn't too entirely shocked about this.

Driving at ninety six miles an hour in a thirty five would be deadly in any sense. But, my mom ran a stop sign and smashed into another car that didn't even see her coming.

She killed a young man with a future.

I didn't go to identify her body. I called my uncle Theo as soon as I got the news.

He was the one who flew out the first chance he got to come to help me.

He identified her body. He wouldn't give me the details, but she was dead on impact.

He made sure I knew that he was here for me now. That he was going to be the one to take care of me.

He helped save me from the life that my mom ruined for me.

I was so grateful to be able to escape.

To be someone new.

To finally be myself.

So here's to a new me, i think.