The Missing Gem

27 | Sometimes You Just Gotta Let Go

Nicole

Amelia and George Thompson were far worse than what I had expected. 

When Lucas warned me about them, when we talked and he told me that they weren't as supportive as my own parents were and that they were very old fashioned, I felt like I was prepared for anything but never to hear my boyfriend's parents say to him that he shouldn't even bother to speak to them again. 

Long story short, as we were getting everything ready to go back to London (and after two nights of me and Lucas sleeping in separate rooms), Mr. and Mrs. Thompson called their son into their living room to speak to him privately. 

I'm not one to eavesdrop on conversations, let alone specifically private ones, but I was walking down the stairs with my suitcase that I was meant to take to the car, where Melanie and Lexi were already waiting for Lucas and me, and couldn't simply ignore the words I heard. 

The walls of this house were decorated with a very old, yellow wallpaper with small humidity stains that proved its longevity. Somehow, right now, those brown stains were all my eyes could focus on as my brain focused on deciphering how a mother and a father could say such mean words to their own son. 

"Your father and I talked, and from the moment you step foot out of this house, you shouldn't bother talking to us again. Or come see us."

What made my heart shatter into a million pieces was the hurt palpable in Lucas' voice. "What do you mean?"

This time, it was his father who spoke. "We don't agree with you going to America to do God knows what. You were born here, you belong here. You know what our position is regarding that little adventure of yours. We disapprove."

"I'm twenty eight years old. I don't need your approval."

"We understand that. But it is our right not to want you to go waste your life on drawing silly creatures for children's movies. It's not the life we envisioned for our son. It's... ridiculous."

Now I'm starting to think my aunt Ruth and these two could really form a perfect trio.

"And we do not support this, any of this, in any way. And we wish not to speak to you or see you after you walk out that front door."

"Are you being serious?" Disbelief. Hurt. Innocence. Shock. Sadness. I could notice all the hints of that mix up of feelings in Lucas' voice.

How could they do this?

"If- no, when you fail out there and need to come back to London or even Bristol, you can let us know. We'll be there for you with arms wide open, like always. But this?  We just don't agree with your decision."

"Like always? That's funny." A dry chuckle came out of Lucas' mouth. "When have you supported me? Ever?"

This was becoming painful for me to hear but it was too late to back out now, it was too late to move away and pretend like I hadn't heard those words crashing down on Lucas and tearing him apart.

"We've always supported you. You could do something valuable with your life; you could be working as an architect, have a steady life, steady job. That's what your father and I have worked so hard to raise you and your sister to be." 

I wanted to go out there. I wanted to move my feet, face his parents and tell them a couple of things to shut them up. They had no right to talk to him like that, nor anyone for that matter. Yet, my feet were glued to the ground. I couldn't move, it wasn't my place to say anything, this was between them only and I shouldn't mettle in any more than I already did.