Shattered

Chapter 6

"All our lives, we've been trapped like this correct?" Connor and I nod almost in synch with one another. "So it's our everyday life." Harmony struts around the room. The way she walks and talks at this moment makes her look like a teacher or professor. Her outgoing excitable side has suddenly turned serious. "Just like you, I started to wonder what it's like to live our lives. We all have our own motivation." She points to each of us. First, me. "You want a better life for your daughter, correct?" I nod as her finger moves in Connor's direction. "And you."

She stops and narrows her eyes almost suspiciously at him. I turn to Connor and he's clearly nervous about something. "I see," she continues, "to stop killing." He flinches as if suddenly slapped in the face with the harsh and unpleasant truth, but he nods nonetheless. "Good, keep those things in mind. It may get difficult." Her cheerful smile reappears almost too suddenly. "But we're doing this together!"

"Okay, but where do we even start?" She takes a deep breath as if she has the answer already in mind, but she freezes with her finger pointed at me. "Good question! I don't know yet." She smiles almost apologetically at us as I sigh. "Any suggestions?" Connor and I turn to one another in hopes of an answer but the room remains silent. "Okay then. I guess we'll just have to figure that out along the way." Connor and I glance at each other with concern. "Let's meet back here tomorrow. Same time. Maybe we can figure something out then."

*****

"Mommy!" I hear Willow's voice call out to me before the door is even open. The first thing I see is my mom's face though. "Brooke." She smiles at me before I bend down to embrace her. "Hi, mom." Dad walks in from around the corner as mom pulls away. "Come in! I'll pour you something to drink." I step inside and smile as Willow rushes towards me and wraps her tiny arms around my thighs. "Hi, baby! Did you have fun?" I scoop her up into my arms and walk into the kitchen. "Yeah! I helped make dinner."

"Oh! Did you learn anything!" She beams and rapidly nods with excitement. "Yeah, but I don't remember." Her smile remains there as everyone laughs. "I guess I'll have to drill it into your head as you grow up. That's how your mom learned." Mom gives me a pointed look as I sheepishly smile. "I wanna cook!" Willow squirms in my arms until I put her down and she starts running around and playing on her own. Mom hands me a glass of water as I mutter my thanks.

"You know, that girl would be an amazing big sister." I immediately start coughing as I accidentally breathed in the water instead of drinking it. "I'm just saying." She shrugs and continues to work around the kitchen. "I'm single and you're talking about a sibling for her?"

"Well, who's fault is that? Ever since Willow's father left, you haven't dated anyone since then." I sigh, taking a big gulp of water before answering her. "Willow became my priority. And I don't exactly have a choice in dating or anything like that."

"I know but you could date or be with someone in whatever time you do have. You'll end up a sad lonely woman if you don't." I roll my eyes at mom's statement. "I'm still in my early twenties. I have plenty of time." I see her shake her head as she mutters. "Time will fly by, just you watch." I sigh and step up to help her with whatever she's doing. "You could use some help raising her." I agreed with her. It's tiring being a single parent. I have to work to provide for us then come home and give her the attention she needs to grow up. Luckily, my parents have been here helping me with anything I need. "And I do. I have you guys."

"Brooke!" Mom sharply turns around and faces me with a stern expression. "Stop! I'm worried about you. You're raising Willow as a single parent. You are a mom and a dad. But that's not it! You don't just need someone who can help you raise Willow. You need someone to share a life with. Someone to love and be loved. I was extremely lucky that my Reflected married your father, the man I loved back then."