One House Behind | ✓

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐝

Shelly

Taking a deep breath, I stared as my father exited the car. My breath was caught as he hurried to open the backseat door. Jaw clenched, I watched as he grabbed the little boy.

He looked so much like my father. A rush of air blew out of my mouth as the boy looked at me. The same slant, same nose, same hair. 

Turning to look at my mom, I saw the same reaction. This would be harder than we thought. We thought we could comfort each other through this but we were one of the same.

We'd make sure that we wouldn't feel; staying quiet was better than feeling.

But there was a difference, I had Tanner and she had me. We had each other and that would be enough.

"Joshua."

My mother's voice sounded different saying his name. It was now short, formal, and closed off. Every time she previously said his name, she always said it with mirth. Now it held nothing but sorrow.

"Genna."

Once he turned to look at me, I looked away. I played my part, the angry teenage daughter. But I had a reason to play this part, he lied and left us. And although he had good intentions, although he was trying to be a good parent to one of his children, he never should have had those intentions in the first place. There should have only been one child.

"Shelly, you got-"

"Don't," I tried to force out every positive feeling I had for him.

"Sorry. Uh, Sebastian, this is my wife, Genna."

Sebastian. That was the name my mother wanted her son to be. My jaw clenched tighter as the fact set in. How dare he do that! 

He looked over at me once I scoffed, saw the rest of my anger, and nodded at me with his eyes lowering. He knew what I was silently telling him.

"It's nice to meet you, Sebastian." My mother bent to his level.

Sebastian hid behind my father's leg. I could feel the pounding of my heart beneath my chest the longer he looked at my mother. It felt as if it was going to burst out at any second.

I had been staring at the ground since his introduction, so it wasn't until I looked over at him that I realized the boy was looking at me. My eyes widened before I set a frown in place. I could feel the tightness in my throat, almost choking me from the pain I felt. 

He looked like Dad when he was younger.

"And this is Shelly, her daughter."

Was that all I was to him? Someone else's daughter? It made my arm sting, an indication that I was in more pain than I originally believed. The tears rose in my eyes.

"And your sister. My daughter."

I looked at my father. The weight pushing on my chest went away slightly. It would never be gone, I'd forever live with it.

"Sister!" Sebastian's voice screeched and he ran to my legs.

I let out a noise of surprise at the action but I didn't allow myself to indulge in a hug. He was my little brother, the type of blood relation didn't matter, and I wouldn't let my mind be happy if he was only going to be gone soon. I didn't know how long he was staying, my mother didn't either, and so everything was awkward.