Amelia had everything- family, friends, a promising future- the sky was the limit. But just like that everything was taken from her. One moment she's planning her high school graduation party the next she's laying on a therapist's couch. It was as i...
It was Christmas morning and all of us sat in the living room off the entryway of the house. The tree was fully decorated and lit cheerfully, while piles of gifts gathered at the base. Each room was decorated for the season since we do Christmas Eve. Here every year. Ian and my father had started a small fire going in the fireplace. My mother was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen, so the smell of coffee and cinnamon whisked through the air, filling the house. As usual, she decided to have carols playing softly over the sound system.
Veronica and I were the only ones lounging around in our pajamas that morning. Unlike Ian, she was fortunate enough to have the day off from work. Like every Christmas, her and I would stay home and watch movies and wait for our grandparents to drive up from the shore. About half way into the day, Ian would leave to go to his girlfriend's before heading over to the firehouse.
My mother called from the living room, "Amelia, Veronica, come on. We're doing presents."
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Everyone took their assigned spots. My brother and sister sat on the couch, where my parents took the two armchairs across from each other. That left me to sit on the floor, but I never minded. It gave me a perfect view to see everyone's expression as they opened their gifts. This was probably one of the very few times where I felt like I had a real family. All together. Content without a care or worry.
My father got up from his chair and began handing out these long, white envelopes. We all looked around at each other, waiting for an explanation.
Veronica was the first one to open hers. Inside a decorative card was what looked like a plane ticket. Suddenly all of us tore into our envelopes and pulled out the ticket inside.
"Is this real?" My sister asked, jokingly.
This was nothing like my father to do. I mean sure, we went on vacations but none of them were ever surprises. Let's just say that Steven was rather subtle when planning anything on the computer. He would curse and yell at the screen for an hour and then give up. Maybe, just maybe, he would come back to the computer to give it another shot.
"What do you mean is it real?" he fumed.
"Well . . . is it?" I asked sheepishly. He rolled his eyes and kept from puffing out his chest, or throwing a tantrum.
"Yes," he huffed. "They're real, and they leave out of Newark Airport for the Bahamas."
We looked around at each other in excitement, but underneath was a layer of shock.
. . .
"My father didn't take into account that he had planned this trip right in the middle of my finals week. I tried speaking to my teacher, but it didn't matter. I wasn't able to go." I went on. "So, the rest of the year continued until the end of May. My family had packed their bags and left me in charge of the house for the last week of May."
