Echoes

Part 2

"Yeah, we're going to go to the same college," I asserted simply.

"I don't think so," Mom said. "You two need time apart to find yourselves. You'll probably realize that a few years in high school doesn't make two people meant for each other."

"They're happy together, Mom," Zoe said bluntly.

"You don't need to defend it, Zohara," Mom shot back, emphasizing Zoe's full name.

"I'm not defending anything, I just don't see why you guys have such a big thing about Asher just because of his parents," Zoe replied.

"That's not a small issue," Dad insisted. "Anyone either a yous dates, their parents could end up being in-laws that we have to deal with for god knows how long."

"Exactly," Mom agreed. "And if I have to put up with Angela and Grover Harrison and their snobby, new money bullshit because you marry that kid, I'll die."

"Okay," I said calmly. "Do you want to be cremated or buried?"

"What?" Mom asked, a befuddled expression crossing her face. I could see Zoe gulp out of the corner of my eye, but I pulled at the collar of my shirt to reveal the ring I'd been hiding.

"What the hell is that?" my father demanded.

"Oh what do you think, Eric?" my mother snapped. "What are you thinking, Shira?"

"I'm getting married, that's what I'm thinking," I shrugged. "It won't be until after college, but we're going to do it. He asked me, and I said yes."

"How could you?" my mother all but shouted. "The Harrisons?"

"Mom, it's not about you," Zoe reminded her. "Shira loves Asher, and Asher loves Shira. That's what it's about."

"And nobody cares that we have to deal with his piece of shit parents?" Mom wailed.

"You two are some ungrateful little bitches, you know that?" our father said. "Ungrateful little bitches."

"We have worked our asses off to give you girls everything, and you," Mom paused to glare at me, "You repay me by getting engaged to some brat from a long line of spoiled rich pricks, basically tethering me to his bullshit family."

"And you," Dad raged, looking at Zoe, "You defend her bullshit."

"I need to be excused," I said, pushing my chair back.

"Likewise, I'm out of here," Zoe said.

"Hey! Sit the fuck down," Dad demanded. "This is my house, and nobody leaves my dinner table until I say so."

Zoe furrowed her brows at him in anger, and I sighed, but we both chose to sit back down anyway. Several moments of silence ensued, and the occasional sound of silverware clanking was the only thing that competed with the sound of the crickets chirping.

Finally, our father broke the silence.

"You listen to me, Shira," he began. "You can go ahead and marry whomever the hell you want to, but don't expect your mother or I to---" he stopped, as the sound of incredibly loud banging distracted us all.

"Who the fuck is that?" Dad asked.

We all gave various responses, none of which served as answers to the question. The banging grew much louder, finally punctuated by a loud thud. It was clear by now that the sounds had come from the front door. My entire body tensed, to the point where I could barely move. It was harder to breathe, as if the air had suddenly become thick. Despite the fact that the room was air-conditioned and the weather was mild, I was starting to feel hot and sticky, struggling to take deep breaths of inexplicably humid air.