Just when I thought I couldn’t hate them more …
I’m this close to marching into their room and jumping on their dumb faces to wake them up when I think better of it. If they’re awake, they make trouble.
Besides, a quick check of my phone tells me it’s not even 7 a.m., and we aren’t allowed to wait on the stairs until 7:30.
Not even at twenty-five years old.
I open my phone to check my messages and see a text from Juliet from only a few minutes ago. We talked last night, and shewas as happy for Coop and me as she was sad for Coop and his family.
Juliet
Merry Christmas! Did your family kill Coop in his sleep?
Liesel
I don’t think so.
She responds right away.
Juliet
You didn’t check?? Lee!
Liesel
They’re getting along! We played like five board games last night, and they barely even fought.
Juliet
Well deck the halls and call me Santa.
Liesel
I know!
Juliet
How are you? First Christmas at home, and all that. <3
Liesel
It’s actually nice being home. I miss Mom, but it hurts less being with everyone. It almost feels like she’s here.
Juliet
I’m so glad. Keep me posted on how the day goes. Love you, friend!
Liesel
Love you too! Give Nate a hug for me.
I put my phone back down on the bedside table and stretch like a cat. Then I look around my room. I redecorated it in high school, with Mom overseeing it. The light sage green of the walls has always felt calming to me. Bookshelves surround my desk—a time capsule devoted to my love of sci-fi, fantasy, and awesomeness—and high shelves line the walls. Unlike the shelves in my brothers’ room, which are full of trophies, mine are full of memories. Bobbleheads from baseball games. Seashells from beach vacations. Honor roll certificates and perfect attendance awards. And the angels my mom started to collect afterhermom died, only a year before my mom first got sick.
For a while, I collected them with her. I stopped when she passed, but I’ve never stopped loving them.
I miss my mom.
I miss her so much.
