“That doesn’t answer my question,” I bark, my blood beginning to boil.
My mother’s eyes don’t soften at all, still staring into me with the aura of disappointment they’ve always possessed. “You need to come home, it’s been long enough of you playing this game, running off to this godforsaken city.”
I stand my ground, my heart pounding in my chest as she reaches us. I haven’t been this close to her for five years. There’s not even a trace of warmth between us. Maybe there never was. Now that I’ve experienced real caring with Emris, I truly know what I was missing. “I am home.”
She rolls her eyes, letting out a scoff. “Enough already. You need to come home. Your father is sick.”
“What does that have to do with me?” I press, furrowing my brows.
Once upon a time, I may have been saddened at the thought of my father falling ill, being on his deathbed. Now, after many years of silence and separation, I have no feelings about it. None at all. They made their choice when they scorned me for rejecting their close-minded ideals.
Something shifts inside my mother, her shoulders falling limply and a deep breath leaving her. “We’re going to lose the house. The mortgage payments are too much for just me.”
“So, you want me back to pay foryourhouse?” My voice begins to rise. I can’t believe she would interrupt my life for this shit. “Get one of your children to help you.”
Her eyes flicker as she narrows her gaze, snapping, “That’s what I’m doing right now.”
“No, what you’re doing right now is harassing me in my home. If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police and have you removed.” I hope the insinuation that I’m not her child is apparent.
“You would really not help me? Help your mother? Your father?” Her eyes dart to Emris, who has been standing silently at my side. “Whoever this monster is must’ve skewed your perception. Exactly the kind of thing we warned you about.”
With my free hand, I raise a finger in her face, jabbing it forward. “He is less of a monster than you, than father. My perception isn’t the one that is skewed here, yours is. Don’t everthink that you can speak like that about someone I care about. Insulting me is one thing. Him? That’s another.”
Silence follows my berating, her lips thinned and fists clenched at her side. Emris still makes no sound, and I’m thankful he doesn’t try to step in. This isn’t for him to be involved in, any more than he is right now.
“Fine, abandon us yet again,” my mother hisses, her eyes turning back to me. “One day, you’ll wake up and realize all these monsters want is to use you.”
“You’re right, allyoumonsters want to do is use me,” I say, my eyes burning with rage as they pierce into her.
She sways where she stands, like she wants to say something else, but can’t come up with any words. I guess I got my wit from my father. As she tips her chin up, she walks past me, her shoulder hitting mine.
I don’t turn around. Instead, I call out, “By the way, this is my boyfriend, who I’m very much in love with. Make sure to tell Dad, it might just send him over the edge.”
There’s no response, but I can hear the falter in her steps as she trips over my words. As her footsteps disappear, my chest feels heavy with guilt. I shouldn’t have said that last thing, but it came out before I could think straight.
Oh, my gods, did I just say that out loud? That I love him? It’s so soon, but it felt so right in the moment. I didn’t just say it to make my mother mad, I really meant it. But, what will Emris think? Is it going to scare him off?
My shoulders shake slightly with each exhale, a combination of rage, sadness, and nerves swirling up inside of me. Emris moves to stand in front of me, pulling me against his chest, wrapping his arms around me.
I rest my head against him, tears biting at the backs of my eyes, but I don’t let them free. Those people aren’t worth my tears. They aren’t worth a second of my thoughts. Not after theycast me out for being open-minded. Not after they sent me—freshly eighteen—to the streets to fend for myself.
“Are you okay?” Emris asks quietly, not releasing me from his hug.
Nodding against him, I exhale, hoping the long breath takes my anger and sadness with it. “I’m sorry you had to see that, deal with that. My parents, they think very differently from me.”
“Don’t apologize.” He hushes me, kissing the top of my head. “And…I love you too.”
I look up at him with wide eyes. “You do?”
“Without a doubt,” he reassures me. “Honestly, I’m surprised it came from you first.”
A small laugh escapes me, my cheeks feeling warm. “Well, it felt right. Itfeelsright.”
His arms slowly release me, and I slip my hand back in his, leading him to my door. As I reach for my keys, I notice that the handle is sitting slightly ajar. Did my mother try to break it? That’s low, even for her.
I push on the door and it creaks open. This time, I’m unable to suppress my tears. Everything is in ruin, the furniture destroyed, tipped over and broken. I’m sure I locked my door yesterday before work. This can’t be my mother’s doing; she was waiting in the hallway.
“Well, um…” I sniffle, dropping his hand and wiping my eyes. “This is not how it usually looks.”
