Meant to Be

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

I stayed in my room all day, my mind having switched into deep thinking mode and certainly not going to switch off any time soon.

Who could she be engaged too…? I pondered, Ok, first, has she shown any affection to any guy? Um… Nate? Ew, gross, she wouldn’t marry him…

I ground my teeth together in frustration. “It shouldn’t be this hard…” I scoured my memories, searching for answers.

WAIT!!!!

My eyes popped, “SHE MUST BE IN AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE!!!” I said it louder than I meant to, andI cringed slightly at my loud voice.

No, wait a minute… I sighed, laying my head back down on my pillow and staring back up at the ceiling. Loretta and Tom wouldn’t do that to their kids… would they? OH SHIT! NATE could be in an arranged marriage! Then—then—

“Oh calm down!” I smacked myself upside the head, “Shut up!”

I shut my eyes, not intending to sleep, and I watched the inside of my eyelids for a while.

I flinched when my door spontaneously opened.

“Hey kiddo.” My mother chirped, and I opened my eyes.

“Hi mom.” I answered, and pushed myself off the bed.

“Wanna help me make some brownies?” My mother had that look that some moms have. The one where they believe that you’ll always want, in this case, to make brownies with her.

The teenager part of me was whining brownies? Really? Come on, can’t you make them yourself? But then my angelic side took over, Of course you should help her! Since when was the last time you helped her make brownies? The answer to that was a touchy subject.

“I got this new recipe online.” My mom offered, wringing her hands in an almost nervous way. “I—I was wondering if you wanted to help…”

In other words. Make up for five years without a mother.

She hadn’t really left in a physical way. Physically, my mother had been there. Physically, she had been living with me.

But mentally, she had been far far away.

Where? One could only guess.

For five. Long. Years. My mother had been lost to me.

It was like she cracked, broke, shattered, and fell.

Five. Long. Years.

My mother made a sound, gulping loudly. “I know that I can’t make up for all the time I’ve lost being with you, my sweet.” She fidgeted, “Just, please? I—I really want to make it up to you.”

I went over to her and hugged her, words not being able to express how happy I was. She was back. I finally had my mother back.

“You don’t have to do anything mom.”

“You sure?” My mom hugged me tighter, “You sure I don’t have to do anything? Because I’ll do anything if it will help you forgive me. What I did was inexcusable. And for leaving you to mourn alone… Without a mother to comfort you.... I should have been there for you sweetheart. I am so sorry.”

My eyes started watering, “You don’t have to do anything mom. Just having you back is all that I ask for.”

“You sure?” She took something out of her pocket, pulling away and dangling something in front of my face.