Sage

Chapter Fourteen

"It smells good in here," Morris commented after being greeted by a tantalizing aroma as he walked into the house.

Sage looked up from the pot of mutton stew but did not stop the circular movement of mixing all the ingredients.

"Afternoon."

"Sage, how are you?" Morris asked, now sitting down with his legs outstretched before him by the dining table. "How was school?"

"I am fine thanks and school was okay," Sage closed the pot and lowered the heat. She then faced her father. "How are you?" Next, she wiped down the tabletop she had prepared on.

"I am tired!" Morris exclaimed.

"Long day at work?" Sage asked, approaching the sink with a chopping board.

"Yes, even though it was a half-day," Morris said as he peered at his wristwatch. He stood up and walked towards the fridge. "Who taught you to cook because I know your mother can't." He reached for a glass in a top cupboard.

Sage shifted with a grimace and looked down at the knife she was washing in the cool water.

"I took lessons and Aunt May..." she hesitated, "I used to assist her when she cooked and baked." Sage was hoping her father won't ask about May.

The kitchen was soon filled with the sound of Morris gulping the water he had poured into a tumbler glass. "Ahh," oblivious to his daughter's discomfort he said, "Well Aunt May did you good."

Sage was relieved he didn't ask further. She moved away from the sink to check on the stew as Morris went to rinse his glass by it.

"Where's Letoya?" he asked after putting the bottle of water back in the fridge.

"She is at Trisha's house," Sage said from the pot of rice she peered in.

"Okay, well her mother and I will be away for the weekend," he said leaning by the sink with his arms crossed over his chest, "I trust you guys will be fine on your own." He looked at Sage as she turned around to face him.

"Uhm yes," Sage said, she contemplated on whether to tell her father about the party she was invited to or not.

Morris eyed her, "What is it?"

She cleared her throat, "May I go sleepover at Ashley's house?" She cowered her head expecting an unpleasant reaction.

"Okay," Morris said and her head snapped up to look at him, "But for one night only."

"You s-sure?"

"Yes Sage," Morris laughed inwardly and shook his head then straightened up. "I'm going to nap before Priscilla returns from work," he said before walking away.

"Thank you," Sage said after him. In response, he gave a hearty chuckle.

She released a breath she didn't realize was held in and excitement bubbled with her.

"I'm home!" Letoya announced as she burst through the front door, "Wait, is moms home?" She whispered towards Sage.

Sage rolled her eyes and went to check on the pot.

...

She stormed into her room and slammed the door shut. Her body slid to the floor against it as tears rushed to her eyes.

"Don't slam doors in my goddamn house!" She ignored the voice and sobbed.

She felt pain, everywhere.

She studied her arms and thighs before crawling to her bed. She got on it and grabbed her journal. She carefully laid on her stomach and propelled her upper body with her elbow.

Wiping her face and sniffling, she opened the diary to a half-filled page and picked the pen that was in between two pages up.

She allowed her emotions to flow through the ink that waltzed across the paper. Her tears in support as they blinded her vision on their way to make a mark on the open book before her.

Her hand moved of its own accord or as though possessed by a jittery spirit. Her heart deflated at every word and a piercing pain radiated from the eye to one side of the head.

She shut the journal and rested her head on her forearm. Her eyelids felt heavy.

I wish I had Sage's life.

She felt her mood shift from anger to hate. Hate she wasn't aware lay underneath the surface.

Why did she have to suffer when other kids don't even know the scent of pain? Why must she witness the joy of others when she can't experience it long enough to spell it out?

She sat up and wiped her face.

With newfound determination, she started plotting in her head and a smile slowly crept up on her face. Satisfaction cradled her as she reached a conclusion.

"I won't suffer alone."

...

Author's Note

Another filler chapter, I had to write down some scenes before the party on Saturday.

Who do you think made the decision to not suffer alone?

And what does she plan on doing?

Last question:
How are we liking the book thus far?

Thank you for the support and feedback!

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