The Complications of Starting Over

1

Waking up to the sound of my alarm going off next to me, I seriously contemplated hitting the snooze button and falling back into the peaceful, dreamless oblivion I had just awoken from. But needless to say, I couldn't.

Numbly and groggily I walked into my bathroom, letting my eyes adjust for a few seconds to the bright lights. After they burning pain lessened I went straight into my everyday routine of brushing my teeth, washing my face, and putting in my contacts.

After getting dressed in what could be said as my "normal choice of clothes" which consisted of a shirt that I had gotten from a visit to a college, a pair of jeans and some converse, I went downstairs to grab my keys, and my little brother Alex before heading out. I take my little brother to school every morning.

Much to my surprise my dad was leaning against the island in the kitchen, reading the newspaper and drinking a cup of coffee.

"Well good morning dad," I say kissing him on the side of his head while I move around him to head into the dining room that was connected to the kitchen. "What are you doing here? I thought you would have been at work by now."

My dad, Howard Dixon, was a Cardiothoracic surgeon so he was constantly working all day and all night which was one of the reasons why my younger brother was my responsibility.

"No particular reason." He said absentmindedly watching me gather up a banana for my brother, my keys, and the books and papers I needed for school. "Nova, you do know that i can take Alex today since I don't have anything else to do. Give yourself a break. I feel bad that you constantly have to take care of Alex."

"No dad, it's fine. I've taken him everyday for the past year, I've become accustomed to doing it so really it's no big deal." I said giving him a small smile. Grabbing my bag and putting it over my shoulder I gave him another kiss on the head, said my goodbyes and headed into the living room where my 7 year old brother was sitting on the couch watching SpongeBob Squarepants.

"Hey bud, you ready to go?" Nodding he turned off the tv and grabbed the banana that I was holding out to him. Alex's school was on the way to my school and since there wasn't anyone to take him in the mornings, it was obviously my responsibility to do so. Not that i was complaining, I really don't mind taking him.

"Novvvaaa," he drew out my name which I knew meant he wanted something from me "Today after school can we go get ice cream?"

I knew it.

"Hmmmm," I looked back at him through the mirror and saw him sticking his bottom lip out, his blue eyes wider than usual clearly trying to use his cute innocent looks to win me over "I guess so... or maybe we can get some pizza and bring it home, watch a movie and then go out for ice cream. Dad would like that."

Alex's eyes lit up with excitement, clearly remembering the times when me, dad, mom, and him would sit together on the couch watching movies all night long then going out for ice cream. It was something we would do every Monday. A tradition started by my mom.

Recently though, we hadn't done it because of dad working all the time, and more so the fact that nothing felt the same ever since she left.

I miss her so much.

Breaking me out of my thoughts, I could see him practically jumping up and down in his seat, "Yes Nova! I like that idea much much much more!"

Leave it to my brother to put a smile even in my darkest times.

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