Chapter 21
Avery POV
“You bastard.” Mom cursed, her teary eyes glaring as she slapped Dad hard across the face. He didn’t react; he just smiled broadly.
Her hair was a mess, and she looked as if she had been running
“Don’t you ever scare me like that again!” she said, bending down and trying to catch her breath.
“Mom, what is happening?” I asked, shocked by her outburst.
She grabbed my hand and pulled me up from my chair.
“What happened to your phone?” She asked.
“It went dead.”
“Do you have any idea how worried sick I was about you? You were supposed to be home by 2 p.m., and it’s been over two hours! I waited for you, your phone wasn’t going through, and you weren’t at your friend’s place or Grandma’s. Do you know how you made me Jeel!” she yelled.
“Julie..” my dad tried to say, but my mom cut him off.
“Not another word from you,” she said, pointing at him, before dragging me out of the restaurant.
“Mom, I’m sorry. I forgot to call. I was with Dad-“I tried to explain, but she cut me off.
“I don’t want to hear it,” she snapped. “Get in the car now.”
I climbed in without saying another word.
The drive home was uncomfortable, as none of us said a word. Mom kept her eyes on the road, still sobbing. Her sobs were quiet, but I could hear them.
“Mom?,” I called out after much hesitation.
She didn’t respond.
“Mom,” I said again. “Do you think do you think maybe you and Dad can get back together?”
She looked at me as though what I had said was something unspeakable, then turned her gaze back to the road, barely saying a word.
“I miss him so much mom,” I whispered
Still, no word.
“Mom, please!” I begged. “I just want us to be a family again. Seeing Dad today made me realize how much I missed… us. He was wrong. but can’t you forgive him already? He’s already paid for what he did to you.”
She still ignored me. She didn’t say a word or make a sound, but her sobs grew louder each time I attempted to say something.
By the time we got home, she still hadn’t said a word. As she pulled the car into the driveway, she walked into the house. I followed her hesitantly, unsure of what to say.
“You’re grounded,” she said the moment we stepped inside.
“What?” I asked. “Why? I did nothing wrong. I just hung out with Dad. What’s wrong with that?”
“Don’t you dare talk about him,” she said, barely looking up at me. “Go upstairs. Now.”
“Mom, You are being unreasonable-”
“Go to your room!” she yelled, again.
1/2
10:02 PMP ·
Chapter 21
I stood there, fists clenched, with a million hurtful things to say to her about how frustrated I was with the way she was acting.
“Do you even care about me?” I shouted. “Because it sure doesn’t seem like it. Without Dad, it’s like I’m not even alive. Don’t you see that? Haven’t you noticed that I’ve been barely surviving since he left?” I screamed.
“Mom, please be reasonable! I finally see Dad after how many months, and you’re still being selfish, as usual!” I cried.
“Don’t you dare.. Before she could finish her words, I cut her off.
I began yelling, “I know he made some mistakes, he hurt you, but he’s already gone to prison, so can you stop acting like a child and get over it? It is…” Then she hit me hard across the face.
I froze, as I stared at her.
Without another word, I turned and ran upstairs, as 1 entered my room I slammed the door.
In my room, I collapsed on the bed, crying my eyes out as I remembered the memories of Dad–his jokes, the way he used to tuck me
in at night, our family dinners when we all laughed together, when we were such a perfect and happy family.
I reached for my diary and stared at everything I had written. Since the day he left, I had barely written anything sensible in it; all I wrote was, “I just want to die.”
My hands shook as took the pen from my bedside table and began to write.
Dear Mom.
Being without Dad is like being dead. I’ve tried to survive, but I can’t anymore. You’ve made it quite obvious that you can never get back with Dad. You might as well lose me since you don’t want Dad in my life.
I dropped the pen. I just could not stop the intrusive thoughts that were coming to my mind. I looked at the room and smiled–he had painted it for me. Without much thought, I jumped down from the window.
It wasn’t high, so I jumped down with little effort, landing softly on the ground. I looked back at the house. This was it a final goodbye.
The street was strangely empty, no one was around. I was all alone on the familiar street. No one cared, not really. Mom didn’t notice me, and Dad was gone. I didn’t belong anywhere.
Eventually, I reached the lagoon. I stared at it; the lagoon seemed deep. I looked around, hoping for someone to reach out to me or even stop me, but every day was completely empty.
Maybe this is fate, I thought. Maybe this is where it ends.
I closed my eyes, stepping closer to the edge. The cold breeze brushed against my face as I spread my hands wide.
No one will notice. No one will care.
I took a deep breath, preparing to take the final step.
But then, a hand grabbed mine, pulling me back.
I turned around, startled but a little relieved that someone had come to my rescue.
It was the stranger from the hospital.
Chapter 22
Julie POV
“Avery,” I called, my voice echoing. No response.
“Avery!” I called again, this time louder. Still no response.
“Dinner is ready!” I added, hoping to coax her out of whatever sulking mood she was in. But it didn’t work.
“Avery, you better come downstairs now, or don’t make me come up there!” I yelled. Maybe shouting would work.
“You better get your legs down now, I said. But she still didn’t answer.
With a sigh, I climbed the stairs. She really was testing my patience.
“Why can’t she just, for once, stop being childish?” I muttered while climbing the stairs.
I pushed open her bedroom door, expecting to see her curled up on her bed with her headphones on. Instead, the room was empty.
Avery? I called, checking the restroom, but she wasn’t there.
She apparently wasn’t in her room, and the curtains and window were open.
My heart skipped a beat as I wondered where she was. I went downstairs to confirm if she was there, but there was no sign of her.
Turning back to the room, I opened her closet. Her clothes were still there, neatly hung up, so the thought of her running away was dismissed. I sighed with a mixture of relief.
“Probably sulking somewhere,” I muttered under my breath. When will she grow up? She really was determined to give me a heart attack.
As I turned to leave, something on the bed caught my eye. It was a piece of paper, folded neatly. With shaky hands, I opened it
The last sentence made my heart stop for a moment. No, I can’t be. She can’t be serious right now. Then, the thought of her actually trying to kill herself crossed my mind.
“My poor baby”
I ran down the stairs, shouting her name.
“Avery! Avery!” I shouted as though she would magically appear.
I threw open the front door and ran barefoot into the street. I didn’t bother to look for a flip–flop, even though I could feel the heat of the sun under my feel
“Have you seen my daughter? A girl, about fourteen, dark hair, brown eyes!” I asked anyone I passed.
“Please, have you seen my daughter?” I asked over and over again, but there was no positive response.
People stared at me–some confused, others concerned. I must have looked like a complete mess my makeup destroyed by my tears, my hair scattered all over my face, my clothes wrinkled and unkempt. But I didn’t care
“Please, God,” I whispered as I ran. “Keep her safe. Please let me find her
“Please, nothing should happen to her. Oh God, please keep my baby safe,” I muttered.
It had been thirty minutes of me running down the streets like a madwoman, looking for my daughter–thirty minutes of trying to find Avery, and yet still no sign of her. Maybe she was… No, I couldn’t let myself think of the possibility. Then, from a distance, I saw her.
“Avery!” I screamed
She was standing there, and I didn’t notice anything else around her. I just ran toward her.
When I reached her, I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly.
“Thank God,” I whispered, with a teary voice. Thank God you are okay.”
10:03 PM P
Chapter 22
Tm sorry, Mom,” she said, her voice shaking.
I pulled back, holding her face in my hands. “Avery, don’t ever do that to me again. Do you hear me? I love you. Everything I do is to protect you. You might not understand it now, but you will one day”
She looked at me with tear–filled eyes. “But, Mom, please let me see Dad. I’m not asking you to get back with him, but please don’t stop me from meeting him.”
I hesitated for a bit. This was the only option I had–either that or risk losing her. I nodded.
You can see him tomorrow, okay? But you have to promise me no more tantrums, and what happened today should not repeat itself. I should be aware whenever you meet up with your dad.”
“Yes, Mom,” she said excitedly as she hugged me.
“I love you, Mom,” she said. Now, this was the girl I knew–my baby girl.
Julie, a voice said behind me, and I froze.
Turning slowly, I saw Damien standing there. His eyes were on me.
Mom, you should tell him a huge thank you. He was the one who saved me, Avery said.
“Avery, dear, can you please excuse us for a bit?” I asked.
“Don’t trouble your mom like this again. Remember what we talked about–being good, okay?” Damien said to her.
Avery nodded as she ran into the house.
Now, it was just Damien and me.
I suddenly became acutely aware of how I looked, and then I stared at my bare feet. I really looked like a madwoman. I quickly tried to arrange my hair.
Thank you.” I said while still trying to fix my hair.
“I really look like a… but before I could finish, Damien stepped forward and kissed me.
His lips were warm and soft, and for a moment, I froze, stunned by the suddenness of it. But I didn’t push him away, I found myself kissing him back.
I didn’t care about the anger I had when he left or how hard I had practiced to give him a slap whenever I saw him. I just leaned in to his lips, as if it were something I hadn’t realized I had been missing.
When he pulled back, his eyes searched mine as if he wanted to say something, but I didn’t let him. Instead, I grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer, kissing him again.
This time, it was deeper
more desperate. His arms wrapped around me, holding me tightly, and I felt like I never wanted to let go,
Nothing else mattered. It was just us.
Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy DaisyNovel. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.