but the wind quickly mangles it and rain washes over us. The cold droplets leave me feeling as cold on the outside as I feel inside. Ella wipes her face with her hand and I’m not sure if she’s wiping tears or raindrops. We’re alike in that way. Tears are foreign to us, a weakness. So as we watch others pour their grief out though their tears, we trap our grief inside to begin an endless circle of pain. Maybe their stronger than I am because they have the courage to show their weaknesses but I can’t bring myself to show my weakness. The looks of pity I would receive are not what I need right now.
Lucas ’s forlorn eyes watch Anna’s casket being lowered. When his mother passed away years ago, I held him up and tried to absorb his pain, now that my mom is gone he somehow has more right to grieve for her than I do, and it makes me sick inside. Lucas has always been selfish but he blinds people to his true character. I feel cheated of the years Lucas and my father stole from me. The last time I spoke to her I told her maybe someday, well we ran out of somedays and there’s no going back.
So on a dark and dreary morning, I say goodbye to hope, and hold on to my memories. I say goodbye to Anna, but hold on to the mother who held me at night in my heart.
Isabella
The flight home was long and awkward. Liam has been non- existent since his mother passed away. He’s stuck in his head, and the words between us are few and mostly about his memories of Anna. I encourage him to speak about her, hoping it will help him heal. Help him release the guilt he feels for not fixing their relationship before time ran out.
Funny thing about fate is it tries to guide us to where we should be at any given time, but it can’t force us to give second chances. Liam’s chance with his mother slipped away and it’s weighing heavily on him.
I was nervous to even come back to Florida. In Chicago Liam wouldn’t even let me stay the night with him. It felt strange to be back in my condo, especially when I knew Liam was suffering alone. Being in my condo threw me back to a place I didn’t want to be. My life has changed so much since I left this city and I can’t even imagine losing Liam and our life together. That one night I kissed him made things worse, he withdrew further into himself, and practically stopped talking to me. Not coming home with him wasn’t an option because there was nothing left for me in Chicago. Everything I need is here with him now.
I watch Liam come out of our bedroom with a duffel bag on his shoulder and he avoids looking at me as he walks to the door. Panic sets in.
He’s leaving me .
“Where are you going?” We just got back to Florida last night and now he’s taking off. I could feel this coming, the rift between us had become too large.
“I’m leaving,” he says as I cut off his exit by stepping in front of him. “I’m going to stay downstairs for a while.”
“With Arianna?” I shriek at him.
“She moved out last week.”
“Liam , please just let me help you. You shouldn’t be alone.”
“That’s exactly what I need, some time to get myself together.”
“Let me help you through this. Let me love you.”
He smiles sadly, trying to keep his emotions in check. “I remember when I was ten my mom said to me ‘ Lee, the greatest gift in life is love,’ ” he hangs his head sullenly before continuing. “It feels more like it’s my greatest curse. I lost my mom years ago and before I could get her back, she’s taken away forever. Everyone I’ve ever loved has either left me or it turned out I never even knew them in the first place. Lucas was like my brother until he lied to me and practically stole my mother, I haven’t spoken to my father in weeks and I’m sure I never will. Anna left me, no matter the reason, she left me and never looked back, and now it’s too late. And you…you will be the worst of them all. I can’t stay Ella, because when the time
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