The screen of the slot machine flashed 'TRY AGAIN:('
The reels stopping just one symbol short of a win. She stared for half a second— then exploded "Ugh– DAMN IT" a few heads turned as she kicked the leg of the machine.
Her shoulder slumped in defeat almost toppling from her seat yet the timing couldn't be more perfect as if mocking her DING-DING-DING-DING! Bright chimes ringing like bells exploding in her ears, mocking her misery.
My gaze shifted to the culprit of the winning celebration happening right next to me. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" she screamed loudly, stomping her legs closer to the culprit just to turn back cause of his scary appearance "nevermind, good day sir". She yanked her bag over her shoulder, muttered something unrepeatable under her breath, and stormed out of the place.
-`~`-
BEEP
"Thank you, come again"
She stood behind the counter of a convenience store hours later, vest neatly buttoned, expression flat and tired as she slid a receipt toward a customer. Fluorescent lights hummed overhead, the scent of instant noodles and coffee hanging in the air an oddly calm contrast to the chaos she'd left behind.
Wow caela, you look worse than yesterday— didn't think that was even possible" Grandpa Louis, a now white-haired old man, leaned againts the counter, he's the owner of this convenience store owning several branch safe to say he's pretty rich. though I guess being rich didn't come with rich taste. Guh. his glowing neon outfit alone have done great irreversible damage to my eyesight.
I rolled my eyes "and why are you here again? I thought you were back in canada."
He clicked his tounge dramatically "is that any way to greet the man who's been here your entire life?" I just stuck my tounge out in response.
He scowled. "Have you paid your rent this month? You do know that I can help you with it right?" this is why I hate him— well I don't, I just don't like the fact that I couldn't do anything right and having him feel the need to fix it for me. It has been like this for years and nothing have changed. He keep on feeling the need to check on me I wonder if it's because of that 'incident'.
Louis looked at me, noticing the way my hand slid up to hold my blonde-hair back, fingers curling at the root as I stared nothing at particular. My reflection in the glass showed blank green eyes, unfocused, like I'd already checked out of the conversation.
"Well, the store's gonna close in five minutes. You'd better clean up and get home to your mother, sera is a kind mother don't disappoint her." He walked toward the door, then paused, hand resting on the handle. "Oh—and your father," he added casually, almost too casually. "He's out of prison now just be careful." Then he stepped outside, the bell above the door chiming softly as it swung shut behind him.
"Dad…"
-`~`-
Damn it. Damn it. How could I have forgotten
How did I forget that, that bastard is out?! What if that man tried to get us like back then? The thought slithered into my head, ugly and persistent. I don't want to feel that dreading feeling of coming home too scared to open the door, scared to see what if the one that welcomed me is my mom dead body. That feeling have now returned I don't want to see that bastard again, I don't want to see my mom in pain because of him. I don't want that.
I don't want that.I don't want that.I don't want that.I don't want that.I don't want that.I don't want that.I don't want that.I don't want that.I don't want that.I don't want that.I don't want that.I don't want that.I don't want that.I don't want that.I don't want that.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't realize I was already standing in front of my house. I hurriedly pushed the door open, desperate to see my mom— and there she was, sitting at the dining table, waiting for my arrival.
"Ah caela I've been waiting for you!" my mom ran up to me hugging me but before she could she's distracted by my disheveled hair, ragged breath, dilated eyes, not to mention sweaty. If anyone saw me they probably thought I was having a race earlier.
"Sweetie, are you okay? What happened?" my mom look at me worryingly.
"Pfft I'm fine just got chased by a some crazy stray dog" I said with a weak laugh, waving it off like it was nothing. It was a lie. And Mom knew me well enough to hear the cracks in it but she let it slide anyway. She always did. "You and your bad luck," she sighed softly, smoothing my hair down despite the mess. "Go wash up. Dinner's getting cold."
We sat down together a few minutes later, the familiar smell of her homemade cooking filling the room. rice, soup, something warm and comforting something that made the house feel like a house again. I ate slower than usual, my hands finally steadying as the tension bled out of me bite by bite.
She talked about her day, about a neighbor who wouldn't stop gossiping and the new recipe she wanted to try next week. I told her about work, about Grandpa Louis showing up unannounced like always. She also talked about how she got another job to afford our commodities which sting a lot. Totally nothing important. Nothing scary.
While talking I notice a flower bouquet placed on the kitchen counter. Rose, mother's favorite. I nudge my mom "who's that from?" my head gestured to the bouquet, just when I say that my mom face turned red. "Oh is it from Mr. Daniel?" I smirked at my mom. Mr. Daniel is a police officer he was the one who saved me and my mother from the hand of that bastard I called father. After that they've got to known each other more, It's pretty known that at this point that they have a liking to each other.
"I'm fine if you're thinking about getting together with him, you and dad is already divorced anyway, and it's not like I'm gonna reject the idea of that" I put my right hand on top of my mom. "Infact I would be delighted so! To see you happy is everything to me." I smiled at her.
My mom froze for a moment, then let out a small, flustered laugh, lifting a hand to cover her mouth. "You're too perceptive for your own good," she said, cheeks still pink. She glanced at the bouquet, then back at me, her expression gentler, almost shy.
"I didn't think you'd be okay with it. I worried you might think I was moving on too fast… or replacing something that can't be replaced." She turned her hand over, squeezing mine. "But hearing you say that hearing that you want me to be happy…" Her voice wavered just a little.
"Then maybe," she smiled, soft and hopeful, "I'll let myself be happy this time." I smile at her, it is so refereshing to hear my mom real feelings sometimes. But in a way to ruin the mood my mom said the thing that I was avoiding for.
"Haven't you heard? Your dad have been released today." My mom said as she continue to eat the food in front of her. I put my spoon down looking down "aren't you scared mom? Scared of him coming back? For us?" my voice started to shakes, the fear from before came back creeping on me like parasites.
She hold my hand across the table caressing it to soothe my fear. "It's okay, we're in another city remember? We're far away from him, there's no way he can get us."
"Trust me" My mom said softly.
I nodded, even though my chest still felt tight. I wanted to believe her. I did believe her at least enough to let myself breathe again. Her thumb brushed slow circles against my knuckles, grounding me in the familiar warmth of her touch. "We're not alone anymore," she added after a moment. "We have people now. Good people." My eyes flicked back to the roses on the counter.
She followed my gaze and smiled faintly. "And I won't let anything happen to you," she said, firmer this time. "Not ever again." I swallowed, forcing the knot in my throat down. "Okay," I murmured, squeezing her hand back. Dinner continued after that, quieter than before. The house settled into its usual nighttime sounds—the clink of cutlery, the hum of the lights—but no matter how normal everything looked, a part of me stayed alert, listening.
Just in case.