"Uncle Stephen? What are you doing here?" I ask, shocked. He yawns and takes a sip of coffee. Mom just stares at me. I think she is in a sad, or even more depressed, state again.
"Hi, Mike, how are you?" Uncle asks.
I really don't know what to say. Should I tell him my friends raped me? Or that my life is a mess and I'm scared all the time? Or maybe I should just yell at him for leaving us, abandoning us like the rest of the family?
"It's fine."
Silence immediately fills the kitchen.
"We have to talk," he says with a straight face.
"About?"
"Sit there," Mom's gaze goes to the chair.
No. I can't. I didn't struggle with my pain for nothing, so I refused that offer. Maybe next time.
"So… what do you want to talk about?"
***
We're moving to America. The decision has just been made. I don't show any emotion on the outside, but inside, I'm cheering. This can be real—a new, fresh life starting in just a few days.
My uncle will stay in our house until we move out.
***
Today is Halloween.
We're going to watch some old horror movies and eat snacks.
The pain eased a little after a day, but I still feel it, though not as intensely. During this time, I couldn't eat anything fatty because my body was constantly rejecting it. But the memories of what James did to me keep coming back, growing more and more bothersome.
"Honey, aren't you going out with your friends?" Mom asks, snapping me out of my reverie.
"I don't think I really want to…"
"It's one of your last months here. Don't you want to say goodbye?"
"I'll text them," I mumble.
Bzzz. My phone rings. I pull it out of my pocket.
Jeremy.
"I'll be right back," I say and leave the room. My eyes linger on the green ring as I pick it up.
"Jeremy?"
"Hey, what are you doing tonight?" he whispers.
Fuck, I forgot he was supposed to go out with James today.
"Where are you?"