Finally, young Aria arrived home. Mom still hadn't returned, so she went straight to freshen up, hoping it would help keep her mind off Lewis's paper.
She took a long, steamy shower, letting the heat wrap around her as she sang one of Evelora's most popular songs, Beyond Control. The bathroom filled with her voice.
You can treat her like she's small or she's nothing
You can create an illusion so she stops believing
But you can never break a girl that you never made
Because you were never there when she fought through the pain and the shame
Her voice grew steadier as the lyrics poured out.
You think you can take control
Who made you believe that?
You think you're above her
But you're just a shadow obstructing her light
The words hit harder than usual.
You've been trying to hold her down
But you're the one who's hitting the ground
You can never keep her up late at night
Cuz you were never there to help her through the fight
She swallowed and kept singing.
You think you can take control
Who made you believe that?
You think you're above her
But you're just a shadow obstructing her light
By now, all she could think about was herself.
Never try to stop her
Never try to come in her way
Because you haven't been there for her
Through all her darkest days
And then-
Don't think you can take control
Because to her, you're just a shadow
Fading fast, losing hold
Invisible, growing old
As young Aria finished singing, something inside her settled-and something else hardened. And just like that, it came back to me as clear as day. The thought that used to repeat itself every time I sang that song:
I will show you, Dad. I will show you.
After what felt like hours, she stepped out of the bathroom feeling refreshed. She changed into her nightwear and sat on the edge of the bed.
I knew i should have distracted myself then. I knew i should have stayed away from the paper. But sometimes, you let temptation guide you-because if it leads the way, it feels like it isn't your fault.
She reached into her bag.
The paper.
She placed it gently on the bed. It was still neatly folded, just as it had been when she picked it up in the library. Young Aria stared at it, wondering what was hidden inside, waiting for her to find it.
Don't do it.
Marie's voice echoed in her head.
But she was already too far gone.
Her fingers moved to unfold the paper-
"Baby, I'm home!!!!!"
Mom's voice rang through the house.
Startled, young Aria dropped the paper and ran down the stairs, wrapping her arms tightly around mom.
"Careful, careful now, Aria," mom said with a tired smile.
"Mom, I missed you," young Aria said, holding on a little longer.
"Oh really?" mom teased. "You haven't eaten, have you?"
"No," young Aria admitted, helping her set her bag on the table.
"Well then, I'll make something-"
"Oh no! Certainly not!" young Aria protested. "You just got back from work. Go freshen up. I'll make dinner."
Mom raised an eyebrow. "You can cook?"
"I can do the basics," young Aria said proudly. "Jollof macaroni, bacon, and scrambled eggs."
"You do know bacon and scrambled eggs are breakfast," mom said, laughing.
"Then we're having breakner," young Aria declared. "A mix of breakfast and dinner."
Mom chuckled. "And who taught you all that?"
"Evelora-" young Aria blurted out, then she remembered her promise about Evelora.
Mom paused. "Are you still-"
"No, no," young Aria said quickly. "I just learned it from one of her shows besides you said I shouldn't try to be Evelora, you never said she was banished from this house."
"you are right darling and I didn't even know she cooked," mom said as she headed upstairs.
Watching it all now, I don't blame mom if she wanted Evelora banished. I didn't realize it then, but I was slowly pushing her away- and learning everything from Evelora, believing it would make her proud.
But I knew it well that nothing could get better from here because everything had already started slowly falling into place.