Flashbacks

I don’t know how long I stayed outside, but I stayed long enough for it to get dark out. I decided to go back into the house and be a grown and mature adult and talk to my father about everything instead of blaming him for everything, so I slowly got up from the grass, making sure to dust myself off in case anything stuck to me. I then began making my way towards the house.

When I reached the house, I counted to ten before knocking on the door.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10…

I knocked on the door. I didn’t hear any noise from the inside of the house, so I assumed they gave up on me already. I was about to make my way off of the porch when the door opened. It was Noah.

He gave me a slightly unpleasant look. “Come in, Elle.”

I slowly nodded my head. “I’m sorry for -” I began saying.

“No, don’t even apologize. You can’t even be grateful that your father wants to be a part of your life. He cares about you, Elle. He’s always worried for you and doesn’t want anything to happen. He didn’t even want me to go with him since he wanted to make things right with you, and this is how you treat him? His family? You are selfish,” he said, anger laced into his voice.

I just stood there silently, not knowing what to say. “Oh.”

I didn’t have any other words to say. I guess I don’t have a right to be mad at anyone. Everything’s my fault. I looked at Noah and noticed that he had a weird emotion on his face, though he tried to hide it. What was it? Guilt? Regret?

“Mrs. Laverin is waiting for you in the dining room, right around the corner. Try not to make any noise, the kids are sleeping. I have to go call your dad.”

weird pit in my stomach. I wasn’t going to break down. I simply couldn’t. They would see me as

a sad smile on her face. She knows, I instantly thought. I took a seat hesitantly. When she tried to hold my hand, I quickly put

so sorry. He feels like a horrible father for not being there for you when you needed him. He’s currently looking for you, but Noah’s going to call him and let him know you came back. Look,” she sighed out, “I know this is really hard for you, but please give him a chance. I know he can’t make up for all the years he missed but he wants to be there for you. I promise you won’t regret giving him a

go to sleep. Do you have a notebook and a pen I can use? And can you tell Mr. Laverin to come to my room so we can talk? I’ll be waiting

to see you, but then you ran out before they

“Sorry. I’ll be upstairs

I didn’t have a good memory though. Sometimes I just want to forget things. As I was walking by, I heard whispers

she’s being difficult,” Noah said. I think he’s talking

She’s downstairs

fine from what I

you want her to

I’ll see you when you get

quickly and silently ran away from the door and went to my room, my heart pounding in my chest. I’m difficult; they always say that. That's what he told me when

thoughts were interrupted by

Mrs. Laverins asked. I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah.”

as a water bottle and a can of soda. “I didn’t know

“Thank you.”