Lonely

Day two part 2

ELLIE:

The engine hummed, a steady thrum that vibrated through the car: the air was thick with the scent of pine needles and the lingering summer heat, a stark contrast to the cold dread that was slowly tightening its grip on my stomach.

My gaze darted between the dusty fields blurring by the window and my father's face: which was set in a worried frown.

"Ellie, honey, are you alright? You've been quiet since we left your mother's house."

I forced a smile, trying to mask the unease gnawing at my insides. "Yeah, I'm fine, Dad. Just tired from the drive."

He didn't buy it. "You've been avoiding eye contact. What's going on?"

"Nothing, Dad. Really. Just tired."

He sighed, running a hand through his greying hair: my eyes drifted towards the backseat where Elvira, my five-year-old sister, was engrossed in Elija's tablet while he wailed in protest.

Their constant back and forth was a familiar, if irritating, soundtrack to our family trips.

We reached his house, a quaint, two-story home nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac: it felt like a heaven, a safe space, in stark contrast to the disquiet that had settled in my heart.

"Alright, kids, we're here," my father announced, opening the car door.

Elija, finally freed from Elvira's clutches, scrambled out of the car, his whimpers replaced with a happy squeal as he ran towards the house.

Elvira followed, a satisfied smirk on her face, her tiny fingers clutching the tablet like a prized possession.

"Elvira, give your brother back his tablet, he's been crying for half an hour." my father said, pulling Elija back from the edge of the driveway.

"He was just being a baby," Elvira retorted with a defiant lift of her chin.

"It's not nice to make your brother cry, Elvira." my father said, his voice firm but gentle.

I watched them, a sense of normalcy settling over me: it felt like a distant memory, a forgotten dream.

"Ellie, are you alright?" He asked, his eyes searching mine.

"I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile. "Just tired."

"Ok then, you can go inside to sleep." Dad said before kissing my forehead, letting me go inside the house.

Instead of climbing the stairs, I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, a moment later: tiny footsteps padded in behind me.

My little brother, Elija, crawled into my lap, his pudgy fingers reaching for the remote: he mumbled something about 'dinosaurs,' but I just chuckled and pulled him closer, we settled into watching a cartoon about a talking bear.

An hour later, I realized that I was still in my school uniform, the itchy fabric clinging to my skin.

I stood up, "Elija, I'm going to take a shower." I said, pulling him off my lap.

He babbled something unintelligible, but his eyes never left the screen: I smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

He was a character, my little brother.

Stepping into the bathroom, I ran the hot water, the steam filled the room, enveloping me in a hazy comfort.

I scrubbed away the day's grime, feeling the tension slowly melt from my shoulders, the sound of my dad's laughter and Elvira's giggles drifted in from the living room: reminding me of the simple joy of being with my dad.

After changing, I found Elvira and Elija playing a game of hide-and-seek, they were adorable, their little faces lit with concentration.

Elvira was hiding behind the sofa, her head peeking out, while Elija was running around, giggling as he looked for her.

"Elvira, guess what?" I announced, sitting down next to them on the floor.

Her eyes lit up. "What?"

I grabbed my laptop, opening the email that had popped into my inbox earlier. "I got you an audition for a kids' movie!"

Elvira squealed, burying her face in my chest. "A movie? I'm gonna be in a movie?"

Elija, who had been distracted by trying to eat his own foot, finally noticed us. He looked up, his eyes wide with excitement.

"Movie!" he echoed, his little hand patting my leg.

My dad walked in from the kitchen, a plate of steaming pasta in his hand. He smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Sounds like someone's got a big day ahead of them."

He sat down, placing the pasta on the coffee table, it was a simple moment, filled with the warmth of home.

It was a moment that made me forget all the anxieties of my life, all the uncertainties of the future.

As the pasta was ladled onto each plate, a heavy weight settled in my stomach, I glanced at the green apple I had chosen instead of a meal, its skin taunting me with impossible nourishment.

My father's gaze met mine, a flicker of concern crossing his eyes.

"Aren't you hungry?" he asked.

"No," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Are you sure?" he persisted.

"Yes, I'm sure."

Elija, his face smeared with tomato sauce, chattered happily about building castles in the sandbox tomorrow.

Elvira's tablet glowed with cheerful children's shows, drowning out the uneasy silence that hung over the table.

"What would you like to do tomorrow?" my father asked, a hopeful lilt in his voice.

"Shopping!" Elvira exclaimed.

"Park!" Elija added, his sticky fingers patting his bare tummy.

My dad looked at me for an answer, and I shrugged my shoulders. "Shopping..I guess,"

As my family ate their dinner, the aroma of cooked pasta filling the room, my stomach twisted and churned.

But I knew I couldn't, so I grabbed the apple and took a big bite out of it, the sour juice tickling my tastebuds as I swallowed that piece down my throat.

DANIEL:

As my kids went upstairs to sleep, I stayed in my office, typing on my computer, I checked the time occasionally just for it to get more late.

I wanted to sleep, but I couldn't help but worry about Ellie, I know she's a teenager and is getting more distant: but she wasn't like this until after I picked her up from her moms house.

Wait a minute...

Did something happen while I was there? This didn't start until today and I know my little girl, I noticed her not eating much but that started long ago.

Multiple thoughts kick in my head as I tried putting the pieces together but couldn't get anything right, so I just decided to get up and walked to Ellie's room.

She was fast asleep, and I didn't want to disturb her, I bent down and kissed her cheek before leaving and back to my office.