Chapter 6
320 Words
10 years earlier
"Come on, Nymus! Let's go save the puppy!" I exclaim, feeling the rush of excitement as I leap over the soccer ball in the yard. I glance at my mommy, who's wearing her "thinking face." I wonder what she's thinking about. Suddenly, she looks up at me and rushes over with her phone, all excited. "Hey, strike a pose for me!" she says. So, I stand tall, puff out my chest, and put my hands on my hips, feeling like a superhero.
I want to make sure I look confident and cool in the picture. Mom adjusts the camera, making sure she captures my best angle. She tells me to give her a big smile, so I grin from ear to ear, showing off my pearly whites. It's such a fun and silly moment, and I can tell my mom loves it. She snaps the picture, and we both burst into laughter and share a big hug.
But then, everything becomes quiet as we hear Dad's car pulling into the driveway. Mommy always takes me inside when he arrives. She places me on the couch and goes to Clair's room. I can hear her saying, "Cody is home," with some mumbling. She sounds scared and frantic. Both Clair and Mommy come out of the room.
Clair picks me up, takes me to the room, and hands me Nymus. We sit on the bed together, waiting to see what's going on.
…there's arguing…
I remember that moment so vividly. I was so young, hiding in the other room while my parents argued fiercely in the living room. The sound of their raised voices filled me with fear and sadness. But in the midst of it all, Clair was there for me.
She held me close, soothing my worries with her comforting embrace. Her presence gave me a sense of security and reassurance, reminding me that I wasn't alone….
- Writer
