Slow deterioration

Chapter 3

Josie's Pov:

Daniel asked if I could leave him at the Convenience store so that he could grab some things for his mom. After I left him there I decided to take the longer route home to get some time to think. As I walked by the botanical gardens I saw a familiar figure in a fancy car. I continued to walk and watched curiously to see two figures inside of it, these two figures seemed to be two males kissing. I quickly looked away waiting a few seconds before I heard a door open. I turned to look again. What I saw shocked me. The person turned to open the door of a different car, to stay hidden I quickly fell to the floor hiding behind some bushes and peeped a small bit to ensure that I was seeing the correct thing. I rubbed my eyes vigorously trying to clear my vision from, nobody knows what. As my vision became constant, I saw very clearly that it was who I thought it was.

A tear dropped as I saw my dad holding Mr. Hollister tightly before placing a peck on his lips. He then turned to panopticate his surrounding seemingly making sure that nobody saw him. I quickly ducked again before be saw that I was stalking him. Before I knew it I heard two doors slamming shut and cars leaving one after the other, hooting before they went separate ways.

I sat there dumbfounded unable to move from what I just saw. Hot, salty tears started blazing down my cheeks, leaving a track of a burning sensation. Thoughts of how my mom was acting, how Ashley's mom hated mine and how my dad responded a bit to quickly when I asked why her parents were hostile towards us, even to their own child's best friend. Why Mrs Hollister started to hate me all of a sudden. These thoughts jumbles in my head. Thoughts of understanding and disappointment surged. I understood everything now.

...

I stood in front of my house with puffy eyes and a face as red as a tomato. What was I to do? I was discombobulated. Was I to tell my mom? Ask my Dad? Or was I to die inside until the answer found itself? I quickly composed myself as I saw my mother going to the washing line to take the laundry. I ran to her and gave her a big hug.

"Oh, hey honey, how was school?" I kept quiet and dug my face in her shoulder.

"Whats wrong my love? What happened at school? Is it Daniel?" I shook my head and started crying now. She didnt say anything now, just hugged me tightly caressing my hair slowly, a tear falling on my scalp. "Its okay baby, everything is going to be okay."

I decided to go to my room for the whole day after that. At about midnight I hear a plate crashing onto the ground which wakes me up completely. A sequence of harsh words and arguing follows.

"You are telling me that you spent one hundred thousand dollars on a hotel room?! For another Man?!"

"Claire, you've got to understand...I love this man!"

"You love him?! You love him?! More than your own family? More than your own daughter? You are so selfish Kingsley and it disgusts me! One Hundred thousand dollars! You are out of your mind!"

"You do not have to be jealous, I get it I should have treated you like him. i Just didn't-" A loud slap interrupted him which made me flinch.

"Jealous? Kingsley I have tolerated your bull crap for way too long now. I cant keep acting anymore. I tried... I tried my best to accept you," she said crying now, "but you go on and do this? Couldnt you have done it differently? You carry on disrespecting me everyday. Yesterday you never slept home, you never even said anything-"

"How was I-"

"Let me finish, Im not finished. You never came home...what was meant to say to your daughter? She woke up and asked me today where THE HELL YOU WERE! What was i supposed to say, Kingsley? What should i carry on saying for you? I... I have had it with you. You are going to tell her."

"But-"

"Im not asking." There was dead silence after that for a few seconds.

"I can't. I can't tell her what a horrible father I am. I can't face her... That's why I have been... I have been trying to avoid her." He sniffles.

"Do you think I care about that Kingsley? I have suffered way more than that. The least you can do is apologize to her for the loss she is about to experience."

"What loss... What are you talking about Claire."

"Don't act like you care about me, Kingsley. Stop! You let me love you go so many years. You let me put you on a pedistle in my heart... I even... I even turned from my family for you, Kingsley. And you still don't see what you have done wrong? You cant own up? Such a f'n hypocrite."

I hear footsteps coming up the stairs and towards my room. I quickly act asleep as the door open. The footsteps come nearer and then someone sits next to me on my bed.

I hear my moms voice crack next to me as she begins to cry. I feel her hands on my face removing a strand of hair from it.

"Poor little thing, you have to go through this even though you never did anything wrong... I'm so sorry... I really am. I couldn't stop this until now, I couldnt protect you my sweet daughter..." I feel teardrops coming down my cheeks as I hear her cry. How I wanted to turn to her and reassure her that it was not her fault. How I wanted to hug her tightly and cry with her. I just couldn't bring myself to.

"I love you my flower dew. I really do and I am sorry." She kisses my forehead, stands up and leaves. I start crying heavily as she leaves. My heart started to pound and my head started to ache. Something about her visit told me something really wrong was going to happen. Something unpreventable.