Because She Could

Aleah stretched and shivered as her feet hit the hardwood floor. Today is the big day. This is the first day of senior year! She brushed her teeth, scrubbed her face and pulled her long curly red hair up into a ponytail with a few tendrils escaping here and there around her heart shaped face. She rarely wore makeup, her skin was clear and she had just a handful of freckles dancing across her little button nose. Going on 17, Aleah was becoming a beautiful woman. Not skinny, actually curvy, but all in the right places, she just exuded beauty. She wasn't arrogant or snobby, but she had just enough self confidence to be a lovable and happy young lady. Most of the time. All the time until....well when everything changed. She slipped into her favorite pair of dark skinny jeans and a pretty green shirt that made her green eyes shine even brighter. She slipped flip flops on her feet and headed to the kitchen to see if she could help with breakfast. Her Daddy was standing at the stove flipping pancakes as she walked in. He smiled at her as she slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him. “Good morning sweetie, are you ready to conquer the world today?” He asked. She laughed. “I hardly think I'm going to conquer the world the first day of senior year Daddy. But, yeah. So, how's Momma today?” she asked hopefully? “Oh, I think she needs to sleep in this morning honey,” he replied, handing her a steaming plate of pancakes. “Could you make sure Sammi Lynn is up, getting ready please?” he deftly tried to steer the conversation away from Momma and Aleah knew it. After cramming a mouthful of pancakes in her mouth she replied, “Sure, Daddy, I'll check on Sammi.” She chose to also ignore the situation with Momma, although it did hurt that she wouldn't be up to see her and Sammi off on their first day. Sammi was going into high school today as a freshman, so it was kinda an important day all the way around. Before she would've been up taking pictures and making a big deal about it. Everyone had changed a year, three months, and ten days ago. Nothing would ever be the same, although no one ever spoke of it and that really made it worse. She knocked on Sammi's door and pushed it open. “Hey sis! You ready to go conquer your new universe?” A slightly smaller, younger carbon copy of herself stood there braiding her hair. She smiled brightly in the mirror at Aleah. “Conquering the universe is your forte today you big badass senior!” Sammi was sassy, but also sweet. They were closer than most other teenage siblings, Aleah never minded Sammi tagging along with her and they were often together. Although Sammi was only fourteen, she was more mature than a lot of girls much older than her. “How's Momma today?” She asked hopefully, catching Aleah's eyes in the mirror. “Well Daddy says she needs to sleep in today kiddo.” Aleah watched as the hopefulness left Sammi's eyes to be replaced with unshed tears and sadness. “I'd hoped she would be up today. She always made a fuss over our first days Lee-lee” A half sob escaped. “I know sis” Aleah whispered as she enveloped Sammi in a hug. “I tell ya what, lets go eat pancakes with Daddy and then we can do selfies and our own first day pics, how about that?” “Thanks Sammi. You always try to make up for her. Some days I get so mad at her, and even...” her voice trailed off and she dropped her eyes. “Trust me sweet girl, I know exactly what you mean. We just gotta be strong and keep going. We got this. We gotta stay strong for when Momma gets better.” Aleah wasn't sure if she was convincing Sammi or herself. “I'm not sure she's gonna get better, Lee-lee. It's been over a year now. Why are WE the ones who have to stay strong? She's our MOTHER. Where is her strength?” Sammi stomped her foot, anger in her voice and eyes, “I don't know Sammi. All I know is right now we have to be her strength and hope and pray she finds her way.” Aleah whispered, thinking to herself how she didn't want to lose Momma too. She wasn't sure she could find that much strength. “Now, lets go scarf pancakes with Daddy so we can do our pics!” They ran to the kitchen, quickly ate and started snapping selfies and taking pics and even managed to rope their dad into taking a few when they heard a familiar horn blow. “Sounds like Ty is right on time to pick up my pretty princesses! Both of your have great first days!” He kissed each girls head and shooed them out the door, but Aleah didn't miss the sadness in his eyes.  Aleah slid up into Tyler's truck, waiting for Sammi to slide in behind her. “Good morning sunshine!” Aleah kissed Ty's cheek “Are you ready to conquer the kingdom today?” Ty rolled his eyes, "You are the conqueror, sweet girl." Ty wasn't one for a lot of words, he never had been, but he too, had changed over the last year. Everyone had. Why? Why did he.......she shook her head, hard, trying to stave off the darkness that pushed ever closer. She would not give in to the darkness. She couldn't. She had to stay strong. Daddy needed her, Sammi needed her. Apparently her mother DESPERATELY needed her. If only she didn't feel so helpless and never know exactly what to do or say. Everyone avoided talking about it and some days she thought she would explode from not speaking his name or acting like he had never existed. He did. It happened. Why did everyone want to pretend it didn't? Ty touched her shoulder. "You okay Lee-lee?"  Aleah jumped slightly, “Yeah, yeah, I'm fine Ty....I was just wondering what hottie you were going to shower with your attention this year?” she joked, wondering what she would do if he did find a girlfriend. They had been best buds since diaper days because their moms had been best friends as well. Now, however she had discovered feelings for Ty that she didn't really know how to handle. She couldn't tell him, because she couldn't bear the thought of him walking away from her. What if he didn't feel the same way she did and it freaked him out? She would rather have him as friend than nothing. With everything else going haywire she couldn't lose him too. After all, he was the only one who truly understood her.