Her Darkness

Chapter 6

“No, I think I'm gonna walk, so I'm ready for today. Get my thoughts together. I'm okay mom. I feel better and back in control. You don't have to worry about me,” I replied. I loved how my mom gave me space and didn't hover a lot, and I appreciate how much she worries.

“Okay, baby, I'll see you after work. Text me if you need anything. I love you.” She said with a wave, and she went out the door. My mom is a trauma surgeon and works crazy hours. Dad has a part-time job at the mini-mart down the road. After my incident, he stopped drinking as much, he's going through withdrawals and getting upset more frequently.

First period was weird because Blade didn't try to talk to me. I thought we would still be friends. But maybe not. Until lunch, everything was normal and uneventful. Cora ran at me and embraced me in a bear hug. We talked most of lunch till out of nowhere Blade came in looking pissed. I tried to talk to him and he just kept going. It hurt, but I know that i told him to leave me alone, but I miss my best friend. I hate what he did to me, to us, but I still love him.

Cora told me she talked to Blade and found out what happened.

“He got in a fight with a team mate in the locker room.” Cora stated, irritated, as she sat down on my bed.

“ Again, why this time? He knows he's gonna get kicked off the football team.” Blade has always wanted to be a pro football player. He's been playing since he was on his first team.

“He wouldnt say.” Cora said quickly, like she had rehearsed it. I felt like she was hiding something, but I didn't get to know everything anymore. I let it go because if he wanted me to know, I would know. We finished our homework and Cora left. Dad would be home soon, so I started cooking his favorite Chicken Cordon Bleu, with fresh garden salad and a four-cheese pasta.

Dad came in as I was tossing the salad. He was acting differently, angry. I felt it in waves of rage rolling off of him. I called out that dinner was almost done, and he yelled “The f*****g Liqour store wouldn’t sell him a small bottle. Said you and your mom told them not to sell to me anymore, is that true?”

“No dad, not that I know of. I like that your not drinking much anymore. I know the withdrawals are hard on you. I dont think mom would say anything either honestly.” I stated briefly as I was draining the pasta. “ Are you hungry now or do you want me to keep it warm?”

“Well if you or your mom don't say anything, I'm going to go back down there and find out why he won't sell to me. Keep the plate warm for me please.” He said as he walked out the door.

A few hours later and mom came home, it was strange that dad hadn't come home yet. None the less, she made mom a plate and told her dad went to the liquor store and hasn't come home. Mom didn't seem surprised anymore. After dinner we decided to watch a movie, Finding Nemo my favorite. Halfway through our movie we got a knock on the door, it was the police.

"Hello mam, does Mr. Black live here?" the officer asked.

"Yes he does. I'm his wife and this is our daughter Emma. What's this about, officer?" mom asked with a slight shake to her voice.

" Your husband got into an accident and he has been taken to the hospital." The officer said quickly.

"What happened exactly? What did he hit?" Mom asked.

"He hit another car and then wrapped around the tree. Do you want me to take you to the hospital?"

"Yes please. Emma, I need you to stay here. Okay, it's gonna be okay. I love you." mom said, kissing my forehead. Then she left.

I worried about my dad all night. I barely slept waiting for my mom to call. I called Cora. I'm not going to school today because of what's happening to dad. She understood and was worried about him too. Around 12:00pm, my mom called and told me dad was in surgery. She is a wreck right now, and I'm trying to hold it together. One person came to mind that helps me always, no matter what I'm going through, he helps me work through it. I pulled out my phone and opened my messages with Blade. "Blade, I know we haven't talked since that day. But I really need help. My dad is in surgery. Can you come over? I've been alone since last night."

Not even an minute later, I got a response, "I'm on my way, princess, be there ASAP." Emma finally let the emotions in and cried, and prayed for her dad to be okay. Please let him be okay.