/0/73040/coverorgin.jpg?v=de0760cf2bd001aa298f2033e9d9d2cd&imageMogr2/format/webp)
I advanced my hand with hot chocolate coffee. Ava smiled at me and grabbed it enthusiastically. We were sharing the same eyes inherited by our father, light grey eyes, her hair was blonde and straight. On the other hand, my hair was dark brown like my mother's. She didn't wait for me to sit down with her and sipped from it, "Um," She moaned, "I was missing the taste of chocolate." She took another sip, hungrily.
I nodded with a smile. Her smile mattered to me. I returned to the kitchen and looked at the second cup. I poured the steaming hot water into it. No one needed to know, particularly Ava.
I trudged toward the kitchen and put the cup back with a soft sigh. I grabbed the cloth and began to clean the kitchen counter.
It's my father's house, no splendid, no luxury, but a home. I don't know where he is.
I stopped rubbing the counter when a hand came before my eyes holding the cup. I glanced up. Ava was frowning at me, "I can't finish it alone," She said,
I usually stayed quiet. The argument wasn't part of my life, "Are you peeping in the kitchen?" I asked her.
Her frown broke and she looked at her feet, "We have enough food for a week and mom's medicine?" She asked under a soft voice.
I let out a deep breath. I put my hand on her wrist and pushed it away, "We have enough food and mom's medicine." I worked in a store.
She let out a breath through her mouth, "Thank goodness," She said, placing her hand over her chest. She looked at me, opening her eyes, "Now drink," She shoved the cup in my hand.
I pushed the piece of cloth away and gripped the cup. Ava thought. I worked for a local store. That wasn't truly a lie but not the full truth. I hoisted the cup up. We shared a smile.
"Go away! Go away! You monster! You can't take my kids away." A high-pitched voice came. Our smile disappeared.
I put the cup down immediately. Ava's face whitened in fear. She didn't wait and rushed out of the kitchen. I quickened my pace out of the kitchen to her room.
Ava halted in the doorway. I followed her gaze. Our mother was standing near the window and yelling, "Go away. They are my daughters. You took my son away." Her face contorted in anger, her eyes full of fear and glistened with unshed tears.
'I don't remember that we have a brother either. She never shares anything. We haven't seen our father. Only in the picture that's hidden under the piles of clothes in mother's cupboard.'
"Mom," I said out loud and darted my gaze out of the window. There was no one. I didn't remember my mother behaving like a normal person.
She looked back at us and pointed her index finger out of the window, "He came again." Her eyes were widened, almost round in shape, scared face, sweat trickling down her forehead.
I ran forward and took her in my arms, hugging her tightly, "There's no one, mom." I said to her softly.
"Of course, he ran away, darling." She spoke as she was perfectly fine now. I gazed at Ava. She was looking at our mother in horror. I was used to her scared face too. She had grown up. She never stepped in the room when our mother yelled at night. We heard our mother but we never trusted her concoction.
I also worked for a coroner inquest. That was what I called him. My salary was enough for our food, mom's medicines, and Ava's school. She was sixteen. I didn't want to tell her about my secret job, but she knew just a little. She was the only one in our house who could understand me. Our mother wasn't in the position to guide us.
I was twenty years old. If I had seen my father. I didn't remember. But I knew. Where did our mother hide his picture? He was a tall, blond hair, muscular man with light grey eyes, like mine and Ava's. If I would have changed the color of my eyes I would have. I didn't want to keep anything that reminded me of him. Whenever I looked at my eyes in the reflection. It reminded me of my father. He left her in his house when he knew about her mental health. He never came back. Our mother described him as a monster and asked him to leave us alone. She was scared he would come one day and take us away from her. 'I won't let that happen.'
"There's no one, mother," I told her again. She looked relaxed.
"I saw him. I shouted at him. Of course, there will be no one now." She looked normal when she said that. Her cheeks were red, a soft smile on her face, and there was love in her eyes for us.
I smiled back at her. I love her. She was our world, "It's sleeping time, mom." I spoke tenderly. I glanced around and held Ava's gaze. She wasn't looking terrified but her face was tense. I beckoned her to come inside. She looked at our mother and plucked a step inside in hesitancy
Mom was looking calm now. This happened suddenly. The doctor couldn't tell us more. I couldn't sell our house. I couldn't afford rent. This house made things easier.
Ava stopped next to me.
"How was your day?" Mom's smile broadened as she rested her gaze on our faces.
"It was ok, mom. A lot of customers came into the store today." I couldn't resist smiling back. It put a burden on my soul that I lied to her.
Shifting on her feet, Ava stopped in front of us. She didn't answer her. She looked at our mother for a few more seconds, "Mom," There was hesitation in her voice, "Are you ok?" She asked. Her gaze was painful.
/0/39368/coverorgin.jpg?v=ab2eb998a9f7f3db1722b7bdaa92552a&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/42408/coverorgin.jpg?v=560b838e09e500d7643fc441eeb7ebb7&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/24297/coverorgin.jpg?v=39cda33af5dec699e59c931275387bbf&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/54474/coverorgin.jpg?v=81434ed3ff07127b11fdd5f9ab5341b9&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/85506/coverorgin.jpg?v=aefa40719edde5fdd201ed96f63490d2&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/23709/coverorgin.jpg?v=a6bbdbcbd0e99659886536c83742b4ca&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/75112/coverorgin.jpg?v=b987a5ba3078142936cbe7dffb8ca48c&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/30046/coverorgin.jpg?v=6d114c6bb5580f5af94e137fa41aef29&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/20090/coverorgin.jpg?v=bf01837e6310424609364f0756cbe536&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/87403/coverorgin.jpg?v=459782c3d87b764fcb6b8bdbd7a0f535&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/22222/coverorgin.jpg?v=85f8bfdb5788194621527c2f93540033&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/51013/coverorgin.jpg?v=09cc30fec8fa0c052b3fc8bb4879ba42&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/20638/coverorgin.jpg?v=b3346422a15d2582b876fef24d297818&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/18190/coverorgin.jpg?v=5789b750d63e931d6092d3af250d65a9&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/1240/coverorgin.jpg?v=7ce9b9cf2a2e6e0f6e1e15f754fa2445&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/48232/coverorgin.jpg?v=c901fc067c47ab35a78e1de2e29c2915&imageMogr2/format/webp)
/0/19457/coverorgin.jpg?v=0e2b42d220f804d0bddb5f80b53f6dc3&imageMogr2/format/webp)