That darkest night

wenty tables. She was not the only one working there- there was Emilia, another girl of about age nineteen. The girl was nice and respectful, and Michelle was always finding herself comparing Emi

but it was already getting late, and it seemed like Emilia was slowing down the work they were trying to finish before eight o'clock closing time. "Emilia! Let's be quick, please." she called out

ose part of them, she had extra mouths to feed. The pay at the coffee shop wasn't attractive either. She felt like quitting her job, quit her life, and just walked away. She reminded herself that she wouldn't be like her husband, Tim. Tim had left because if hard circumstances, and she wouldn't leave either. Life was too hard, but she would never leave. She couldn't leave her children, while she wandered away. She didn't know the new life that she would go and start somewhere else. It would be like starting life from the beginning. Everything about her life and whatever she had in Pierre Hills. Going to another location would never make any sense. She was under a lot of pressure, but she wasn't going to give in. "Good night, ma'am." Emilia said to her as she left the coffee shop. She turned and waved. "Have a good night sleep, Emilia." she replied and walked down the road. She was supposed to take a taxi, but the money on her was not enough to. She would rather trek home, than to take a taxi home and have no single money on her. These days were very different. Different in a bad way. After struggling and working for twelve hours a day, she

that her children wound have been giving Rose a hard time, just like other days. They

ying emphasis on her words. "I'm not your Mom, but I'm your older sister!" Rose answered. Michelle guessed that Mel was about leaving the house, and Rose was not letting her to. "Get outta my way!" Melinda screamed angrily. "You don't tell me that nonsense. I'm standing here, and I'm going to let you out at this time." Michelle heard Rose's voice. "Can't you just let me do what I like to do for once?" Melinda said. "Mom would soon be back, and I don't want you go and get hurt, Mel!" Rose answered on a softer tone. Michelle stood a few inches from the door, wanting to know what wou

ood of tears pouring from Mel's eyes too. "On your knees!" Michelle said authoritatively, gesturing to the floor. Melinda went down on her knees immediately. For once, Michelle felt like a mother. She had never acted like this to any of her children. She felt like a mother that had absolute power over her child. "Don't think you can lord over everyone in this house. You might be taller than I am, and might be of the same height as Rose, but don't think we are the same. Let that stick to your ears!" she said, still annoyed. "Mom, it's alright. Please don't

apologize to her daughter, it would be like a waste of time. And that would even make the wings of stubbornness she had cut away by that beating grow out again. If Melinda liked it she could be annoyed. Well, that didn't concern her. The only good she could do to her was to let her have dinner. She would not be so stupid to apologize to her daughter. She lay on the bed and sighed. There was another thing, though. Melinda wou

It was one of her o

ometime." Michelle replied, hopin

ou and you

helle. Good to h

r husband a

Jessica was still aski

's your busi

even making arrangements of expanding the

t would

your wo

ne. Althoug

ry. What of

The old people

ood to h

would have been looking

fty in December. And guess what,

." Michelle said w

you of Karen's wedding

eminding me. I ne

be expecting

sther. I'll be

ht. Slee

night. My sweet regar

, Est

dren about their travels for Karen's wedding. They would never agree to follow her, since they would stil

ld hear her. "Esther's daughter is getting married next week, and I'm thinking of us attending." she said, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "That sounds

se! I'm not a fan of weddings!" Andrew said, breaking the silence. Michelle felt downcast. "Why?" she asked, sounding gentle. "You know that I don't like ceremonies. Especially weddings and funerals. They make me feel nostalgic." Andrew answered dryly. "Melinda, are you going with

e to follow her, because she could not leave them at home. Besides, everyone would be expecting them. She would find a way to get them to follow her. She left for work, still thinking about what to do. She had to look for something to lure them. Something th

home in the evening after work. She decided to talk

sat in a sofa to rest her back. She had been standing for a larger part of the day, and she needed some rest. "Alright, Mom. You were talking about a wedding this morning." Melinda opened the issue. "Yes. That Karen is getting married. I was thinking that we should travel on Wednesday, then we can lodge in a hotel. We can have a tour in Dustin To

itchen, discussing, while Melinda, Andrew and Jason were watc

. I'm not really able

't you think of q

a lot of doom for us. I would have a tough

b if it's taking so much toll on you. It wou

y, R

ile, looking at the moon

ow it illuminates darkness

lly?

est situations of life, there's always a pe

lle n

e. A very g

g me in every step of my lif

ow

talking about family mat

rew and Jason complied to following

all

giving myself a lot of headache during the day, thinki

s my m

do you

ngry with what you did to Melinda yesterday night. That's why they didn't give you a p

prised at how Andrew, who hated going to

acation. I made Jason understand that attending a wedding was int

hugged Rose. She was happy with this stepdaughter of