My Pound Of Flesh

out; you're taking

e a lost soul, unable to leave the past behind. The memories I had made here were as if th

left behind". I murmured to myself. I could hear Mom's laughter as it echoed, the many b

red me for this; no one told me that things could take a turn so quickly. I couldn't help bu

fragile, but I still wanted her around. I prayed earnestly to the hea

e brought me back to my senses. I quickly dri

o the place where I lost almost everything. The house held so much meaning to me that I was a bit reluctant to move. I could smell Mom's scent in every room I turned to, b

y dark place. Mom was my best friend and confidante; losi

he last time I will be standing in the house. There is no going bac

want to get to Boston this evening".

I was saying

and sat in the pickup truck. I took one last look at the house, and I knew that I was ready for what lay ahead, or I thought I was re

ch mile we go breaks off the shackles holding me down these few weeks, and the shells that had enclosed me

ering to my ears, "Mutchkin, you can be anything you want." I took a deep sigh and plugged in my ear pod

voice sounded so familiar. I looked around, and that was when it dawned on me that I

time, and I quickly followed the voice as st

time around I recognized the voice as the

ways remembered, she was putting on her favorite flowered gown. She

much I had missed her. She spread out her arms, beckoning me in

ntinued crying; she held onto me

m," I confessed,

kly replied as she tried drying up m

ant to leave yo

you need to be str

home with us; Da

need to find your place," she

to leave you again." I held ont

honey," Mom said, pa

rd my dad's voice becko

said while hol

r be with you," she finally said, and before

her while sear

A gentle nudge fro

amed as I ope

to my face. Realizing it was only a dream, I quic

p the topic; he hasn't been himself lately, and I don'

me pack these boxes

kly replied as I g

ould be living here, but I had no say in the matter. The house was a block of flats, and Dad kept going over the steps. The steps were littered with green moss, an

de the right decision to move to this town. Dad opened a door on the third floor of the building, and we step

the kitchen, and it wasn't much. I turned on the water, and it came rushing out. I was kind of glad that we at least had water. I moved over to the toil

n animal. I quickly closed the door, but the door hand

end forever in here trying to fix up the apartment. I went to the sitting room to meet Dad, who

w this isn't

tand, Dad, and this is okay; we can a

most of our belongings just to pay for her medical expenses. First, it was Dad's car, then we had to sell off Mom's also. Dad spent all

ust needs a little work and

ou, honey," Dad

en, and one shared bathroom for the rooms. We couldn't do much regarding the walls, but we agreed to cover up the sittin

greatly, especially tonight because it was the first night we were spending outside

oor as I was hanging out my cloth

o the room to find him bending over something on the floor. I came closer only to find out it was a pictur

ly well that he wasn't, and he dried up h

ys piercing your beautiful legs now," he quickly responded. I didn't mo

aining stuff, but he wouldn't have it; he asked me to g

st a bit too tired, o

but I have sneaked up on him several times, crying at night. H

night and there was practically nothing to eat at all. We didn't think about what to eat earlier. He suggested we order in, but it was our first