Post by Sage Glass on Dec 26, 2009 20:38:23 GMT -4
Date: 5PM November 27, 2009
Place: Sage's Father's House in Charleston, SC
Place: Sage's Father's House in Charleston, SC
Everyone sitting around me chatted away as I picked at my mashed potatoes. It was Thanksgiving, and I was sitting down at the table with my father's side of the family, and his wife's, Jeniffer, family. I was seated at the "kids" end of the table, with my cousins, Tanya and Ruby, my stepsister, Maria, and my stepbrother, Will. Maria, Will, Ruby, and Tanya managed to keep a conversation going, which I wasn't a part of. I didn't like my step-family, besides Maria, who I liked well enough. I didn't really have a problem with their personalities; I just resented them because of Jeniffer. My father had cheated on my mother with her, and that's the reason that him and my mother weren't still together. I really missed those days.
"Excuse me," my father called from the other end of the table, "Jeniffer has an announcement to make." The room went silent, and all attention was focused on Jeniffer, who was now standing and looping an arm around my father's waist. It made me want to gag.
Jeniffer cleared her throat and turned to us, beaming. "I'm pregnant."
That was it. While the others gasped and grinned and applauded, my emotional walls were collapsing. I had always hoped that my father would discover that Jeniffer wasn't the right woman for him and go back to my mother, but I realized that idea was hopeless. All throughout the divorce, I hadn't cried once, because I had worked so hard to but up emotional barriers, so that certain things wouldn't effect me, and some emotions wouldn't show. But now, those walls were coming down, and I resisted the urges to break down crying, and to punch someone.
I pushed back from the table and got up. I walked quickly across the room and out into the hallway and walked towards my room. I heard my father call, "Sage!" but I didn't even turn around. I walked into my room and slammed the door after. Then I locked it, and collapsed onto my bed. First, I was on my knees, and I started punching my pillow over and over again. That helped get the rage out, though it wasn't all quenched.
My heavy breathing was the only sound in the room. My breathing turned into sobs, and I buried my now tear streaked face in my pillow, trying to muffle them.
If I had been paying more attention, I would have heard the sound of the lock being picked, and then the squeak of the door opening, and the click of it being closed. But, I didn't and I was surprised when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jerked back and looked into the face of Will, which was worried. "Go away," I sobbed.
He looked at me, and sat down on my bed, wearing an expression that said, Nope, I'm not leaving. Instead of trying to enforce my command, I pulled my knees up to my chest and started sobbing again. I really wanted to stop, but I couldn't. It was like my body was catching up to everything that had happened in the past few years.
Arms wrapped around me, and they pulled me into a warm body. As much as I wanted to reject Will's comfort, I accepted it. We sat like that for a while, until my breathing had returned to normal and I was cried out. I pulled out of Will's embrace and stood up, wiping my eyes. "Sorry," I muttered.
Will shrugged and walked to the door. He opened it and looked out before closing it again. "They're done with dinner," he said, "but they're still socializing. Just stay in here. As much as I want to avoid this social situation, I'll--"
"No," I cut him off. "You can stay if you want."
"Well, that's a relief." It was the first time I had seen him smile, but it would not be the last. No-- the last time would be a reassuring smile, as he ran away from me into the fire to try to help stop the blaze and save us all.
But, of course, that is not what happened.
