Page 50 of Never Started
We all burst out into laughter.
"Mom, did you just swear?" I ask, still giggling.
She winks. "I've learned from the best!"
Kasten pulls me into a hug, with my head on his chest, and I try to search for my dad.
My and Dad’s relationship is still strained, but he tries with me. Since day one, he hasn't given up on trying to fix what he broke between us. Meanwhile, I try not to hate him. Most days, I manage to succeed. Some days, on the rare occasions I call him or answer his calls, it feels like how things used to be. Over the years, I’ve secretly grown to look forward to his calls and him saying, “I love you, Izabel, and I’m so proud of you.”
Scanning the crowd again, in hopes of spotting my dad returning and hearing those words in person, my eyes catch sight of an all too familiar figure, walking away in the opposite direction.
Every part of me sinks.
"Iz, you okay?" Kasten asks, pulling back to look at me.
Still frozen on the back of a silhouette that’s slowly disappearing, I whisper, "Jett's here?"
He came?
He came here for me?
What is that even supposed to mean?
Knowing he’s here comforts me in a way, but it also reopens every wound that still needs to be healed.
Confused, Kasten begins to look around.
"I-I don't know, Iz,” he whispers back so no one else hears. “I know he knew about it, but I didn't think he'd show. I'm pretty sure it wasn't him."
I know. My heart knows. My body knows. Hell, even my soul knows.
It was him.
Just like that, every fucking thing I’ve been running from catches right back up.
AUGUST 2022
"I call dibs on the primary suite!" I shout as Via and I trample through our new rental house.
It's so cozy and cute. It even has a sunroom, which I can't wait to use for my morning coffee.
"Of course you do!" Via chuckles, dragging boxes into the main bedroom.
"I have more shit than you do, little miss minimalist."
"It's fine, Iz."
"So," She takes a breath as she sets down the heavy boxes. "Did you fill out your new-hire paperwork yet?"
I nod. "Yep! I dropped it off yesterday."
"Aww, look at you being all responsible on your own. I'm so proud of you!"
"Shut up!" I shove at her arm playfully.
Things are slowly returning to normal. Via openly started grief counseling. Most days, she doesn't feel like it's helping. I can tell you it is. Slowly, I'm starting to see more and more glimpses of the Via I used to know.
Granted, I should be in counseling myself. I'll get there. Someday. Maybe.
