Page 76 of Ominous: Part 1
They’d have hit me.
It might be nice.
Mom’s fingersare curled around the handle of her suitcase. She pulls at a thin scarf on her neck, her eyes on Dad.
I grip the ledge of the bannister, one foot on the bottom step, another already on the hardwoods of the foyer.
“Mom.” My voice is rough from begging.
Mom keeps staring at Dad and she’s smiling. It isn’t real, because Mom neverreallysmiled, but her eyes are watery, and her chin trembles.
“Mom.” She still doesn’t look at me.
I turn to Dad. “Stop her,” I tell him, my voice rising, and I hate that. I hate how I sound scared. But she can’t leave me with him. She can’t. He doesn’t understand me. He’s already sent me away once. He’ll do it again.
Fight for me, Mom.
Don’t leave me.
I’m just like you.
We’re the same.
We’re the same.
“Dad, don’t let her—”
“Stop, Eli.” Dad is crying. It’s silent; tears tracking down his face, he doesn’t look away from Mom. They’re just staring at each other, several feet apart, Mom inches from the front door.
But she’s wearing a long, wool coat, and she has on tall brown boots I’ve never seen her wear, which means she’s probably leaving.
She’s going out.
Without Dad. Without me.
“Mom, you can’t—”
“Eli.” Dad’s voice is angry, and he closes his eyes, his hands clasped in front of him. He’s in a dress shirt and slacks. Work clothes. His office door is open, to his left, and I heard them arguing. I heard him chase her out here.
Run her off.
I listened at the top of the stairs.
Ibegged.
I yank the wheel,the tires on the left side skidding over grass as I just barely make it onto the exit, scarcely slide to a stop at the red light right off the highway.
I’m gasping, trying to breathe, warm summer air heavy around me now as I idle, waiting behind a van with a stick figure family. Four kids. A mom. A dad. A goddamn dog.
My heart races.
How did you know, Eden?
And what do you think you’re going to do about it, huh?
You can’t fucking fix me.
You can’t.
