With a hundred thoughts running through my mind I walked towards the staircase knowing not what to do. As I was walking down the steps at the end of it I saw Mr.Warren sitting with a fast asleep Zeus in his arms.
"Want me to help you in putting him into bed?" I asked him.
He turned around shaking his head from left to right.
"I'll go lay him in his bed, what about Rose?" He asked.
"She's fast asleep" I whispered as I patted zeus's head.
"She hasn't eaten anything" he said as he looked up the staircase, towards Rose's bedroom.
"Let her sleep for now. She's tired." He nodded and left to put Zeus into his bed.
While he was gone I decided it would be better if I left, today on its own gave me a pretty clear idea of Rose's behaviour and emotional status but as much as I want to know why she's behaving the way she is, I think giving them a break right now would be the best thing to do. I, myself, also need some time to process some things.
After a few minutes I heard a soft closing of the door sound that brought me out of my thoughts.
"Mr.Warren" I turned around.
"Yes Miss Anna" he said sounding confused as he saw me with my coat on "are you leaving?"
I nodded a yes as I walked towards the couch "I wanted to know the cause of Rose's behaviour however, I think we should have this conversation maybe tomorrow" I gave him a weak smile as I picked up my handbag.
"You haven't even had dinner, plus we didn't even get a chance to discuss-"
"It's okay Mr.Warren, I'll be coming over tomorrow again" i said as I looked over his shoulders, my eyes landing on the pictures hung up on the wall. I felt my stomach turn when I saw a family picture, the same that was on Rose's table on the wall, except the mother's face was blacked out with paint. I looked up to see Mr.Warren staring at me intently, he then looked over to where my worried eyes were fixed... slowing his eyes saddened. He walked over towards the wall and ripped the hanging picture down.
"I think we can talk about this tomorrow Miss Anna" he said turning around looking at me, I nodded as I looked at him both worried and scared.
He then led me out the door and stood as I got into my car and drove away. The entire ride back home my mind kept replaying what had happened back at the Warrens house. Yes, it is common for kids to throw tantrums and cry and Yes, it's very common for kids to paint on pictures however, the way the mothers face was specifically painted black, as if they no longer wanted her to be a part of their life or hated her so much that didn't want to have her in the frames heightened my anxiety.
'What hate runs so deep within these children that they would paint their own mothers face black' but somehow I know I had felt the same hate. My fingers clenched tightly around the steering wheel.