Me and Kiara picked up all the necessary items for the move. We didn't have much since Dad's business went south, so buying within budget was of utmost importance.
"Kiara! We can't have that!" Mom shouted from behind, pointing at the licorice candy she was holding. Kiara's eyes swelled a bit. I guess she is a bit of a brat when it comes to things she wants.
"Mom!" she protested, doing her little (adorable) jumps as she tried to beg her way to get Mom to buy stuff. Mom didn't give in.
"I'm sorry, honey, but you can buy anything you want under 5 bucks. Everything else goes towards buying new things for the move," she proposed.
Kiara looked sad. She shouldn't be sad, that's too much for me to handle.
"You know what? I think I can spare some change for some good candy. It seems like you enjoy it very much." We both smiled at each other, our faces lighting up with genuine warmth. The colorful display of candies in the shop window reflected in our eyes, promising a brief escape from the stress of moving. Plus, if she really wants it, why not get it?
"Trish, are you serious right now?" Mom's voice cut through our moment, sharp with anger and disappointment. Her brow furrowed, and her lips pressed into a thin line, a familiar look that sent a shiver down my spine. Good.
I turned to face her, my expression defiant. The overhead lights of the mall cast harsh shadows, making the air thick with tension. Mom stood with her arms crossed, a shopping list clutched in one hand. Around us, other shoppers continued their business, oblivious to the storm brewing in the candy aisle.
"Mom, it's just a bit of candy," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "It's not like I'm asking for the moon."
She sighed, shaking her head. "Trish, we have a lot to do today. We don't have time for this," her voice was steady, but I could see the weariness in her eyes, the kind that came from years of balancing too many responsibilities.
Dad, ever the peacemaker, stepped in. "Why don't we all take a break? Moving is stressful enough without fighting over candy." He flashed us a reassuring smile, the kind that usually diffused our arguments. His eyes, however, held a hint of the same exhaustion I saw in Mom's.
I glanced at the clock on my phone. We had an hour before the moving vans arrived. Plenty of time, I thought, but Mom's tight schedule didn't leave room for our little indulgences.
"Fine," I muttered, shoving my hands into my pockets. "Sorry, Ki." Kiara just nodded and moved on to the dairy aisle.
We resumed our shopping, moving through the aisles in a tense silence. I could feel the weight of Mom's disapproval with every step.
Dad, sensing the tension, tried to engage me in conversation. "So, Trish, are you excited about the new house?"
I shrugged, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of a real answer. The truth was, I wasn't sure how I felt. The idea of starting over in a new place was both thrilling and terrifying. Yes, these past few months have been rough, and I'm basically a social outcast who got dumped by my (manipulative) girlfriend, but this place has good memories too. But I wasn't going to admit it there, not at the moment.
"Oh, I thought you would be more excited..." his voice trailed off a bit.
"I mean, yeah, it's great, and I'm kind of over this whole school and everyone there, but it's hard to leave something that has given you so many memories, you know?" I commented. He nodded briefly, having his own moment, presumably.
"Yeah, it was all perfect, until your sister died." He said in a dark tone.