The words hung in the air, heavy and unspoken until now. The bustling mall seemed to fade into the background as the weight of his statement settled over us. I glanced at Kiara, who was now quietly examining a row of yogurts, oblivious to the tension surrounding me and Dad.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Dad, I—"
"It's okay, Trish," he interrupted softly. "We don't have to talk about it. Let's just get through today."
I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat. We continued our shopping in silence, the stress of moving already enough for all of us. Nobody was particularly happy when I suggested moving, they thought that I was insane, and I agree, I looked a little insane as well, but everyone needs a little change, a little something to push them towards the right path.
Mom continued to lead the way, her focus entirely on the task at hand. She picked items off the shelves with precision, ticking them off her list as she went. I followed, my eyes wandering over the rows of products, my mind miles away.
As we turned a corner, I noticed a little girl tugging at her mother's sleeve, pointing eagerly at a display of stuffed animals. The sight made me smile, a small reminder of simpler times. I felt a pang of nostalgia but quickly pushed it aside. Avery and I used to shop like that every time, but that was old news, we didn't know where it was. That one phone call ruined all our lives.
"Trish, can you grab those paper towels?" Mom's voice jolted me back to reality. I nodded and reached for the package, adding it to our overflowing cart.
We made our way to the checkout, where the cashier greeted us with a cheerful smile. Mom exchanged pleasantries while I stared at the candy rack, a remembrance of simpler and safer times.
As we left the store, bags in hand, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. The tension between us had eased, if only slightly. I glanced at Mom, who was already checking her watch and mentally planning our next move.
Dad caught my eye and winked, a silent promise that things would get better. I hoped he was right.
---
Back in my room, there was a voicemail awaiting me.
"Hey, it's Finn. bro you need to call me back, I found something disturbing about your new house." Huh, that's strange, Finn never leaves me a voicemail, and he doesn't call me anymore, not after I told him off.
I didn't call him back, it was for the best. He doesn't deserve my time, patience, or forgiveness, he didn't stand by me when I got suspended for lying about me dying.