"How many times do I have to tell you to pay attention mija," her father yelled at her. "Jesus Cristo, why do you make my life so difficult?"
"I'm sorry papa I'm trying, the colors are just too pretty," she smiled looking at the painted glass behind her father. Her father gave such a defeated look. He had been trying to talk to his 18-year-old daughter, who barely graduated high school, about her plans for the future. Rue had always been an aloof little girl who had never quite seemed to match her body's age with her mind's age. Of course, they got her evaluated when she was younger. Right along with the little bundle of sunshine, she was diagnosed with both ADHD and autism. Oddly enough this didn't make her difficult to deal with. She was always a pleasure to be around and brought life into the room. The problems began when it was time to focus and get serious. All manners of drugs and therapy were used to try and help her stay on task. After years of such methods, nothing took. According to many different doctors, it seems as if her body is naturally immune to any known medications. Not even a heavy dose of depressants could knock her out for long. Her father was at his wit's end.
"Rue, papa is going on a business trip, so you'll be staying with your tia Julie, how does that sound?"
"That sounds like fun, tia Julie has so many pretty colors in her house." She smiled while she shifted focus to the chimes outside the window. "Alright mija, go pack your things so we can leave soon." Rue went to go to her room and collected her things. As she went up the stairs her father gazed at her daughter with long strawberry blond hair, blue wanderlust eyes, a slender stature, and fair brown skin. She resembled her mother so much at times especially with her carefree attitude. He hoped that she never lost that light. After collecting all of their things they loaded the car and began driving to her aunt's house. Her father began contemplating his decision as they got closer and closer to their destination. "Papa, how long will you be gone?" She had her headphones on and was sitting in the backseat.
"I'm not sure, Rue, there are a lot of business deals that are happening, it could be a long or a short," he laughed. "But you'll have so much fun with your tia you'll barely notice the time going by."
"I'll miss you, Papa," she said softly.
"Y también mija," he returned. They drove the rest of the way in a subtle silence with nothing but the sound of the wind coming in the windows.
When they finally arrived at Aunt Julie's house Rue was curled up asleep in the backseat. "Rue, it's time to wake up we're here," she slowly got up rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She and her father gathered her belongings and brought them to the front porch. Taking her headphones down she looked up at the house she would be staying at for the foreseeable future. It was a two story modern house with a blue and black covered front, tinted windows and a gray roof. There was a big tire swing that hung from a great oak tree in the front yard. Both the father and daughter pair had fond memories of the tree. For the father especially as this was where he proposed to his wife. Collecting himself, "Do you need any help unpacking, mija."
"No, I'm okay, where's Tia Julie?"
"She had to run some errands but she'll be home soon. Now Rue, before I leave I want you to know how much I love you and know that I will always be right here with you," he placed his palm on her heart as she grasped the back of his warm hands. They then embraced each other as the emotions in the air began to well up. "No matter how far away I am I will always love you, I'll miss you so much mija." He gathered her face in his hands and placed a tender kiss on his temple tears glazing his eyes but not quite spilling over. "Goodbye, papa," with two simple words and an apathetic expression she sent her father off as he got into his car and drove into the distance. What had eluded him in his timely departure and was thought to be a well-kept secret never escaped his daughter's attention. She knew that he'd been having a rough time raising her and it got even worse when her mother disappeared. While most thought she couldn't pay attention to save her life, to the rare few who truly knew her she was someone that picked up on the small details. The source of this seemingly erratic attention to detail was unknown but what Rue knew for sure was that her father was never coming back.
She began to take all of her belongings into the house, taking small steps to look at each and every one of the art pieces that adorned the walls and ceiling. Some abstract paintings, collages, scripts, and even small sculptures hung high from above. Like a small little museum of wonders that grew more fascinating every time she came to visit or stay when her father was away. She'd known her way around the house like the back of her hand and placed her things down quickly. She felt a bit peckish and thought to go to the kitchen to find something to snack on until her aunt got there. As she approached the kitchen she felt that there was something off about the usually pretty colors. She felt her feelings answered as she walked to the kitchen table and noticed an unassuming cardboard box sitting in the middle of it.