I awoke to the sun hitting my face. It was later in the morning.
I went downstairs to see my mom bustling about in the kitchen.
"Need any help, mom?"
"No A stor. I'm getting ready for tomorrow. I'm cooking all of Sara's favorite foods."
"I take it we're not going to her house today?"
"No,she’s not feeling well today.” My mom responded quietly. “With Nora coming in, I also need to make sure the house it tidied up.” Then she finally looked at me with a forced smile, I could tell she was going to cry. "Go on now. Get your breakfast. I'd like to do this on me own today." She turned around to face the other counter. I heard sniffling.
I hurriedly grabbed a granola bar and a cup of coffee and went back to my room.
I started sifting through my photos from my travels to find ones to print out for Sarah to see. It took a few hours, but they looked great. I finished up one of my projects for a freelancing job, and then my mom called me downstairs.
A woman with long black hair, and a face to match my mom stood in the foyer.
“Nora!” I ran and hugged her. “I know it’s only been a few weeks, but I am very glad to see you.”
“Me too.” Nora hugged me back. She was very boney.
I had stayed with her for a little bit, while I was visiting New York City. I hadn’t told anyone that I planned on moving in with Nora, and possibly going to school in the City after I got settled in.
“Have you told dad and mom yet?” She asked me.
I shook my head. “With everything going on, I didn’t want to be like ‘yeah, so i’m moving to Connecticut with Nora’.”
“You’ll eventually have to tell them.” She told me.
“Yes, I know. There is just so much going on, Nora. I will tell them.”
“I’d do it sooner rather than later.” Nora said, and then moved on to the next room.
I could hear the children giggling in the kitchen. I suspected that they were in the kitchen.
Jessalyn was ten, Liam was six, and Carter was five. I followed their joyful noises.
I gave an awkward hello to my brother-in-law William, and sat at the counter.
Mom and Nora decided to go to the grocery store. Jessalyn went with them, and the boys stayed at the house.
I had told my mom that I had plans, but I wasn’t specific about it being a date.
Sam hadn’t told me what exactly we were doing tonight. He only said it was ‘a thing’. There were more than a dozen ‘things’ that it could be. All of my clothes were strewn about my room.
Olivia was home, and she came into my room, eyebrows raised at my distress.
“Good, you’re home. Make yourself useful and help me find something to wear.”
“Where are you going?” She asked, and rummaged through the heap of clothes that lay on my bed.
“Sam only said that he had tickets for this thing, and I don’t know what this thing is. Could be some play, could be a gallery showing. Who knows.”
“Okay, okay.” I saw a light bulb light up in her head, when she picked up one of my a-line skirts.
Olivia ended up picking out my entire outfit.
I sat in my room, and finished getting ready. It didn’t take long. I wasn’t one for much make-up, and my hair was easy enough to do.
Olivia called up the stairs at 4:34. I grabbed my bag, and made my way downstairs. I became incredibly nervous.
“Wow, you look great.” He complimented me.
“As do you.” I replied with a smile.
Sam opened both the front door, and the car door for me.
“Where are we going?” I asked him.
“Into Columbus. We’ll go to dinner, and then after that it’s a surprise.” He smiled at me, and started the car.
“I hate surprises.” I admitted.
We ate dinner at a burger joint, and then we made our way. I kept asking Sam where we were going, but he wouldn’t break.
He parked the car, and then we both exited the car. After two blocks I saw a venue with a sign that read ‘FORGET DECEMBER, TONIGHT’. The band had retired seven years prior. They were a pop-punk band, that was led by a piano.
“No way!” I got really excited. “Oh my god. Even after fourteen years, Adam McArthur is still my favorite.”
“I know.” He replied.
“How’d you know?” I asked him.
He lifted up my arm, “You have his lyrics tattooed on your wrist.” He pointed to the words that were imprinted into my skin. I read the words _________.
The line was starting to get long, so we hurried to get a spot.
“Oh my god. I’m so excited, Sam. You have no idea.”
When the doors opened, we quickly found our place on the floor. We were closer to the piano than I thought we would be.
The opening band was another from my early years. Sam seemed to know every word that they were singing. I just danced along. The hour between them, and Forget December was one of the longest that I had ever experienced, even with us talking the entire hour.
When the lights dimmed, my heart sped up. The energy in the room was incredible. You could feel everyone around you get excited, and it brightened up the dark, and dingy venue.
I sang (or rather, screamed) every single word, along with everyone else in the place. The last song they played was their longest song. Nearly ten minutes long. Tears started falling from my eyes when the first notes were played on the piano. This was unusual, I wasn’t really a crier. I had a feeling that I wasn’t the only emotional one in the room.
When the show had ended, Sam asked me if I wanted to wait to meet the band.
It had been ten years since I last met them. I was shaking in my boots with excitement at the prospect of meeting them again.
I think Sam saw my expression, because he was laughing.
It wasn’t much longer until the band came out. My knees were shaking as I got photos with each member. Sam was very animated talking to each of them, which made me feel better not having awkward conversations with them. Generally I wasn’t awkward, but I was just too nervous and excited to say anything coherent. Adam complimented my tattoo, which made me act even more like a nervous goof than I already was. I just kind of smiled and nodded.
The ride home felt quick. Too quick. I was buzzed from the show, and Sam held my hand in his for almost the entire ride.
He again walked me to my door, and kissed me goodnight. We took one last look at each other, before I went into the house.
Olivia again was in my room, sprawled out on my bed with a book in her hands.
“Don’t you have a room of your own?” I asked her, as I took my jacket off, and set it on the back of the chair.
“Okay, talk. What did you do?” She replied.
I smiled, and pulled out my camera, and grabbed my laptop.
“Okay, you know how I was obsessed with Forget December?” I asked Olivia.
“Was?” She raised her eyebrows. “Have you seen all of the posters in here?”
“Fine, alright. I still love them.” I sat next to her, and started uploading the pictures that I had taken on my computer. “Sam had tickets for their show tonight, and he still remembered that I loved them. I’m surprised he still remembers.”
“You like him?” Olivia asked me.
I smiled. “Yes. Yes I do like Sam.” I thought about the past two day, and how much I liked being with him.
She replied, “I want to meet him.”
“You’ve met him before.”
“Years ago. Who knows who this new Sam is, and if I trust him with my sister. I require a meeting with him.”
“Really, Olivia?” I looked at her.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzZMfdMoO2
“We could double date.” She smiled.
“I am not double dating with my sixteen year old sister.”
“Oh, come on. It could be fun. I’m sure Sierra would be up for it.” Olivia said to me.
I shook my head.
“You’re no fun.” Olivia replied.
I felt myself getting tired, and decided that it was time to go to bed. Especially with the long day tomorrow. I started getting my bed ready for sleep.
“I’m scared.” Olivia said, out of the blue.
“Of what?”I asked her, and sat down.
“Of losing Sara. I mean, I know that she’s going to…. but I don’t want her to.” Olivia started to tear up.
“None of us do, Liv.” I assured her.
“Knowing this is her last Thanksgiving. Our last Thanksgiving as a full family. It tears me up. I’ve grown fond of her these past few years.” She paused for a minute. “And to think, Lily and Eliza will be without a mom. I don’t know what I would do without my mom.”
I couldn’t bring myself to say anything, so I just hugged her tight while she cried.
She continued to cry, so I walked her to her room, and tucked her into her bed, shut off the light, and closed the door.
I went back into my own room, and got myself ready, and went to bed. My mind stuck on Sara.
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