Page 70 of Wrapped in Hope
“Oh, come on, pumpkin. A little dinner won’t hurt you.” He reaches for my arm but I pull away.
“No. I don’t want dinner.”
“What’s gotten into you, Hope?” my mom asks.
My mouth hangs open. “What do you think? You think you can say all the things you said to me last week and expect everything to be fine? You’re my parents, you should support my decisions. Instead, you judged me for my relationship with Holden and he left me. I love him and now he’s gone because you two can’t keep your opinions to yourself.”
My dad takes a deep breath. “So this is how it’s going to be from now on? I can’t voice my opinion without the chance of you pulling away from us?”
I hold firm. It’s my life. It’s my choice how to live it. “No, Dad. You’re more than welcome to voice your opinion. What you’re not allowed to do is forbid me from anything. I’m not a child. I should get to choose how I live my life. Until you can learn to accept that, I’m afraid this is how our relationship will be.”
He looks me up and down disapprovingly. “Let’s go, Lisa,” he says, walking away.
My mother is frozen in place, looking between me and my father. She takes a deep breath. “Don’t forget to call and let us know you’re safe.” She closes the distance between us, presses a kiss to my forehead, and chases after my dad.
I stand alone, like always.
I start walking mindlessly when Brittney, a new friend I made, comes running up to me. “Hope, do you want to ride to the party with us?”
I look at her bright red hair that is piled up on her head, her fair skin, and friendly blue eyes, and smile. “Sure.”
She holds out her hand, that I take, and leads me over to a group of people. They are all excited and chattering endlessly, but I stay quiet, still not feeling the excitement and energy of the day.
It’s growing crowded outside due to everyone filing out of the auditorium. I look for him in the sea of faces, hoping that maybe he came just to keep his word. I search and I search, looking over every face, and suddenly, I see him. He’s standing at least twenty feet from me. His dark hair is styled neatly and his mouth is drawn into a straight line. I can only see his face due to the many people walking between us, but it’s him. I know it is. I can feel it like his body is calling to mine.
Someone bumps into my shoulder, pushing me forward and I lose sight of him. When I bring my eyes back up, he’s gone. I walk away from the group of people I’m standing with, walking toward where I saw him. I look over everyone, hoping to find him. But he’s gone. I feel my heart break even more.
* * *
I’mat the party with a drink in my hand. I’ve had several already and for the first time in a week, I care about nothing. Holden said he kept stealing from me, but all the alcohol I’ve consumed has stolen what’s left.
The pain.
It’s completely gone now.
In a way, I feel lighter, more carefree. But on the other hand, I feel like I’m missing something, a piece that belongs in my chest. I’ve carried around pain in one form or another for five years, and now it’s gone. It leaves a gaping hole inside of me. I’m not sure which is worse, pain and sadness or emptiness.
“Hi, beautiful,” a guy my age with golden-blond hair says as he comes to stand beside me.
“Hi,” I reply. The few drinks I’ve had is enough to keep me from correcting him like I normally would.
“Are you here alone?” His eyes flash around us, looking for a boyfriend who may come back to claim me.
I laugh. “Yep.” I’m always alone.
He offers up his panty-dropping smile. “Want some company?” I see him take me in from my feet to my eyes.
I do the same, mulling over the question. Do I want company or do I want to be left alone? I’m tired of being alone. “Sure.” I force a smile.
He places his arm around my neck. “I’m Brad.”
“Hope.”
“That’s a pretty name. I admit, I need a little more Hope in my life.”
I laugh out loud. “Like I haven’t heard that one before.”
“It was worth a shot.” He shrugs. “Do you want to grab a fresh drink and maybe go outside and talk? Get to know one another?”