July 4th
11:57PM

Today was such a beautiful day, a cloudless blue sky that seemed to stretch on for forever. The smell of clean linen floated from the house and into the breeze that ruffled my hair just right and warmed me as it blew across my bare skin.

After I told my father about Uncle Scott, he stood up from the table, motioning for me to stay put as I tried to follow.

He stormed out the back door to where my mother and Uncle Scott were setting up and talking, their voices floating in on the breeze.

I bit my lip, my anxiety spreading through my chest and tugging on my lungs, a choking feeling overcoming me as I struggled to breathe. I could hear them out in the yard; my father yelling at my Uncle, my mother mute after hearing the accusations.

I took a deep breath; in through my nose, out through my mouth and told myself, 'Fuck him, his fault.'

I stood and took the few steps to the window, parting the thin curtain to watch the succeeding argument between the two men. I crossed my arms over my chest, a snide smirk forming on my lips, "Bastard," I murmured, letting the fabric fall in front of the window again.

Sitting back down as the shouting continued to filter in through the window, I could hear it all with almost perfect clarity.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Scott?" My father snarled.

"Gavin, what're you talking about?" asked my mother. I could hear the unexpected surprise in her voice.

"Your brother has been behaving inexcusably towards our daughter." He shouted the last word and I could tell he was fuming. I didn't need to peek out the window to know that my father had his hands clenched into tight fists, his knuckles turning white.

"Scott has done nothing wrong," said my mother, trying to defend him.

"Yeah, not a damn thing!" I heard Uncle Scott bellow as the breeze picked up.

"Marie you don't even know!" shouted my father over the wind.

It became silent, apart from the wind. My mother, no doubt, in a glaring duel with my father. The silence stretched on and I began to feel bored with my eavesdropping.

"Marie... do you- do you know about this?" asked my father abruptly, incredulous.

I perked up at his question, straining my ears to hear the response.

Nothing but guilty energy filled the omnipresent silence. I blinked several times, willing the tears to stay at bay; of course, they fell, rolling down my cheeks, as silent as a doe in the woods.

I couldn't believe it. My own mother had given my Uncle permission to do whatever he pleased with me. She'd basically given me away. Ugh.

As the tears continued to flow down my cheeks, I sniffled and ran upstairs to the bathroom connected to my bedroom, turning the faucet on and splashing icy water on my face.

I stood, staring at my reflection in the mirror, hurt and confusion harboring in my lily pad green eyes. I didn't understand. I couldn't understand. My own mother...

I left the bathroom, entered my room and collapsed onto my bed, knowing my cries would soon drift me off to sleep.

***

"Willow? It's party time." My father gently shook me awake and I looked up at him through foggy sleep eyes.

I shook my head 'No.'

"Everyone keeps asking about you. Come downstairs, pumpkin, please?" He tried again.

"Mmm," I tossed my legs over the side of the bed and stood up to straighten my dark blue dress.

"Ugh," I groaned, blinding sunlight filtering in through the open drapes. Squinting, I lifted my arm to check the time on my watch, amazed to find that I had only napped for about an hour.

I fixed the red ribbon that had come free of my hair as I slept, and followed my father - who was patiently waiting outside my bedroom door - down the stairs.

Once I had descended enough of the stairs I could see the living room in whole. Family and friends littered every inch of the connecting living-room and kitchen. Laughter permeated the air around me and I stared down, engrossed by my merry family.

"Willow, hi." A male voice said, catching my attention.

Authors Note
Please point out any mistakes you see.
Please, please, please~
I'm not perfect, [no one is]
But if you guys could help ya girl out...
That'd be really great 🤘
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