Claire

"You could have pushed yourself a bit harder." My dad said as we turn down our street. He had decided we needed to begin my marathon training earlier this season to see that I am more prepared than my competition.  Though, I think he looked for any excuse not to accepted what had happened to my sister. Dad wanted everyone to still see such a perfect, completely functional family.

"I know you struggled with your sister being gone," he continued, "We all have. I just don't want you to lose sight of your future. You can't let Mia's battles become your own." I continued to stare out the window, not wanting to pay him any attention. That was the thing, I was her battle. I contributed to her pain, both knowingly and unknowingly. I had never told my parents I went and saw her at Haven. They liked to pretend I was still locked away in my bubble, unable to grasp reality.

When we finally got home, I noticed mom was unusually dazed, lost in her own thoughts, while the pot on the stove continued to boil over. She didn't even acknowledge me when I walk into the kitchen for a bottle of water. My cat, Romeo, jumps from the couch and curls up around my feet, begging for his attention.

"Mom?"

"Oh, hi darling." She blinks away her watery eyes. "How as practice?"

"She has room for improvement," dad interjects, walking over to mom, and placing a kiss on her cheek. She smiles, as if she wasn't just on the verge of tears. A typical pull your shit together moment while in front of dad.

I am, however, not as oblivious as my dad. "Whats going on, mom?" I ask her quietly.

"Nothing, sweetie." She answers, before returning to her cooking. I walk over to the stove and begin helping her chop the remaining vegetables so that the conversation doesn't draw attention from my dad.

"Mom, I know you, and something is wrong." I state plainly.

She stops mid chop for a deep sigh, "Your sister called. She plans to leave the Haven next month."

My heart stops. Maybe she has finally decided to start over. "That's good news right? She will be back here, and we can help with adjusting to --"

"No," mom interrupts my sudden gleam of hope. "Mia isn't moving back home. She is moving New York. There is a program up there where she plans to do volunteer work." Mom studdered to finish. "She sounded happy. She told me this was her chance to start over and leave everything behind."

Including me

I felt the same sobbing rising in my throat. Would she even come to say goodbye? She would need to grab the rest of her things, right? I wondered if Mia even planned to tell me? A familiar heaviness fell upon my chest.

No, not here. Not in front of them; I would not break down. I needed to get away.

Any comments and/or critiques are welcomed as it will help me in the editing process.