The drive took about forty minutes in my Aircar, even at full speed, because of the storm starting. As soon as we landed at the side of their home, I jumped out, and walked to front door. The snow was covering everything. You couldn't even see the frozen ocean in front of the house because of all the whiteness. I removed with my hands a bit of snow that was wetting my grey sweatpants. The snow was so high there it could touch right under my knees.

Walking fast, with a shortening breath, it was obvious I was in a hurry.

But when I started walking the stairs up, remembering my last savage fight at ten or eleven years old with Isic made me rethink my decision of going there. Maybe she didn't really need me. I promised myself I wouldn't step into that house ever again until he would apologize to me. It was because he said I was never allowed to go inside.

I gritted my teeth. I never knew he could be that mean.

But then I heard Roxanne yell gibberish in the window in her room. That was enough to make me take the final step.

Naisha, the interphone voice said in a cheerful voice- or as cheerful as a robot could get, "hi Autumn. Long time no see."

"yes." I wasn't in the mood to talk. I could only think about my second mother.

She unlocked the front door. "I know you're busy, as always. Go!"

I ignored her comment, and went in. But was I really? Roxanne's previous room was the one right in front of the door. But it was closed, and I could hear no sound, so I took the grey hallway on my left full on hanging paintings. I lowkey didn't know where I was going. It was a long hallway. The only reason I knew I hadn't passed her room was because at some points, I'd hear her scream.

When I turned a corner, Isic was there. The first thing he did was look me up and down. I stared at him with raised eyebrows. When he finally looked me into the eyes, he "she's in here".

I just shook my head. I walked closer to him, then touched the metal panel. He didn't move, so I found myself in his personal space.

But once it opened, and I took all the mess all in, I forgot about that. My jaw dropped as. It was a mess. All of her panting supplies were on the ground; pencils, brushes, pastels, crayons. Her paper also, and canvas. Then her bedsheets were also on the floor, and her window was wide open. The air getting in was icy.

First thing she said, "your mom hurt me."

I stepped in. "what's wrong, Roxanne?" I stepped closer to her, and extended my hand. She was on the bed jumping. "hold my hand, please."

She ignored me. "hold my hand, Roxanne. Don't leave me hanging."

She didn't hold my hand. But she stopped jumping. It was improvement. Next, she positioned herself on the floor, and started painting—while yelling loudly songs.

Or more like this phrase "cherry hurt me."

I waited for a long time for her to stop. She didn't. the phrase started bothering me. But what she said towards the end was even more unsettling.

Then she said this. "my husband. Why him, though?"

She stayed like that for a long time. I massaged her back, I held her hand, tidied her room a bit. But every time I would start doing something, Isic would intervene, and say that 'it's not the right', or 'she doesn't like it like that'.

He didn't know that. And if he was so good, why did he call me?

I didn't want to start a fight. So, I focused on my goal; calm Roxanne down.

Suddenly, she became very calm on her own. She looked normal, and I wondered if she had been. It's like she knew what I was thinking.

She came in front of me and held my wrists. "she came between me and someone she should never touch; my husband." She said.

I just looked at her. I wasn't sure she was sane. "this is me. I'm okay. I just needed to let all the anger out some way." I wondered if that's how I looked when someone would hurt me.

But she was serious.

What had mother done? And what role did it play in the rest of the story?

How did you all like the chapter. It's kind of short, but full of info for the future.... :) Hope you enjoyed. Don't forget to vote, comment or add to your reading list. Thank you for sticking with me till here.

Love, always, from me to you, incredible person :) I appreciate you so much. i have poetry books. You can check them out on my profile

-Sel