Isa

I once again was awaken by the sweet, savory, mouth watering, smell of breakfast. Only this time, I woke up in my childhood room.

The same room I grew up in stayed untouched, every single trinket that I collected, still in the orderly manner, I left it in.

Yawning, I looked around examining the pictures on the wall. As my eyes continued to inspect the room, one picture in particular caught my eye. It was one of my abuela and I at the beach. In the background were my parents along with my brother Al.

"Wow" I mumbled to myself, letting my fingertips graze the frame of the picture. I had to have been at least 10 or 11 in the picture. As I continued to stare at the image in front of me, tears started to cloud my vision.

It had been so long since I had communication with my family. I had missed my brothers deployment, his wedding, my nephew being born. So many things, family oriented events, I missed because of my naïve-ness.

Taking one last final look at it, I walked away before the waterworks began. Walking out of the bedroom, and down to the hall bath, I proceeded to take care of my personal hygiene. In there my mom left a note, telling me that she had a fresh set of clothes for me and a new toothbrush for my morning breath.

As I read the note a small smile approached my face. 'Mom stayed prepared' I thought to myself.

Instead of taking a shower, I decided to just brush my teeth. I know I probably reek, but I can't shower and put on the same dirty underwear, I wore the day before. While it might work for others, it didn't for me.

After I finished in the bathroom, I walked down stairs, letting my feet guide me since all my mind could focus on was food. In the kitchen my mom stood slaving over the stove, cooking up a feast.

"I knew you'd be up soon" she said, not once turning around from the stove.

How'd she know I was in here?

"Mom how'd-"

"I know everything" she said, turning her head over her shoulder to throw a smirk my way, before she returned to her cooking.

I slightly chuckled, having nothing more to say.

"So...how'd you sleep?" My mom asked.

"Umm...well considering all that's going on, I guess pretty good..." I said trailing off.

My mom finished stirring the grits that she was cooking, and came over to sit next me.

"What's wrong?" She asked, practically boring a hole into my soul, or at least that's what it felt like with how intensely she looked into my eyes.

"When will it get easier?" I said getting teary eyed. "I don't want to feel like this anymore. I want...I don't know...I just want to be myself again" I said, staring down at my, now, somewhat persperated hands.

Sighing she said "Honestly, I don't know what to tell you. The only real advice that I can give you, is to start with yourself"

"Myself?" I repeated in confusion

"Yes, yourself! Your the only solution to your pain" she sighed licking her lips simultaneously. "I know that doesn't make much of any sense now, but in due time it will" she said, softly rubbing circles into the back of my hand.

"Thank you" I managed to say, just an octive above a whisper.

"No problem" she simply smiled, before going to get some plates and bowls out of the cabinet. "Now here's the real question! Are you ready to eat?" She asked, with a cocked eyebrow and goofy smirk, already knowing the answer.

"Very" I said ,much louder than I was just moments earlier.

"Well let's dig in!" She said fixing my plate before fixing her own.

My mom had cooked: bacon, sausage, grits, eggs, waffles, pancakes, French toast, all the good stuff. And if I must say so myself it was absolutely scrumptious.

"Mm!" I said digging into my plate. "Mom this is sooooooo soooooo soooo good!" I dragged out feeling my eyes role to the back of my head.

"I told ya ya momma still got it" she said, rapidly blinking her eyes and fanning herself like she was 'hot stuff'.

"Okay Mom don't feel yourself too much" I said, beginning to laugh before I heard someone clear their throat. The sudden intrusion caused both, me and my mom, to snap our heads in that direction putting a slight damper in our, overly euphoric mood.

"Good morning" I said giving a shy smile to my father.

Instead of returning my greeting, he walked over to my mother and planted a sweet kiss on her cheek, ignoring my presence all in all.

"Now James" my mother started "you know, just as well as I do that, that wasn't nice" watching him fix his self a plate.

"Wow! Maria girl, the way this food is tasting it's making me want slap my momma" he said nonchalantly, ignoring my mother.

"James please" she pleaded, in hopes that we could reconcile, just my mother and I did.

"What? You want some more food?" He said playing clueless.

"Maybe I should go?" I said to my mom about to get up.

"No. You sit down." She said sternly getting more agitated by the second.

"Babe who are you talking to?" My dad asked, with furrowed eyebrows, still playing clueless.

"Your daughter! Maybe you should try it!" She spat back.

"Maria" he said shaking his head slowly in between chuckles. "I don't have a daughter" he said, as if the statement didn't bother him.

My mom shocked by what he just said gasped in astonishment. She had no words for his behavior.

"Honey. I'm so sor-" she started pleading for me to stay with her eyes.

"No, mom really it's fine" I said, shaking my head before standing up. "I actually have to-uh. I have a couple of things I need to do today so I'll just be on my way" I said chocking back tears.

"Okay" she said allowing me to go. "Keep in touch?" She asked.

"Definitely" I said half smiling, unable to fully smile, because of my now broken spirit.

"Alright. Well..." She said trailing off . "Momma loves you!" She whispered into my ear, kissing my hair, and holding onto me like it was our last time seeing each other.

"I love you too" I whispered back, my voice cracking ever so slightly, while I hugged her just the same.

" Alright. Go on now. Go take care of your business" she said showing me out.

"Thank you again! For everything..." I said, turning around just as my foot hit the first awaiting step, before walking off to my car.

As she saw me off, she waved her last goodbye, before I pulled out of the driveway.

Obviously, my dad wasn't as easy to reconcile with as my mom was. But then again my mom went through the the same thing, so maybe she has more of an understanding then my father.

Whatever the matter is, I hope that in time, sooner rather than later, that we can all be on the same page.

Starting my journey back home, I let my moms words marinate in my head, thinking of what my next move was going to be.

Maria (Isa's Mom)

Walking back in to the kitchen, I watched a still eating James, read the newspaper.

Walking over to him, I snatched the paper out of his hands. Replacing  my nice smile with an angry scowl.

"What was that for?" James asked, like he didn't already know

"James what the hell is wrong with you?!?!?" I asked in frustration, a good two seconds away from bitch slapping him.

"Maria, I really don't know why your yelling like its a big deal. Especially, since she not only abandoned me but the whole rest of the family, which the last time I checked included You!" He said not intimidated by my stares at all.

"Did you not forget time is 'precious'?!?" I asked, furrowing my brows together. "Huh?!?! Did you?!?" I said, now yelling in his face.

Sighing, he said "No, Maria I didn't"

"Well then act like it!!!!" I screamed, allowing my voice to crack. " She's trying to apologize and your not allowing her to!" I said getting more, and more irritated by his presence. "You better fix this James! And you better fix it before the week ends!" I said, walking away, and up the stairs to get some much needed rest.

"Well thanks for the warning mom!" He said, thinking I couldn't hear him, trying to be a smart ass.

"Keep right on, and you'll be sleeping outside!" I yelled back before slamming my bedroom door closed and locking it.

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So I know... My updating skills suck but here it is! 😊

I did one from Isa's mom's Pov

What'd you think she meant by 'time being precious'?

What about Isa's Dad? Harsh?

What do you think about Isa's next moves????

Thoughts?????

Please Rate, Vote, and Comment!!!

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo 😘😘😘😘😘😘