No Stepdad
After Everything, I Still Saw Him
This is a continuation of What Happened After Stepdad Railed Me but can be read as a standalone. Or you might like to start from the beginning.
I drove away and exhaled, enjoying the sun warming me after what felt like a long, cold winter. Birds appeared to chirp louder, people on the street wore less and smiled more while I left Dad’s and headed over to Lora’s.
Cardi B gave me sage advice through the speakers as I navigated the streets to the east of the city, then Mom called.
The music dimmed, a cloud covered the sun and I stared at my phone. I let it ring a few times, my hand almost hitting the ignore button, but after a while, I answered it.
“Josh! Honey, are you okay?”
“Hey Mom, yeah I’m okay. Just been busy, sorry I didn’t return your call.”
She paused, even through the car speakers I could hear her suck in a breath. “Is everything okay? I mean… have I…”
“…no, Mom. Nothing you did. I’ve just been really busy. We had exams, and being at Dad’s is closer, that’s all.”
“You’d tell me, right honey? You would tell me if something was wrong?”
“I promise. I’m just focusing on studies. Got to focus, remember?” I referred to her own comments about focusing back when I first started college.
“Alright. I love you honey. Please come over. I’ll make your favorite. We can hang out…”
“I promise. I will soon. You still haven’t spoken?”
She was silent a few seconds. “No, we haven’t and I don’t think we will. Really going our separate ways.”
“Sorry Mom. That sucks for you,” though I was relieved.
“I’m fine. It’s for the best. We didn’t part on a bad note.”
Damn. That subscribe button is a real bitch. Let’s do something about him.
