Your Day is Done

Despite the late hour you were wide awake, your blood pumping. You’d just stood up to Fiona! Like, really stood up to her. You’d somehow found the courage and confidence that had eluded you all of these years. Not only had she not kicked your ass, she actually looked impressed with you and damn if that didn’t feel good. Though physically tired, you felt…strong. Strong of body and spirit. What a day this had been. You let out a sigh and pray that the look Fiona just gave you was the beginning of something healthy and good.

After a couple of minutes reflecting on the evening you decide to turn in yourself. You flick the lights off and head upstairs.

As you reach the top of the stairs you see Fiona stood still as a statue in the central hall. The washroom light was on and the door to your mother’s room was open a crack, somebody in there must have popped out for a moment. Perhaps to get glass of water or something. With the door ajar the low voices within the room could just be heard out here and something had caught your sister’s ear.

You walk up beside Fiona and she looks at you with a look of confusion like you’d never seen before. From the room you could hear Zoey opening up to your mother and Elsie.

“He’s a good man but a hard man. We have a lot of fun, a lot of good times…we used to anyway.” There is a heavy pause. “It got worse after Mom left us. So much worse.” Zoey says through a sniffle. “If I just…if I wasn’t so stupid…he wouldn’t get so mad at me…and she wouldn’ta left!”

“Aw sweetie.” Your mother’s voice soothes as you hear more muffled sobs. “It’s not your fault.”

“I try to be good. I try to be smart.” Zoey mewls wretchedly. “I can’t be the woman he wants me to be. I’m not…good enough.” Her voice descends once more into weeps.

“Shhhhh.” Your mother comforts her.

“You are good enough. You are so good.” Elsie whispers. “You are one of the most wonderful people I know.”

Fiona looks both baffled and aghast at what she had heard. As if she could not process the terrible truth Zoey was confessing. You knew that your sister idolized your own deceased father, probably too much so. Hearing such a heart wrenching account about another girl and her dad was something Fiona had not been prepared to hear this night.

“Why…?” Fiona begins to ask before her words fail her. You go to hug her but she stops you. Shaking her head she mutters to herself. “I’m too tired for this shit.” Turning from you she disappears into her room, closing the door silently so as not to disturb the moment happening in your mother’s room. You stare after her for a while before letting out another sigh.

Briefly you consider checking in on the others, but they were still navigating the deep waters of Zoey’s pain and you felt that your presence would not be helpful right now. El would have come to get you if you were needed. No, your eventful day was done. First you pop into the washroom for a very brief shower then retire to your room.