The Messenger
I’m jolted awake by the doorbell continuously ringing. I’m wondering who I’m expecting so early in the morning. Maybe just my nosey old neighbor telling me I need to fix my mailbox the neighborhood kids purposely ran over. As I open the door I’m ready to tell her I’m working on it. But as I open the door I see the one person I’ve avoided for pretty much half my life well since Senior Year Prom. But I was just curious as to why he was here. I finally came to my senses and asked him to come in. As he walked in he had this uncomfortable worried expression on his face. What did my Ex high school boyfriend, whom I hadn’t seen since the last time I was home? Which has been years by the way want to say to me. Especially in this serious-worried mood, he was in. So I asked him if he wanted anything to drink. “No, I’m good,” he replied.
“ So why are you here Ethan?’ I asked him. “ I wish I didn’t have to be the person to tell you this but Adaline your umm… your mother she umm…” I couldn’t think I was becoming dizzy. I had to get a hold of myself. I had to be strong for her. “It’s okay she died didn’t she “ I couldn’t take it, I couldn’t my best friend, my mother. Oh my god, She’s gone. I don’t remember anything. All I remember is waking up on my couch. I asked Ethan what happened and he told me I blacked out when he told me the news about my mom. “I can’t believe this is happening,” I whispered. We locked eyes for a couple of seconds but I couldn’t stand to look at him right now. Then he asked “What about your mom or me being here,” he asked me. “ Both,” I replied. I wanted to know how this happened. She couldn’t have just dropped dead. “ Do you know how it happened,” I whispered? My mom was in the best of health, well the best of health you could ask for at 65 years old. I mean there are other ways to die… But I couldn’t bring myself to think about that though.
“ I do but I don’t think I should be the person to tell you,” he answered. Wait, what? He could come and tell me that my mom was dead but not how she died? “ What do you even mean by that Ethan, you can come and tell me my MOTHER is dead which should I mention is twenty-two hundred miles from here. But you can’t tell me how she died? And don’t even try to say don’t shoot down the messenger stuff Ethan - ” I screamed. “ Listen Ads,” he interrupted. “ Don’t call me Ads, you lost that right a long time ago when you told me we couldn’t be together because I didn’t want to go to Brown with you,” I screamed. “ You know what I genuinely thought you changed but here you go proving me wrong. Why’d you even come here Ethan if you couldn’t even tell me how my own MOTHER died?” I can’t with Ethan right now. I wish he would just go back to Utah and let me be in New York. Then it hit me. “ Oh my god she’s gone I can’t I didn’t even get to say goodbye, you know what my last words were to her, I told her I didn’t want to come home because I hated it there. That hurt her so much I bet, and I didn’t get to tell her I was sorry!” I sobbed. I couldn’t keep it together knowing I hurt my mom’s feelings and that was the last thing I said to her.
“ Listen Ads I mean Adaline I’m really sorry honestly I am but back home they need you,” he said. Why would they need me back home? They have my little “perfect” sister and dad and mom’s friends. Why did they possibly need me? I can’t stand to be there. I just can’t but I have to do it for my mom. “ Okay, I’m going for her funeral, checking on daddy for a couple of days, taking care of stuff then coming back here,” I explained. We stood there for a couple of seconds thinking. “Okay as long as you talk to Detective Jeon about any possible enemies your mom had.” he rushed. Wait what did he just say, possible enemies. “ Did you just say, possible enemies? Was my mother murdered? Ethan answer me!” I screamed. He paused for a couple of seconds like he thought he had already said too much then whispered “ Geez. Adaline, please quiet down, you have neighbors still sleeping. Anyways, that’s what it seemed like at the crime scene.” What a crime scene, this couldn’t be happening it was already too much that my mom is dead but to learn she was murdered is a whole other thing. “ Where did it happen, Ethan?” I demanded. “ He hesitated then seemed like he came to a decision and said, “I think I’ve told you too much already.” Too much what is wrong with him! “What do you mean too much, she is I mean was my mom I should know everything.” He stood there silent for a second then whispered “ I don’t like this anymore than you do but I’m just doing what I was told to do nothing more nothing less.” I can’t believe him. Actually, I can. He was always like this playing by the rules even if it was the wrong thing to do in that situation. I just don’t think I can deal with him this early in the morning. “ Ethan I think you should leave.” I whispered. He got up then paused then said “ Okay, just know I’m really sorry Adaline, I never meant to hurt you and I really loved you back then, and I still love you know.” Then he waved and said “I hope you can forgive me and maybe we can hangout back home if you’re up to it.” He smiled then walked out the door.
