Obsession Read Free Page B

high
school when my mother found out.
    “Go rally our siblings and hand the
phone to Mom.”
    Riley sighed with annoyance, but did
as I’d asked.
    “When are you coming home to the
madness?” my mother asked over all the loud voices.
    “Ha! I moved away for a reason, Mom,”
I teased. Secretly, I missed that house more than anything. Being
on my own had its perks, but leaving my big family wasn’t
easy.
    “Maybe I’ll come visit you by myself.”
She chuckled, sarcasm high in her voice. I laughed with her. That
house wouldn’t survive three hours without my mom. “I’m kidding, I
couldn’t do that to your father.”
    “How is Dad? Is he home?” I asked
sounding hopeful.
    “No, honey, he had to switch to the
night shift.” Her voice dropped her words cracking slightly as
though she were trying to hold back emotion. Guilt filled me like a
knife twisting in my stomach. “When will I see you again?” Her
words sounded brighter, making the ache not as bad.
    “I’ll come home sometime soon, I
promise.”
    “Collin and Jacob’s birthday is coming
up. I’m sure they’d be ecstatic if you made it to their party. It
won’t be anything big, just something at our house with their
friends from Kindergarten.” My mother’s voice was gloomy,
embarrassed she couldn’t afford to throw a party at a trendy and
overly priced venue.
    “I’m sure it’ll be great, Mom. I loved
all my birthday parties at the house.”
    Both my parents felt bad about their
financial struggles. I sent them money monthly. At first they
wouldn’t accept it, but— I finally made them take it by asking them
to put it toward things for my siblings, or groceries. I told them
it was the least I could do after all I put them through. They
never once acted as though my mistakes were the cause of their
shortage in finances, even though it was true.
    “Well, I need to finish up dinner.
Thanks for taking my side with Riley. She sure is boy crazy,” My
mother sighed deeply.
    “So was I at that age.”
    “Oh Jamie, I’m afraid she’s worse than
you were!” We both laughed at my mother’s joke.. According to my
mother, I was an angel who had never dated anyone in high school.
She didn’t know about my secret life, the part that caused my life
to come crashing down like a mile long stack of Dominos.
    After I hung up with my mother, I knew
I couldn’t avoid opening that letter any longer. It was calling my
name from my purse in the kitchen. I sauntered down the hallway in
my pajamas, my hair damp from the shower I’d taken to pass the
time. Thankfully, it was still light outside. Darkness always made
those letters more daunting.
    My hand began to shake as I pulled the
black envelope from my purse. The envelopes were always pleasant
looking, but the insides chilled me to my bones.
    Taking one final look
around the condo, I sat on the couch, my fingers running along the
back of the envelope and then slipping under the wax sealing that
was stamped with the script lettering R&J . I shook my head, realizing
how dumb I was for being frightened of a stupid piece of paper. My
hesitance evaporated as my thumbnail peeled the paper back, making
a long ripping sound as it opened.
     
    I knew you’d come back.
You’ll always come back.
    - Rod
     
    “ Why is it so damn hot in
this state?” Nathan exclaimed as he slammed the door shut behind
him. I nearly fell off the couch at his entrance.
    I stood quickly, shoving the letter
and envelope in the back of my pajama bottoms. “Didn’t know you
were going to be around tonight,” I stated, attempting to sound
normal.
    He tossed his suitcase on the table
while sliding out of his jacket. “Yes, that’s because I was
supposed to be on my way to Chicago at this very moment, but I had
a last minute adjustment to my schedule.”
    “Yeah?”
    “Kobiashi couldn’t wait until Friday
to meet because he was so excited to share his latest idea.”
Nathan’s chest was puffed up, unable to contain his