26 May 2012
Chapter 1 - Part 3
The tray looked like mothers day. Dad had clipped a red rose from the garden and placed it in the narrow vase for her. It balanced precariously at the edge of the tray laden with spaghetti bolognase, a glass of red wine and a bowl of grated pamasan cheese to sprinkle over as she wished.
With each step, the vase wobbled dangerously close to edge. I moved slowly up the stairs like a trapeze artist walking the rope. Once I reached my mums room it took all my dexterity to balance the tray in one hand and push the door open.
As I entered the room, mums face was clearly not feeling like mothers day joy and the tray suddenly felt awkward and out of place. Today her face was red and puffy and she didn't look pleased to see me. She looked pained.
I put the tray down on her dressing table. "What's wrong mum?"
"Oh Emily...". My mum gasped. Her eyes welled up and and she bit her lip in a fight to stop tears.
I climbed onto her bed where she lay curled up under her duvet, looking sorry and sick. I hugged her. Mum hugged back and I could feel her breaking and then she cried. My mum was usually so strong but now she held me lightly, and it made her feel fragile, weak a stranger. Gently she pulled away and sat up. "You shouldn't see me like this."
"It's okay mum." I reassure her. "It's okay to cry. We all get sad sometimes."
Mum tucked my dark hair behind my ear. "I must have done something right to have you."
I smiled. "Is there anything I can do to help."
Mum looked away sad. "I could never ask it of you."
"It's fine mum. I'll do anything."
"It's for you really..."
"What is it?"
"Don't be friends with Jasmine Reid anymore."
"What...?"
"Please Emily... Whatever you can do to push her away, to keep you safe, you must! If you do this, I'll speak to your father. I'll try and make things better."
"I can't! She's my best friend!"
"Okay." mum looked away and started to cry. "Sorry, I never should have asked that if you. I guess your dad and I will just have to get a divorce."
"What? No mum! You can't! It cannot be that bad. Surely?"
"I don't want to be with him and work things out if your still friends with her...". Mum spoke glumly but I knew she'd made her mind up. I either had a best friend or a dad.
I sat frozen in the ice coldness of such a difficult choice I was being forced to make. Numbly I got off her bed and walked stiffly towards the door. "I'll do it mum. I'll do it for you and dad."
***
Back in my room, I removed the chain roughly from my neck. I looped it over my bedside lamp. The beautiful morning of lady birds and sunbathing seemed far away. Tomorrow I would pull away from Jasmine and break away our friendship. It would be broken and forced to wilt and die like the daisies. Their pure white petals already starting to turn brown and go limp.
1.3 Daisy Chain • Opuss № I