Say Hello, To
Goodbye
Chapter Six
Neglected.
"I like your home." Nick said, looking
around at the small little cabin. The kitchen was small
like his, but homey. There were pictures covering the
walls of everything you could imagine. Soccer pictures, family
pictures, baby pictures, everything. This made Nick
wish he had pictures to hang up. His walls were bare.
"Thanks," She smiled, "Take a seat."
Nick sat at the small little table and watched her make
the coffee.
"So why are you running so late?" She asked
curiously.
"Didn't want to go home. Sometimes its all
just overwhelming. Running helps me get away." He was
somewhat honest with her.
"I see."
"What were you running so late for?"
She swallowed hard, "Same reason. Overwhelming
sometimes." She poured the coffee into two mugs,
"You know Nick," She said while handing him his,
"You are a really interesting guy." She took
a seat across from him.
"How so?"
"Well, i've ran into you three times and every
time I do, It's... interesting. I'm
never bored when I'm around you. It's kind of
odd." She laughed.
He watchd her laugh, couldn't help but smile.
"And you are very complicated Mia."
She laughed louder now and covered her mouth quickly. "I
better be quieter. But hows that Nick? How am I
complicated?" She patiently waited for an explanation,
before being interrupted.
"Mia?" A little voice asked, coming from behind
her.
"Yes Mila?" She asked, while picking the
small girl up. Her nightgown was pink and her blonde hair was a
mess.
"I couldn't sleep." The little girl looked at Nick
carefully, deciding whether or not she liked him.
So, he smiled politely at her, making her little cheeks turn
bright red.
"I'll be there in a sec. Get Polly the Pony and
grab a book." Mia said with a happy tone.
"No, I want you to make a story up."
She begged.
"Fine. Give me a minute." She kissed her on the
forehead and they both watched her run to her room.
Nick watched Mia take a big drink of her coffee and
sigh. They both sat silent, but it wasn't
awkward. The kind of silence that makes you just...
think.
"She looks just like you." Nick finally said.
Mia smiled, "She's a little firecracker. When
she's not so tired, she will be loud and obnoxious." She
laughed. "My dad says I was the same way."
"I'd believe it." Nick laughed. "So..."
He trailed. "Whats the other ones name?"
"Well her name is May. She's eight. And she's a
little more quiet and shy. She is very independent, keeps most
things to herself. She was hit the hardest, I
think."
"What happened?" Nick asked, watching Mia think of how
to answer.
Finally she said, "It was in a bar fight. My dad just ended
up... dying. Crazy huh? He was drunk and so was the other
guy. And the other guy is in jail, twenty to life. While my
dad is gone. It's crazy when people die. Makes you
really think."
Nick nodded. "So what made you get custody of the
kids?"
"They are my sisters. I just had to. I had just
turned eighteen, so they had no other family to go to. Our
mother was sent to rehab after having Mila. They are my
world now. I'm like their mom. When you love someone so
much, you do whatever you can for them. Those girls will
always be number one now."
For the first time, Nick realized the tiredness in her eyes and
the black below them. He was seeing the truth. Mia really
did make them number one. He saw that she was neglecting
herself to make sure they had the best life they could.
He wondered how she did it. She was only 19 now. How
could she give up her whole life to become a
mother? It didn't make since. But then again, for her it
did. He could just tell Mia was the kind of girl to
make everything perfect for everyone else. Even if it would kill
her.
