"Teresa!" Jessica Lisbon called from downstairs. "Dinner's on the table, honey!"

"Okay, Mom, I'll be down in a second!" called Teresa Lisbon.

'Okay, mom's calling.' She wrote in her diary. 'Peace out.'

She closed her diary and looked at it for a second. She'd been writing in it for five years now. And it had been upgraded five times over. When she was twelve years old, she'd decorated it with an underwater theme. The cover had been blue, with pearls and seashells strewn all over. Sparkled waves of navy blue had lined the diary. She'd also stuck navy blue crystals in the corners. When she was thirteen years old, she had a ridiculous taste for pink. Her diary had been covered with pink. Pink jewels and sparkles had been scattered across the diary and the lining had been miniature silver cherry blossom trees grouped together in an intricate way. Pearls had been stuck in the corners.

When she was fifteen, she grew a liking for orange. Her diary cover was autumn themed. She decorated it with a mixture of reds, yellows and oranges. She decorated it with autumn leaves and sparkling orange glitter. It had been so beautiful that it had almost brought tears to her eyes.

But now, the sixteen year old school girl had a different taste. She was interested in green, not only the color of her eyes, but also the symbol of the confused life she led. It was decorated with forest green covers; miniature leaves of all kinds covered the top. The frame was made of daisies, with miniature trees in the corners.

She ran her hands through the daisies she'd worked so hard to make. She heaved a sigh. The daisies for some reason took her to her most treasured memories; playing with her brothers in a lavender garden, baking her first cake with her mother. But the memories also brought her tears; because those memories were from a happy, past life; before everything had gone so horribly wrong.

The present was darkness; but it wasn't so dark that Teresa couldn't find her way. She lived. Not happily, but she still lived. She lived for reason. She lived for her family. She lived for hope; hope that she'll find her way back to a happy life. She lived for herself; her happy self.

She recapped her pen. The hidden safe behind her bed was open. She took her instant camera, her pen, her cherished diary and put it in her safe, applying the four numbered lock combination: 5683. There was a hidden meaning behind it.

She ran her hands through the safe. She'd told the diary every secret she had in her life; horrible ones and happy ones. She would never risk the safety of the secrets she concealed. She had wanted that safe on her eleventh birthday, surprising her mom. She never told her password to anything; because the password to the safe would be the password to the concealed secrets in her heart.

"Teresa!" her mother called exasperatedly. "The food is getting cold!"

"Okay Mom, I'm coming!" she called back.

She went outside the room and locked the door. The keys were always with her. She was paranoid about her privacy for no reason. It was really strange, but it was just the way she was.

She slowly walked down the stairs, almost dragging her body with her. She was so nervous about tomorrow. It would be the start of a new life, yes. But was she ready for it? It would be full of surprises and it would definitely be very uncertain. Could she prepare for all the uncertainty?

She walked to the dining table and sat in one of the five chairs. The sixth one was out of sight, and its absence was never mentioned in their lives. Her brothers Jimmy, Tommy and Stan sat in the other chairs. Jimmy toyed with his fork while Tommy and Stan argued about something.

"No fighting, boys." said Jessica from the stove. "I'll be out with the sauce in a while."

Today's menu was incredibly hearty. It was roast chicken with baked potatoes and peas. There was garlic bread too; with extra servings of butter. Teresa knew her mom's tomato sauce was on its way.

Jessica put the sauce in the center and seated herself in the last chair. Everybody, due to habit, folded their hands together in prayer, closed their eyes and repeated Jessica's words.

"Dear God," she said. "We thank you for blessing us with this food, which we wouldn't have gotten if it weren't for the labors of kind men. We thank you blessing us with the ability to get this food, when so people wander in these streets in hunger. We thank you for gracing us with your gift of nourishment. Amen." She opened her eyes and smiled kindly at her children. "Okay, kids." she said. "Start eating."

The boys immediately began to attack the food. Teresa and her mother ate with more grace. The boys helped themselves to four servings of chicken. They ate even after they were groaning in pain.

"Now, guys, you don't want to go to first day of school with stomach aches, do you?" asked Jessica.

"Who cares, Mom? This is the good stuff." acknowledged Stan.

"You know, a stomach ache isn't the first impression a girl would appreciate." Jessica said, smiling.

"That's true." said Jimmy thoughtfully.

She laughed airily in response.

Teresa smiled. Her mother always reassured her. She always encouraged Teresa for the good things she does in laugh. Her laughter was the most beautiful sound in the world according to Teresa. Her laughter was definitely worth trouble, especially when before...

She forced the horrible memory down her throat.

While the boys fought over the food, Jessica looked at Teresa worriedly. "Teresa?" she asked.

Teresa looked up from her potatoes. "Yeah, Mom?"

She hesitated. "I need to talk to you about something."

Teresa squirmed uncomfortably. "About what?"

She shrugged. "I'll tell you after dinner."

"Um, okay."

"Mom, this was good!" Stan piped up.

"Yeah, we basically ate ourselves sick." added Jimmy, patting his stomach.

Tommy was groaning in pain.

"Okay boys, it's bedtime now." reported Teresa.

"Aw, please Reese? My show is on in fifteen minutes!" complained Jimmy.

"I watch that, too!" said Stan.

"I gotta beat my high score in my game." said Tommy.

"You are free to do all those tomorrow." declared Teresa. "You know what I'm gonna do if I catch you breaking curfew."

"Now, haul your asses to your beds." ordered Jessica. Everyone incredulously looked at her and she laughed in response.

"Fine, let's go guys." said Tommy. "Before Teresa grounds us again."

"Or, before she busts our asses." suggested Stan

The three laughed together as they climbed upstairs.

Jessica had a troubled expression on her face as she scrutinized Teresa. "Now, Teresa." she told her. "Sit down."

Teresa obliged as her mother also seated herself in one of the dining chairs. She held Teresa's hand and looked into her eyes. "Honey, what's wrong?"

"What do you mean?" Teresa asked her, avoiding her eyes.

"You rarely eat, you rarely sleep and your mind is always elsewhere. Your becoming...lifeless. That's the right word."

She hesitated a moment, and then caved in. "It's just tomorrow." she said. "I'm so worried about what'll happen."

"What could possibly happen?" her mother asked. "You just shifted to a new school for tenth grade, that's it."

"We also shifted cities, mom. Not to mention the recent...change...which took place in my life."

Her mother heaved a sigh. "You're feeling insecure, aren't you?"

Teresa quietly nodded.

"Babe, I...look we're trying to move on, okay? I know it doesn't seem visible and I know it's not easy, but I'm trying so hard. It's a slow start, but I promise I'll get a better life for you kids one day."

"No, no, Mom you got it all wrong." she put her palms up in defense. "I see how hard you try, okay? We all do. And trust me, your efforts are paying. They are working. It's just that...I don't know, it feels like everything changed. It feels like I'll have a really hard time moving on. And after what happened with Dad, I..." her voice broke, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes.

Jessica patted her cheek. "I know how you feel sweetie. I really do. But trust me, we'll move on." She made Teresa look directly into her eyes. "Nothing has changed. Nothing in our minds, at least. We will get past this. I promise you that. I will get you a better life."

Teresa smiled hopefully at her mother. "Thanks, Mom."

She pulled Teresa into an embrace. "There, there." she said, patting her head.

After they pulled apart, Jessica rubbed her daughter's back. "You should go to sleep." she told her. "First day of tenth grade tomorrow."

"Okay,"

She kissed Teresa's cheek and smiled at her. "I love you, Teresa." she said. "Never forget that."

Teresa smiled in response. "I love you too, Mom."

She watched her mother as she turned and headed upstairs.

When she was alone, she exhaled deeply. "Yep," she said to herself. "First day of school; gotta be exhilarated." she sarcastically rolled her eyes.

Teresa then got up from the chair, fixed the dining table and headed upstairs for sleep. After all, she had to get her nerves up and prepare for a big and uncertain day.