A solitary tear descends down Faith's porcelain cheek as she stares at her
mother's lifeless form lying inside an ebony coffin. She carefully takes
in her surroundings so as not to disturb her already broken heart. Sitting
beside her rests her guileless, younger brother. She studies his eyes, the
windows to the soul, for knowledge of his feelings. He is desolate yet
frigid. There is no comfort for the aching heart inside. Her eyes glide
towards her step-father. His facade is unrevealing of his feelings. If he
was not such a modest man perhaps she could read his emotions. Although he
was a quiet and fortunate man, she did not take liking to him. He was cold
and oblivious to her mother and brother. And yet, Faith being much like
her mother, he harbored an intricate sensation towards her. At times his
directions had made her feel uneasy. And now with her mother gone she is
completely vulnerable. Her brother being a loner even to her will give no
help whatsoever.
Not wanting to dwell on the inescapable, she steals a glance at her mother's friends and distant relatives. They are all strangers to her and her brother. It was as if her mother built a wall around them. She didn't really mind because they had never bothered to break it down. Even now with their mother gone they donate no comfort. She and her brother have no close relatives besides their step-father. They had never known their real father nor their grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins. Well at least she has no recollection. Her brother being 22 and she being 25 it was no use trying to get to know them now. It is too late.
Faith surveys her brother once again. He is now silently crying. "`Miah, just remember that Mama is in a better place," she quietly consoles while using his childhood nickname. His eyes do not budge and he makes no attempt to respond. It was just as Faith had expected. Jeremiah always pretends not to hear.
Faith jumps at the touch of her step-father's hand upon her knee. He keeps his gaze fixed ahead and begins to caress her bare skin. Faith tries to will away the unwelcome touch. A shudder crawls up her spine. She pretends to drop her purse. She bends to pick it up and shifts her leg so his rough hand falls to his side where it belongs.
"What's the matter, Sugar?" His deep, sexual voice questions. This tone is used too many times for Faith's comfort.
"Nothing," she whispers. Through the corner of her eye she catches sight of Jeremiah looking over. She pretends not to notice. She keeps her deep, green eyes fixed upon the priest. The priest is nonchalantly preaching his psalms—pretending to care.
Jeremiah clears his throat as Faith quietly stands up and trudges out of the church. Fresh air is her savior at this moment. Things are happening to quickly for her to manage.
As she steps out into the bright, warm summer day she inhales deeply. Her blonde hair blows in the light breeze. A subtle song flows through her mind. She had heard it on the way up and it had made her cry like mad. The song describes her and Jeremiah's past to a T.
She begins to sing. "Have you seen my childhood?" Granted it is a depressing song, it fits her past life perfectly. As much as she hates to admit, her childhood was a disaster. Her mother always used to joke about it. "Even though it sucked growing up, look at how you've turned out." That was what her mother used to say to her when Faith would complain. Faith never agreed with her. She is a high school dropout who lost her job and home due to her stepfather. While Faith was cleaning her client's home her stepfather had called on numerous occasions for no practical reason. And now with her mother gone and her brother lost in his own crumble of a world she feels lost. She has no one to turn to. Sure she has friends, but not good and true friends. Her 'friends' are mere acquaintances. She had never made the effort to make friends because they had never tried to make friends with her. Now with her mother gone she has no one but her stepfather. And that is not ideal in the least.
She walks over to a marble bench surrounded by trees and placed beside a statue of Jesus. She sits down and closes her eyes. She is dwelling on her gaunt childhood. It had only been Jeremiah, Faith, and their mother from when Faith was three until she turned 19. During her childhood they had never done anything fun or sentimental. They had made no memories.
Four months after Faith turned nineteen her mother married Frank. That is when her life turned for the worse. Frank always had a keen eye for Faith. It was since the day they had met. Jeremiah had caught Frank spying on Faith changing on numerous occasions. Jeremiah never did anything about it because that is the way he is. The only way Faith found out was through catching him red-handed. And when Faith told her mother about it she dismissed it and named Faith a liar. Faith moved out of the house a month after confessing to her mother. She moved in with the person she cleaned the house for. She was an elderly woman who mostly kept to herself. Her mother turned sick five years later but Faith never bothered to visit or console. Her mother never did anything for Faith so why should she do anything for her?
Today at the Funeral was the first time she had seen Frank and Jeremiah for six years. It flooded back painful memories that took her four years to will away. Now she fears it will take another four or perhaps longer seeing as how her mother passed on. Sure she harbored a guilty conscience, but that's the price you pay for peace and freedom.
Leaving the church crossed Faith's mind many times while sitting under that big tree. She figured that sticking around to see how Jeremiah is doing is for the best. She peacefully sits and waits. She is holding onto the relief of not being near Frank and that mess of a brother, as horrible as is. She does not want to torture herself more than necessary so she decides to stay for no more than five minutes after they exit.
Faith catches glimpse of someone leaving the ceremony early just as she had done but five minutes before. He was of average height with brown-blonde hair and thick-rimmed glasses. He appeared to be very handsome and vaguely familiar. From the vast distance that he stood she cannot make out his eyes. And being such a far distance she cannot tell where his sight is directed. It appears that he is looking at her. Not wanting to jump to conclusions and wave she decides to walk over and chat with him. He obviously new her mother or else he would not be here. As she walks over he seems to be looking right at her. With their distance fading she now sees the color of his eyes. They are a sexy, deep brown. This man has Faith's attention like none other. It has been a while since Faith has had any attraction to a man due to Frank. And now, being as vulnerable and unfamiliar with the concept, she is immensely nervous.
"Hello," he says with a cute smile. His voice is deep and raspy. It is extremely sexy and it makes Faith's knees go weak.
"Hi, how are you?" Her meek voice questions in good gesture. "I am Faith, Elizabeth's daughter."
"I know." This catches Faith off guard and yet she is extremely infatuated. "I knew your mother well."
"You did? And how is it that I have never met you?"
"Well, according to your mother you moved out of the house a month before we met. We met at a book convention. My name is Morton Rainey." He reaches out his hand for a friendly handshake.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Rainey."
"Please, call me Mort."
"Tell me, Mort, why was my mother attending a book convention?" She smiles. The thought of her mother attending a book convention seems silly. They begin to walk at a steady, slow pace to the parking lot side by side.
"Well, I would hope it was because she liked me as an author." He softly chuckles.
"Oh, I apologize. I had no idea that you were an author," Faith sincerely apologizes.
"Don't worry about it. By the way, I am deeply sorry about your loss."
"Thank you very much." Just as Faith was about to question further on her mother and Mort's relationship, the ceremony ends with the ringing of church bells. "Will you be attending the reception? If not, please reconsider. I would love to chat more with you about my mother."
"Well, I did have prior engagements. But it is nothing that I can't cancel. I would love to attend. Thank you for inviting me."
"Your welcome. The reception is being held at the Holiday Inn in Providence. Do you need directions?"
"No, I'm sure I can find my way. It was very nice meeting you, Faith." Faith reaches her car and unlocks it. Morton opens the door for her and she steps in. Starting the car, she keeps her eyes locked on Mort.
"You too. I'll see you in a few minutes?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he says sweetly. A smile engulfs his chiseled face. He carefully shuts the door for her and she drives off. She leaves him on cloud nine as is she.
Faith is smiling ear to ear. Her smile soon fades as she curses to herself. She forgot about Jeremiah. "Oh well. I will see him at the reception," she reassures herself.
*
Mort hops into his car and starts it. A feeling of being watched trickles down his spine. He cautiously looks around and sees Frank staring him down. Apparently, he is not happy with Mort and Faith's little rendezvous. Frank notices Morton looking at him and quickly looks away. He focuses his attention on his car.
"Asshole," Mort curses. Mort quickly speeds away and heads to the Inn. He cannot keep his mind off of Faith. Perhaps that is why he runs a red light.
Mort's red Corvette rams into a green Cavalier. It had been pulling out of a gas station. The person driving the Cavalier had not seen Mort coming and pulled out into the road. Before Mort hit the car he had caught glimpse of the license plate. It read: MIAH82.
Little did Mort know that the damage he has caused will hurt an already broken heart.
A/N: Hope you like guys! Please review!
Not wanting to dwell on the inescapable, she steals a glance at her mother's friends and distant relatives. They are all strangers to her and her brother. It was as if her mother built a wall around them. She didn't really mind because they had never bothered to break it down. Even now with their mother gone they donate no comfort. She and her brother have no close relatives besides their step-father. They had never known their real father nor their grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins. Well at least she has no recollection. Her brother being 22 and she being 25 it was no use trying to get to know them now. It is too late.
Faith surveys her brother once again. He is now silently crying. "`Miah, just remember that Mama is in a better place," she quietly consoles while using his childhood nickname. His eyes do not budge and he makes no attempt to respond. It was just as Faith had expected. Jeremiah always pretends not to hear.
Faith jumps at the touch of her step-father's hand upon her knee. He keeps his gaze fixed ahead and begins to caress her bare skin. Faith tries to will away the unwelcome touch. A shudder crawls up her spine. She pretends to drop her purse. She bends to pick it up and shifts her leg so his rough hand falls to his side where it belongs.
"What's the matter, Sugar?" His deep, sexual voice questions. This tone is used too many times for Faith's comfort.
"Nothing," she whispers. Through the corner of her eye she catches sight of Jeremiah looking over. She pretends not to notice. She keeps her deep, green eyes fixed upon the priest. The priest is nonchalantly preaching his psalms—pretending to care.
Jeremiah clears his throat as Faith quietly stands up and trudges out of the church. Fresh air is her savior at this moment. Things are happening to quickly for her to manage.
As she steps out into the bright, warm summer day she inhales deeply. Her blonde hair blows in the light breeze. A subtle song flows through her mind. She had heard it on the way up and it had made her cry like mad. The song describes her and Jeremiah's past to a T.
She begins to sing. "Have you seen my childhood?" Granted it is a depressing song, it fits her past life perfectly. As much as she hates to admit, her childhood was a disaster. Her mother always used to joke about it. "Even though it sucked growing up, look at how you've turned out." That was what her mother used to say to her when Faith would complain. Faith never agreed with her. She is a high school dropout who lost her job and home due to her stepfather. While Faith was cleaning her client's home her stepfather had called on numerous occasions for no practical reason. And now with her mother gone and her brother lost in his own crumble of a world she feels lost. She has no one to turn to. Sure she has friends, but not good and true friends. Her 'friends' are mere acquaintances. She had never made the effort to make friends because they had never tried to make friends with her. Now with her mother gone she has no one but her stepfather. And that is not ideal in the least.
She walks over to a marble bench surrounded by trees and placed beside a statue of Jesus. She sits down and closes her eyes. She is dwelling on her gaunt childhood. It had only been Jeremiah, Faith, and their mother from when Faith was three until she turned 19. During her childhood they had never done anything fun or sentimental. They had made no memories.
Four months after Faith turned nineteen her mother married Frank. That is when her life turned for the worse. Frank always had a keen eye for Faith. It was since the day they had met. Jeremiah had caught Frank spying on Faith changing on numerous occasions. Jeremiah never did anything about it because that is the way he is. The only way Faith found out was through catching him red-handed. And when Faith told her mother about it she dismissed it and named Faith a liar. Faith moved out of the house a month after confessing to her mother. She moved in with the person she cleaned the house for. She was an elderly woman who mostly kept to herself. Her mother turned sick five years later but Faith never bothered to visit or console. Her mother never did anything for Faith so why should she do anything for her?
Today at the Funeral was the first time she had seen Frank and Jeremiah for six years. It flooded back painful memories that took her four years to will away. Now she fears it will take another four or perhaps longer seeing as how her mother passed on. Sure she harbored a guilty conscience, but that's the price you pay for peace and freedom.
Leaving the church crossed Faith's mind many times while sitting under that big tree. She figured that sticking around to see how Jeremiah is doing is for the best. She peacefully sits and waits. She is holding onto the relief of not being near Frank and that mess of a brother, as horrible as is. She does not want to torture herself more than necessary so she decides to stay for no more than five minutes after they exit.
Faith catches glimpse of someone leaving the ceremony early just as she had done but five minutes before. He was of average height with brown-blonde hair and thick-rimmed glasses. He appeared to be very handsome and vaguely familiar. From the vast distance that he stood she cannot make out his eyes. And being such a far distance she cannot tell where his sight is directed. It appears that he is looking at her. Not wanting to jump to conclusions and wave she decides to walk over and chat with him. He obviously new her mother or else he would not be here. As she walks over he seems to be looking right at her. With their distance fading she now sees the color of his eyes. They are a sexy, deep brown. This man has Faith's attention like none other. It has been a while since Faith has had any attraction to a man due to Frank. And now, being as vulnerable and unfamiliar with the concept, she is immensely nervous.
"Hello," he says with a cute smile. His voice is deep and raspy. It is extremely sexy and it makes Faith's knees go weak.
"Hi, how are you?" Her meek voice questions in good gesture. "I am Faith, Elizabeth's daughter."
"I know." This catches Faith off guard and yet she is extremely infatuated. "I knew your mother well."
"You did? And how is it that I have never met you?"
"Well, according to your mother you moved out of the house a month before we met. We met at a book convention. My name is Morton Rainey." He reaches out his hand for a friendly handshake.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Rainey."
"Please, call me Mort."
"Tell me, Mort, why was my mother attending a book convention?" She smiles. The thought of her mother attending a book convention seems silly. They begin to walk at a steady, slow pace to the parking lot side by side.
"Well, I would hope it was because she liked me as an author." He softly chuckles.
"Oh, I apologize. I had no idea that you were an author," Faith sincerely apologizes.
"Don't worry about it. By the way, I am deeply sorry about your loss."
"Thank you very much." Just as Faith was about to question further on her mother and Mort's relationship, the ceremony ends with the ringing of church bells. "Will you be attending the reception? If not, please reconsider. I would love to chat more with you about my mother."
"Well, I did have prior engagements. But it is nothing that I can't cancel. I would love to attend. Thank you for inviting me."
"Your welcome. The reception is being held at the Holiday Inn in Providence. Do you need directions?"
"No, I'm sure I can find my way. It was very nice meeting you, Faith." Faith reaches her car and unlocks it. Morton opens the door for her and she steps in. Starting the car, she keeps her eyes locked on Mort.
"You too. I'll see you in a few minutes?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he says sweetly. A smile engulfs his chiseled face. He carefully shuts the door for her and she drives off. She leaves him on cloud nine as is she.
Faith is smiling ear to ear. Her smile soon fades as she curses to herself. She forgot about Jeremiah. "Oh well. I will see him at the reception," she reassures herself.
*
Mort hops into his car and starts it. A feeling of being watched trickles down his spine. He cautiously looks around and sees Frank staring him down. Apparently, he is not happy with Mort and Faith's little rendezvous. Frank notices Morton looking at him and quickly looks away. He focuses his attention on his car.
"Asshole," Mort curses. Mort quickly speeds away and heads to the Inn. He cannot keep his mind off of Faith. Perhaps that is why he runs a red light.
Mort's red Corvette rams into a green Cavalier. It had been pulling out of a gas station. The person driving the Cavalier had not seen Mort coming and pulled out into the road. Before Mort hit the car he had caught glimpse of the license plate. It read: MIAH82.
Little did Mort know that the damage he has caused will hurt an already broken heart.
A/N: Hope you like guys! Please review!