1 Altered Realm
Rinoa ran the brush easily through her jet-black hair. Her silver necklace dangled in between her breasts, and her black dress brought out her almond colored eyes, she stared at her reflection, a sullen look upon her fair complexion. A small tear rolled down her cheek, and she brushed it away.
"Daddy…" she whispered softly, almost inaudibly.
Rinoa arose from her vanity chair, slipped her black shoes over her feet, and walked down the stairs. Angelo, her beloved dog of 2 years, greeted her at the bottom. She bent down to his level and scratched his head.
Dogs are funny that way, she thought to herself. They always seem to know when you're sad or happy.
For he showed no tail wagging or bright twinkle of feistiness in his eyes, and he didn't try to lick her face. He was just there for her, and that was all she really needed. She pulled herself back up again, and walked into the family room. There she saw her Mother, crying into someone's shoulder. It seemed like that's all she'd been doing since they'd heard the news.
"Mom?" she ventured, hoping to get at least a nod of acknowledgement. To her surprise, Julia Caraway actually looked up at her fifteen-year-old daughter. Tears stained her flawless cheeks, and her mascara was smeared under her eyes.
Julia walked toward her, opening her arms, hoping for an embrace. She received a warm one, and Rinoa held onto her tightly. They had needed one another so badly, though neither wanted to show it. Now that they realized this, Rinoa never wanted to let go.
"Don't leave me Mom," her muffled voice quavered.
Julia only held her tighter. "I'll never leave you Rinoa… at least not anytime soon if I can help it."
They hugged one another for a moment longer, and finally pulled away. "C'mon sweetie, we'll be late," Julia sniffed, drawing her daughter close to her side.
"I love you Mom."
"I love you too."
The funeral ended, and Rinoa climbed into the car. She refused to cry… everyone had been crying too much lately. Why be one of them? As much as she loved and missed her Father, she knew he wouldn't want them to be sad for him. The car ride was deadly silent, which Rinoa couldn't stand. Silence always, as it seemed to her, spoke quite loudly. Everyone could think too much in silence.
As they pulled up to the mansion Rinoa had lived in all her life, she got out of the car and quickly ran inside. Julia did not follow, but she made the biggest mistake in the relationship with her daughter that she ever could have by not doing so. She stayed behind for the banquet that ensued the funeral, and that night, as she would for many nights to come, Rinoa cried herself to sleep.
Rinoa ran the brush easily through her jet-black hair. Her silver necklace dangled in between her breasts, and her black dress brought out her almond colored eyes, she stared at her reflection, a sullen look upon her fair complexion. A small tear rolled down her cheek, and she brushed it away.
"Daddy…" she whispered softly, almost inaudibly.
Rinoa arose from her vanity chair, slipped her black shoes over her feet, and walked down the stairs. Angelo, her beloved dog of 2 years, greeted her at the bottom. She bent down to his level and scratched his head.
Dogs are funny that way, she thought to herself. They always seem to know when you're sad or happy.
For he showed no tail wagging or bright twinkle of feistiness in his eyes, and he didn't try to lick her face. He was just there for her, and that was all she really needed. She pulled herself back up again, and walked into the family room. There she saw her Mother, crying into someone's shoulder. It seemed like that's all she'd been doing since they'd heard the news.
"Mom?" she ventured, hoping to get at least a nod of acknowledgement. To her surprise, Julia Caraway actually looked up at her fifteen-year-old daughter. Tears stained her flawless cheeks, and her mascara was smeared under her eyes.
Julia walked toward her, opening her arms, hoping for an embrace. She received a warm one, and Rinoa held onto her tightly. They had needed one another so badly, though neither wanted to show it. Now that they realized this, Rinoa never wanted to let go.
"Don't leave me Mom," her muffled voice quavered.
Julia only held her tighter. "I'll never leave you Rinoa… at least not anytime soon if I can help it."
They hugged one another for a moment longer, and finally pulled away. "C'mon sweetie, we'll be late," Julia sniffed, drawing her daughter close to her side.
"I love you Mom."
"I love you too."
The funeral ended, and Rinoa climbed into the car. She refused to cry… everyone had been crying too much lately. Why be one of them? As much as she loved and missed her Father, she knew he wouldn't want them to be sad for him. The car ride was deadly silent, which Rinoa couldn't stand. Silence always, as it seemed to her, spoke quite loudly. Everyone could think too much in silence.
As they pulled up to the mansion Rinoa had lived in all her life, she got out of the car and quickly ran inside. Julia did not follow, but she made the biggest mistake in the relationship with her daughter that she ever could have by not doing so. She stayed behind for the banquet that ensued the funeral, and that night, as she would for many nights to come, Rinoa cried herself to sleep.