I got home, my heart pumping at an abnormal rate. I was fearing the car in the drive way and the screaming parents.
But to my utter surprise, only one of those things happened.
The Mercedes was parked and I started shaking. Yes, that was how nervous I was.
I didn't want to move any closer. I could just picture my mother storming out of the house and slapping me across the face so hard that I would topple.
I debated going through the back and climbing up to my room. But I didn't exactly want to avoid my parents too long either.
So I picked up my ass with great courage and went up to the huge front door. I breathed deeply, trying to release all the nerves, and I slowly took the brass knocker into hand.
Twice I knocked and because of how nervous I was feeling, the vibrations seemed a thousand times bigger than they actually were.
No one answered.
I knocked again and braced myself.
Sure enough, I could hear footsteps nearing the door.
My mom opened it. She was wearing a night gown and looked exhausted, until she saw it was me.
In a way I hoped she would immediately start yelling or at least say something, but she didn't. This meant I had to give some sort of explanation.
"Mom, did you see the note?"
She nodded, not in the mood for talking.
"Cassandra, I have been worried sick. I don't care with who it is, but I never want you to just run off like that. I don't think you understand how terrifying that is for a mother."
She remained surprisingly calm the whole time.
I felt like crying, "I know. I'm sorry, but I knew that if I told you, you would never let me."
She didn't say anything back, but instead she embraced me.
I was happy that she seemed to have been more worried than angry. And possibly I was forgiven.
"Why didn't you give Chris a chance? You don't even know him." I asked.
She sighed and I could tell she thought it would be hard to explain, confusing,
"you're right. I shouldn't have judged him before I knew him. I'm sorry for that. I just didn't want you to get hurt."
I guess I understood. Parents are always worried like that about their children. Now that I myself am I mother, I understood where my mom was coming from.
"Where were you exactly?" my mom asked.
I choked up, not sure if telling her this would really make her mad.
"Um, well..." I started.