CHOOSE & LIVE by Alaina Fulkerson (ereader for textbooks .txt) 📕

Three Years Later...

  I quickly wiped away a fresh batch of tears. "But why we can't stay!"

  "We've already been through this Marie, Frank and I would love to stay but we have jobs back in Kansas. Marie, you can stay if you want but unfortunatley, we can't," Mel said some exasperated and sympathetic at the same time.

"I DON'T SEE HOW I'M SUPPOSED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN MY FAMILY!?!?!" I screamed hysterically. 

"Excuse me, missy. Did I just hear you raise your voice at me? I am still your mother!"

I was tired of all of this, choices, responsibility, being a long lost daughter. So I left Mel standing there, arms hanging limply at her side. I practically sprinting across the street, to my safe haven. As I walked across the park I looked around at the couples sitting on benches. The kids running around. At the moms pushing strollers. I looked at life without any of the negatives. I sat down once I reached my worn teeter tooter in its secluded area. I still couldn't understand how I was supposed to chose over my two families. Frank & Mel, who I'd known all my life, or my newly found family with Tara, Chase, and Timon. I sat there for a long time, thinking, and watching the sun-set and stars come out. Another hour had passed by until I slowly stood up and walked back home. After I was inside, already safely tucked in bed I realized this wasn't home. It was a cocoon, trapping me inside, and I needed to break out and spread my wings. I loved my new family but I couldn't stay with them any longer. Because I had dissolved into the cocoon, imprinted with the words, "We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto." 

Editing: Maggie M
Publication Date: 08-08-2016

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
To my boy Behroze(: and my brilliant girl, Maggie.