13|Naomi Carter
I silently moved my things from his side of the room as he moved in.
He didn't say anything either.
Just set his duffel bag down by the closet and started unpacking like this was a hotel stay.
Like he knew this was temporary.
Like he knew he'd be back in Eden's room by next month.
And maybe it was.
This wasn't how I'd imagined sharing a room again.
There was no soft jokes, no quiet glances or teasing each other.
It was just us trying to pretend like we weren't forcing a marriage that has already been broken.
I caught a glimpse of him in the mirror as I passed and his jaw was set as he folded a T-shirt he never wears.
Gosh, I told him not to buy that.
I almost asked him, Do you even want to be here?
But I didn't.
Instead, I placed the last of my things into the basket and sat on the edge of the bed.
When he was finish unpacking, he sat next to me.
Well, there was a large gap between us. Nevertheless, we were sitting close enough.
"Your parents called me," he started and I immediately stood.
"We're not talking about this right now," I said as I began walking to the bathroom.
He began following me. "Can you just act like a normal human being for once in your life and call them back?"
I ignored him as I began washing my face.
"They said they called you forty times," he felt the need to say. "Forty."
"So what!?" I snapped at him, water dripping down my chin.
He kept quiet, so I walked up to him. "So what, Nate!?"
"You expect me to magically act like I care about them?" I asked out of anger. "You want me to pretend that they aren't horrible?"
His jaw clenched, but he still didn't answer.
"And of course they would call you," I added with bitterness. "You're the perfect son-in-law they can tell everyone about."
"Oh, don't start with that," he glared. "You act like you don't act like that the most perfect daughter-in-law."
"Calling my dad like you two are friends and talking shit about me," he glared. "Why don't you go and marry him!?"
"Yeah?" I shot back out of anger. "Maybe I'll do that then."
He let out a bitter laugh. "Wow. Real mature."
I crossed my arms, instantly regretting what I said.
He took a step forward, closing the large gap between us.
"You know what?" He began. "I finally get it."
"You push people away before they get the chance to leave. Just like your dad did. Just like your mom did. Just like Kate did," he confronted me.
"Just like every single person in your life who ever made you feel like you weren't enough," he glared.
"And instead of facing that, you'd rather burn everything down and then act surprised when there's nothing left."
I swallowed hard, but the lump in my throat didn't move.
Tears welled in my eyes and he saw it, but he was too much of a jackass to stop.
"Get help," he said flatly. "Because I can't be your emotional punching bag while you figure out how to love yourself."
He stormed to the closet and grabbed a few of his clothes before slamming the bedroom door shut behind him.
I stood there frozen for a moment, attempting to blink away my tears.
Then I sank to the bathroom floor, knees pulled to my chest, and let myself cry in a way I hadn't in years.
Not because he left.
But because I knew, deep down, he wasn't wrong.
...
Fifth grade me smiled proudly as I held the first place trophy in my hand.
It was taller than I expected, heavier too.
I looked out into the crowd of parents and teachers, hoping...praying I'll see their smiling faces.
But my mother was immersed in her work at the back row, her eyes glued to the file in her hands.
My dad didn't even bother to show up.
And Trey was flirting away with a girl in his class.
Just like every other recital.
Every school award ceremony.
Every competition.
Everything that felt big to me and small to them.
Still, I smiled as I made my way off the stage.
"Don't cry, honey," I heard Kate's mom tell her. "She didn't deserve that trophy. You did."
I gripped the trophy tighter as I looked down.
Maybe I didn't.
...
I shook those old memories out of my mind and got up off the floor.
I washed my face before doing my skin care routine.
When I was done, I picked up my phone before calling my mom's phone.
After three rings, my dad's voice followed.
"Nice of you to finally call back," he coldly started.
"Only took us calling Nathaniel," my mom's voice added in the background.
"Told you he'd put some sense into her," my dad joked and I rolled my eyes.
"What do you two want?"
Silence followed.
Just long enough to confirm they didn't like my tone, but were too used to it to pretend they didn't expect it.
"Well," my mother began. "We were just calling to check on you. But clearly, you're still...difficult."
"You don't call for months, Naomi," my dad added. "You think we like having to go through your husband to reach our own daughter?"
I bit down on my cheek before answering. "Maybe if I felt like your daughter instead of your public embarrassment, I'd be more inclined to answer."
I could hear the both of them sigh over the phone.
"Thanks for the call," I said, already on the verge of tears again.
"Wait, don't hang up," my mom's voice stopped me. "You didn't answer the question."
"How are you?" She asked. "We haven't seen you since our granddaughter's funeral."
"I'm fine," I lied.
"Trey said you and Nathaniel are having marital problems," my dad got straight to the point.
Of course, Trey had to run his big mouth.
"You better not divorce him," my father warned. "We do not want to make enemy with his father right now."
Of course, that's what this is about.
"Here I thought you actually cared if I was okay or not, but you just wanted to make sure I don't mess up any of your influence and business deals," I said before quickly hanging up.
I immediately burst into tears again.
I didn't even know who I was crying for anymore.
Eden.
Nate.
Myself.
My career.
My parents.
All of it?
I'm Naomi Carter.
Naomi Carter doesn't cry.
But tonight, she did.
She wept for the child she lost.
For the girl she used to be.
For the woman she was becoming; angry, isolated, emotionally starved and terrified she was too far gone to be loved again.