A Taste Of Life

Chp. 25- Choosing Our Paths

*Taylor*

My dad stepped inside my room with a phone in his hand. "Your mother wants to talk to you."

I groan and roll my eyes as I take the phone from him. I wait before he leaves my room before speaking. "Hello?" I snap.

"Taylor, have you been ignoring me?" She wines.

"Oh no, no. I just turned off my phone the first hundred times you called me simply for your own benefit." I sarcastically remarked.

"Taylor." She warns, "I just wanted to ask you how you were doing. Is it wrong for me to check up on you?"

I wanted to tell her she's fucking crazy then for making me move over here, but I decide against it. After everything that's happened, I can't tell wether moving here was a bad thing or not.

"What do you want then?" I groaned.

"Do you like it over there, honey?" She sincerely asked.

"It's not what I expected." I say for the second time.

"But do you like it? Would you stay there if you didn't have a choice?" She seemed to be so interested in my happiness all of a sudden.

"Yes." I said truthfully. I had nothing left in my hometown. No future, no friends, no family, no Ava. As far as I know, Ava wouldn't want to have anything to do with me now. "Why are you asking this?"

"Because I was going to tell you, if you wanted to, you could move back. I don't know what's been going on over there but I know it's not good if you were in the hospital."

"I'm fine mom." I sighed, "I don't want to leave."

Just when I think I'm not being such a fuck up anymore, she wants me to move back. I'm finally being somewhat decent with my dad and Pamela. My grades have been getting better, it looks like I may even be graduating now. Sarah's here. Something in my mimd shifted. Sarah. Now that I have a choice, I can't leave her. I won't. Not when she needs me the most. What would happen to Emily? This baby needs a home. And with Sarah leaving so early after high school, she can't give anything to Emily. Sarah needs me to do this. Emily needs me to do this. I need me to do this.

"You said it yourself, maybe this is actually what I need." I restated her words.

"Oh." Something in her voice was hurt. "Well.. if you decide not to move back, would you at least visit? Spring break is coming up soon. Would you please come see me? I miss you."

I exhaled. "Sure mom. I'll visit. I'll ask dad after dinner."

"Thank you sweety. I appreciate it."

We said our goodbyes and I hung up. I walked into the living room. Pamela and my dad were standing Emily up, helping her keep her balance as she stood. I couldn't help but smile at the toddler taking her first steps.

"Look Emily." Pamela said in a baby taunting voice. "Walk to Taylor."

Her little head wobbled over to me. She started to walk towards me but failed tremendously as she tripped over her own feet. I couldn't help but give out a laugh and help her up. I planted a kiss on Emily's forhead. "Come on Emily. Let's go eat."

..

"So what did your mom say to you?" My dad asked before taking a bite of pasta.

"Nothing much. She just asked me if I wanted to move back." I shrugged.

"And what did you say?" Pamela asks

"I said no."

They seemed both surprised by my reply. "What?"

"You.. You want to stay here?" My dad said in shock.

"Yeah.. Is that alright with you?"

Pamela and my dad both shared a joyful glance before turning to me. "We would love for you to stay here."

"Okay." I said averting my eyes from them. I looked over to Emily who was eating her pasta noodles with her tiny little fingers.

There is no way I would ever leave Emily. Not even if my life depended on it.