𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙨 || 𝙟𝙤𝙖𝙤 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙭

𝗼 𝗻 𝗲

BLOWING OFF STEAM
"you have a place in my heart no one could ever have"

~lyla~

the crisp autumn air blew against my face as i walked down the busy city streets. i pulled my coat closer to my body trying to warm up my goosebump laced arms.

light rain stung my face and eyes as i began to walk faster. the streets were busy, many people passed by me with a scoff or a groan.

i soon arrived at the familiar red and white building on the corner, making my way inside. i pulled off my gloves and hat, stuffing them into the thin material of my coat pockets.

making my way towards the front counter i noticed a couple familiar faces in there usual corner booth. i shot my brother and his futbol friends a quick smile before returning my attention to the lady at the front desk.

"hello lyla!" she smiled, quickly wrapping her arms around me from over the counter. i smiled into the hug before pulling back. "your moms in the back, go ahead!"

i thanked her before leaving to search for the older lady. i searched the kitchen and her office before realizing she was probably in the alley.

i pushed open the thick door immediately catching eyes with my mothers brown ones. she stood facing the buildings brick wall opposite of us, with her arms crossed, and a cigarette balanced between her thin fingers.

"mom." i looked her up and down, her posture bent and the eye bags underneath her eyes very prominent. "i told you to stop doing that." i snatched the cigarette out of her hand tossing it to the ground.

my foot came in contact with the small ovular item, crushing it into tiny pieces. "i know, i know" she replied, her hands raking over her face, "i just do it when i'm stressed."

she began to pace up and down the alley, her hands shaking by her sides. "mom what's wrong." i placed my hands on her shoulders to try and calm her but she just ripped away.

she took a deep breath. "honestly i don't know. i think i've just been really stressed lately with the restaurant and your dad and i think he-"

"wait dad?" i asked interrupting her rant. "dads back?" my heart began to pound just at the mention of him.

"shit lyla, you weren't supposed to know." i shook my head at the frail women in front of me. her feet made a smacking sound on the concrete as she continued to pace, never meeting my eyes.

"dads back and you didn't tell me." my voice slightly raising as i spoke. "does micah know?"

"no not yet." i scoffed as my hands gripped onto the door handle behind me trying to return to the warm building inside not wanting to listen to anymore of her excuses. "lyla stop-"

"look i was going to tell you and your brother tonight and that's why i was stressing out so much. i was hoping he would be gone by today that way i wouldn't have to tell you at all. but he's shown up at home at least three times in the last week and i don't know what to do lyla. i promise i was gonna tell you i just needed to figure out how."

i nodded, my lips forming into a line. i pulled open the door to the restaurant, the warm air coming in contact with my face. "where are you going?" my mom followed me through the back hallways and into the eating area.