A Cry Out To Jesus (The Extended Hobson Family Triliogy: Book 1)

You Came Back!

Today

Today is nothing more special than yesterday or the day before or the day before that. I woke up early, went to school, came home, started my homework, then planned on calling Andy. Just another normal day for me. Mom never comes out of her room anymore, not even to yell at me. I guess it's a good thing, but I sort of miss her yelling at me, at least I knew she wanted to say something. I'm basically taking care of my mom, who still hasn't gotten over Matt dying 2 years ago. Some days I'll go visit with the Jackson's or my ex-youth Pastors (since I don't go to youth group anymore, they aren't my youth pastors) Jeff and Amy, but for the most part I stay home and do nothing.

Currently I'm sitting in my room doing my AP English homework. It's only the 4th day of school and I have tons of homework, but I guess that's what I get for taking mainly AP and Honors classes my senior year of high school. I have to write an essay about a hard time I went through in my life. "Which hard time should I write about? There are so many! Maybe I'll write about the day Jared died. No, that will just make me cry. I know, I'll write about the day Dad left me and Andy to basically fend for ourselves. That will be the perfect topic, because it leads to so many other tragedies and hard times." I say to my empty room, just as my phone rings. I look at the screen, but don't recognize the number. I let the call go to voicemail, and continue writing my essay.

"I have had so many hard times in my life, but this one lead to most of them happening." I say and write it on my paper, liking the way it sounded.

"What are you writing?" A familiar voice sounded outside my closed window. I look out my window to find Andy standing on a tree branch just outside of it.

"Andy!" I yell and let him in the window. Then I give him the biggest hug I could manage. "Why didn't you just walk in the front door like a normal person?"

"Because I'm not a normal person, plus the door was locked. I couldn't find the spare key either, so I climbed this tree, just like old times."

"No you definitely aren't a normal person. What are you doing here? I thought you were staying with Dad."

"I came to get you to unlock the door. You have a visitor."

"Who?"

"If you really want to know, then go open the front door." I race down the stairs with Andy on my heels. I quickly unlock the front door and find a vaguely familiar man standing on the front porch. "Can I help you?" I say, since I'm not sure who this man is.

"Don't tell me you don't recognize me." The man says, pulling me into an unexpected hug. "My have you grown over the years." I must have a look of confusion or something on my face, because the man pulls away and stands awkwardly in front of me.

"Do I know you?" I ask.

"Amelia, it's me, your father."

"Daddy?" I say. No wonder he looked familiar, except he is clean-shaven. Growing up, my dad always had a goatee, so I didn't recognize him without it. I'm not sure if I should be happy to see him, or angry because he left me. "I missed you so much!" I squeeze him in a hug harder than I thought possible.