All Of Me

51

This couldn't be happening. My blood chilled, and the room started to spin.

"Are you okay?" I vaguely felt Brittany's hand on my shoulder, but instead of answering, I quickly stood and walked to the bathroom before I lost it in front of everyone.

I shut and locked the bathroom door behind me and leaned back against the wall, and it wasn't until my scalp started to throb that I realized I was pulling my own hair.

My poor mother. Poor Brittany. Just when I thought things were getting better. Why does this always happen?

"Brooke?" Paige's voice rang through the bathroom door. I quickly opened it and pulled her inside. "What is it? What happened?" She was flustered, trying to pull my hands down from my throat. I felt like I was suffocating. My airway was too small. I was having a panic attack.

"Brian..." tried to speak and Paige grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to sit down on the toilet seat. "Breathe." She softly commanded, and then I realized the sound I was hearing was myself gasping for air.

"Brian is Brittany's boyfriend!" I finally blurted. Paige looked confused at first but, the longer the silence settled over us in the bathroom, the more it hit her. Her eyes widened and her lips parted slightly. "You can't be serious." She said more to herself than to me. Oh Paige, I wish I wasn't serious. I wish this was all just one big joke.

He was two-timing our mother.

......

I walked into the time kitchen of our Texas home and saw mom and dad standing by the stove.

They couldn't hear my feet against the floor over the sound of sizzling bacon. I smiled when my dad snaked his arms around mom's waist and gave her a peck on the cheek.

I watched in awe of the love my parents shared, as if they were still teenagers in love. She giggled and he tickled her sides, causing her to playfully swat at him and reprimand him for throwing off her bacon makin' skills.

My mom wore jeans, a plaid button-up, and she was barefoot. So carefree. No make up, and with her hair in a messy bun, she was so beautiful, and kindness radiated from her.

Finally, I cleared my throat and walked in as if I hadn't been standing there watching, and dad smiled a bright good-morning smile at his oldest daughter.

He walked over and his strong arms enveloped me in a tight, warm hug.

Little did we know, that would be the last morning we saw him.

"I'm gonna call Tripp..." Paige spoke slowly as if seeing how I would react and I began shaking my head vigorously, coming back from my daydream, "No. He's at work. I'm fine." I stood and straightened my sweater. "Just call him and talk to him. Maybe it'll help you calm down. You don't want a replay of the other night."

Remembering the fear I felt when Luke was still for hours, waiting for a doctor to tell me if he was still alive. I began taking deep breaths and nodded. "I'll call him. I just want to go home."

Paige made sure one last time that I was okay before she walked out and gave me a minute to compose myself.

My mother. I missed her so much that sometimes it made me feel better to think that she was still in Texas, and the woman here was just her alter ego. Her evil twin, or something like that.

Yes, that's right. She's still in Texas with dad. They're just waiting for Paige and I to come home.

When I finally walked out of the bathroom, the room was still spinning slightly and I felt nauseous, but I had to find Carol, thank everyone as best I could, and get home. I just needed to get home.