Artifex Literary Art Magazine - 2022 - Fruit Salad

Reunion

so thin.” I tried to push the bowl in front of her, but she only wrenched her chin from my grasp and looked away.

“Mom…” her voice wavered, “Mom, this is a goodbye.”

I made a desperate grab for her hands, just wanting ’d been on edge all day waiting for the doorbell to feel them in mine, “What do you mean? Sarah, look to ring. I paced through the kitchen and into the at me, please.”’ bedroom until my nails were bitten down to the “Mom, I—” Her voice cracked and my heart beds. shattered.

I waited for her to collect herself with It was only when I watched the sun disappear patience hanging on by a thread, “I didn’t know I beneath the thicket of trees in the backyard that the was leaving that day.

Alexander was driving after chime rang through the house. I nearly jumped out of school and he said ‘wouldn’t it be fun if we ran away my skin as it broke the tense silence of anticipation. together?’

I knew you didn’t like him but I didn’t care.

Frantically, I rushed through the hallway, barely After that…

I don’t know.

We drove for a couple hours pausing before throwing open the heavy wood door. into Hollandale to see his friends and we lost track of There she was. Her face was thinner than I time and then each other…

I didn’t even realize it had remembered. She was tall too. So much taller than been so long.” before. Her hair sat straight against her shoulders I felt the world fall out from under me. I’d spent an shining blue-black in the porch light. eternity thinking about all the worst case scenarios, The words rushed out of my mouth before I knew looking into every ditch on the side of the road, what I was saying, “You dyed your hair.” begging not to see a familiar face. The reality might be She rolled her eyes, “Nice to see you too, Mom.” worse than every terrible moment waiting.

I could hardly stop myself from pulling her close “A couple weeks ago I… I did too much. The things to me. My baby was home in my arms after so long. that became normal since I left home became too I could feel the sting of tears behind my eyes. After a much all at once.

I…” Sarah’s voice drifted off. moment, I allowed myself to pull away, though not “Honey, what are you saying?” I whispered, afraid quite letting go of her arm which was clutched in my anything too loud would make her disappear. hands.

“I came here to say goodbye.”

Sarah finally looked “Come in honey.” I pulled her through the doorway. in my eyes, “To say that I’m so sorry.

I should have just “Smells like spaghetti.” She smiled softly while come home.” looking around at the framed photos and furniture.

I tried to protest but all that came out was a “Of course,” I pulled her through the hallway to the shuddered breath. There seemed like so much to say kitchen. I forgot how cramped it could get with two and no words to express it. Through the confusion people. “It used to be your favorite.” I gestured toward and pain and quiet, my phone began to ring from the the small kitchen table for her to sit and turned to the counter. stove.

“You should get that,” Sarah said softly, “it’s I heard her chuckle from behind me, “Did you really probably about me.” keep my drawings on the fridge all this time?”

In a daze, I got up and reached for the phone. The Turning around with a bowl of pasta in hand, I caller ID wasn’t one I recognized. With shaky fingers, I finally let the tears flow from my eyes, “Sarah, you’ve answered the phone. been gone for 3 years. The only time you even let me “Hello?” know you were alive was when you called last week! If The voice that came through was gruff and tired, I wasn’t so happy to see you, I would tear you apart!”

“Hi, is this Mrs. Sharell?”

She avoided my gaze, “Mom, I’m sorry-” I glanced over at Sarah to find her almost as tense as “Jesus Christ, Sarah, you better be sorry! I thought me.

“Yes, this is she.” you were dead!” She flinched, “I must have lost a year off my life in those first couple weeks.”

With a sigh, I let the tense energy in my shoulders drop and walked over to the table. “But I’m just glad you’re home. Talk to me. Tell me what happened to you all this time.”

“This is Officer Nolan with the Hollandale Police Sarah still wouldn’t look me in the eyes. I reached Department.

We have news about your daughter.” up and took her chin in my hand. Gently, I turned her I shot another look at Sarah while trying to ignore the head to face me. She looked so thin and pale. Her eyes knot growing tighter in my stomach. I turned my focus were filled with sorrow but her cheeks were dry. back to the man on the phone, “You may want to be “Come on, Sarah. At least eat something. You look

I

“This is Officer Nolan with the Hollandale Police Department. We have news about your daughter.”

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