Loving A Stranger

wn my spine as I sat up, my heart pounding from a dream I couldn't q

ng the eerie feeling away.

ked into the living room, only to b

don't need anyone babysitting

sten to me. I've spent my whole life keeping you safe, living in isolation for a reason. If anything happens to you..." She swallowed hard, loo

same guilt-laced words th

ofter now. "I know you've sacrificed a lot

e glanced at the window as if checki

tension fill

aw something in her eyes. No

ht. Let's grab some popcorn and ice cream, and watch movies. Maybe we

head. "Mom, I told you, t

. "Are you su

curled up on the couch, spoons digging into vanilla ice cream. T

the crazy fashion trends she hated, an

ege. F

me giddy with excitement, but also strangely uneasy like I

*Mi

sy she was. But I had never truly been alone no

. She practically lived at my house, which made sense c

r worst nightmare. Her stepfather had tried to make passes at her when

ive with her mother anymor

become real/legal sisters, but neither of them ever took the bait. Still, I s

t that be

I barely noticed wh

raising an eyebrow. "Did you

rry, Mom. I kind of zoned

ng if you'd like to go to the beach this week

instantly

dless horizon that made me feel free. Like all the weight of

ealed so loudly

hen. Now, what would you like to wear? I can stop

Mom. Just get something n

shaking her head

other's

d her arms. "Alright, t

e dancing hard at the beach whilst you'r

t it didn't quit

, stars, and back," she whispere

from the beginning to t

usual warmth of sleep to take over. Bu

se felt t

down the hall. I turned my head tow

m's r

s off, but the faint glow of the moon illuminated

talking

reath

out of bed and mo

" I whi

aught a glimpse of her expression before she hurried

Tasha," she said

like that,

n place, my heartb

alking to? And why d

dn't come easily. The wind outside howled l

ran down

t my imagination. Jus

Ri