A NOT-SO-GOOD NEWS
1823 Words
FREYA
Click!
I stare at my face reflected on the dark, blank screen of my phone long after the call concludes with chirpy goodbyes—forced on my end. The splintered edge in the upper left-hand corner, close to the camera, reminds me of a spider web and how I feel inside—shattered—into various bits.
Instead of finishing the book I have folded between my thighs, my head is propped up against one of the million pillows on my bed, and I stare forlornly at nothing, picturing how catatonic my life is likely about to become.
It's something about getting terrible news at the end of the week. It's almost like an anti-climax, as if you'd had a great Monday, which is odd because the first day of the week sucks by design. Then, by Thursday, you're still feeling the week because everything is going your way, but boom…the night before Saturday, you get one bad call, and the whole week—the entire good week—is over.
I despise feeling this way, but after what I've just heard, it's as if I have no choice.
"What's got your face all screwed up like that?"
I sigh as I face the dark grey eyes looking back at me via the reflected image in the dressing mirror. It’s Cassie, and she's been my roommate for a year—well, since I started college.
She knows me like the back of her hand, and while that may be an exaggeration, we are close. She has my back just as much as I have hers, and we always try to be honest with ourselves. As a result, I decide to rent her a seat on the emotional rollercoaster that is my life right now.
I take a deep breath before telling her. "It's my mum."
"Uh-oh."
From the tone of my voice, Cassie understands that what I am going to tell her will be highly delicate. I am typically very optimistic whenever I speak about my mother because she’s the human I am most connected to. But right now, I am not that joyful girl anymore. Not even remotely. My head is numb, and I can’t feel anything but the erratic pounding of my heartbeat and my quivering fingers—they scare the s**t out of me.
Cassie, still waiting for me to say something, puts down the box of wipes she’d lifted earlier to commence her facial routine, and turning away from the mirror, she looks directly at me.
“Freya, what is it? Spill!"
I take a deep breath and stare directly ahead. "My mother is getting married." I drop the bombshell.
There is a brief pause before Cassie's lips open in the beginnings of what appears to be a squeal - she is infamous for doing this, especially when she is overjoyed - but all that comes out is stifled laughter followed by a clap.
She is both surprised and excited. That much is obvious. I, on the other hand, can't seem to get over the shock.
"Well, I'll be damned." She exhales, still beaming as if she'd just won the lottery. “That's good news."
"Good news!" I scoff and throw my hands up in the air. "This is f*****g bad news! This is awful news! The start of a disaster. I can feel it."
"Freya!" Cassie yells. She certainly doesn't notice my disapproval because she continues. "How can you call this terrible news when your mother has been single for God knows how long, and now she's getting married? Why? And who is the fortunate man?"
"Someone I don't know." I cry. "The worst part is that. I don't even know who he is. Even the name she gave me is weird. I've never heard anything like it before in my life. This is not a good sign!"
My mother getting married is not something I expect to hear anytime soon, especially since the last time I saw her — a few months ago — she was single. When did she meet someone and get to know them well enough to accept a strange marriage proposal? Also, she didn't tell me anything until she had a ring on her finger. She never withholds anything from me, and vice versa. So how come she didn't tell me about this man? Even a hint! I explain all these to Cassie, whose eyes are still bright with joy despite my complaints.
"Ugh!" I sigh and turn away from her. "Stop looking so happy!"
Cassie laughs. "I'm sorry, but I still don't get why you aren't happy for your mother, Freya." She shrugs and goes on. "Your dad has been gone for almost ten years now, and I think it's a good thing that your mother found love again."
"That's the thing, Cass, I don't know if she's in love with this guy. Okay, how long has she been with him? 5 or 6 months? And she’s suddenly getting married. Isn't it true that these things require time? How can she be so certain that she wants to spend the rest of her life with him?"
"Freya, stop thinking like this. Look at the bright side of things."
"Which bright side? I always know when Mom meets someone." Always. I'm the first to find out.
"Also…" I start again. “We both know how many on-again, off-again relationships my mother has had. And how they crush her heart while leaving me to pick up the pieces." Cassie remains silent, awaiting my next words. “Then, suddenly, Prince Charming appears and slips a massive rock on her finger. Oh please, cut me some slack.”
"Well, yeah, not bad.” Cassie cynically shrugs.
I frown with perplexity. "What?"
"Never mind." Cassie sighs and shakes her head. "I don't see what the problem is here. Your mother has found a new man, and this time it comes with a ring. Just let her be.”
"She has found love again, but what if she gets hurt again, like always." I repeat, my rage visible in my voice.
"Slow down. Last time I checked, your mother was an adult. Twice or three times your age. I'm confident she can care for herself. Take it easy."
"I wish I could take it easy. I wish I had a chill pill." My shoulders slump, and I sigh heavily. "I want to be happy for my mother, okay? But, as I have stated, I have this horrible feeling that I can't shake off.”
"Perhaps it's your reflexes. You've already taken the news badly, and your hormones are raging."
"No, it isn't! Everything is happening way too fast, Cassie. The math isn’t adding up at all.”
"Don't think of it that way, Freya. Perhaps your mother forgot to tell you." Cassie defends, and I roll my eyes for the hundredth time. "You all talk a lot anyway, and maybe she just didn't realize that with all the conversations, her new man wasn't one of them."
"I want to believe you, Cassie, but if you were dating someone new, wouldn't that be the only thing you'd rather talk about?"
There’s a brief silence.
"I just don't want this to be a mistake." I arrange my pillow behind me and turn to face my friend. “What if the marriage fails because this man isn't who he says he is? It would break my heart to witness my mother cry over someone I barely know!"
"Well, if that's the case, then it's a good thing you do not know him."
I lifted a brow at that, “Why?”
"Cause it will be easier to whoop his ass if he does mess things up with your mom."
I giggle, gently shaking my head.
"Look, if your mother seemed excited about the wedding, you could be a little more upbeat. For her sake. Because for all we know, this man could be her long-lost rib."
Yeah, right. I don't even believe that for one second.
"And in the spirit of positivity." Cassie presses her hand against the armrests of the vanity chair she's now seated in. "Instead of lazing about here, why don't you celebrate your mother's engagement on your own?"
"And how, pray tell, am I supposed to do that?" I'm not even in the mood to celebrate.
"Come out with me tonight. It's Friday night, and the city that never sleeps begs Freya Lawson to party!"
No, I laugh but shake my head.
"Come on, come on. I'm not going to take no for an answer."
"But it is my answer."
"Freya!"
"Cassie!"
"I'm not getting out of here without you." You've got to get your act together and have a nice time. You also need to drown your worries away with alcohol.”
I get out of bed, determined to leave the room, but my friend isn't easily persuaded. She runs up to me and takes a position in front of me.
"No, no. Cass, I'm not going to follow you out tonight."
"You need to lighten up, so you're going." She responds matter-of-factly and walks over to my closet. She starts removing my clothes.
"No, I am not. Cassie! Put a stop to that!” I huff fiercely, attempting to keep her from strewing my garments. My efforts are in vain.
"You need to get your head straight, and the only thing that's going to do that is blasting music and stiff drinks."
"I don't even have entrance tickets to any club, Cass." I say, but my efforts are once again worthless. Her eyes glow like they usually do. "Then call me fairy godmother, bitch." She says this while pointing to the dressing table, where two tickets lay in wait.
Woah! I didn't see that coming.
"I don't have an appropriate dress."
Cassie glances at me as if to say, "You must be crazy," and then continues to raid my closet.
"Eureka." She shouts and pulls out a shimmering black garment that could be mistaken for a top.
When did I get that? I can't even recall.
"I am not wearing that." I immediately blurt out.
"And why is that?"
"That's a top, not a dress, because what happened to the other half? It's far too short!"
The dress hangs pathetically from my fingers as I complain, but Cassie doesn't seem to mind. She grabs my hand and forces me into the bathroom, uttering her final words. "Shower, get dressed, and come out so I can beat your face to perfection."
"Cassie, I truly don’t want to…” I don’t get to finish my remark because she slams the door shut in my face and yells loudly. “You’re going to grow a pair tonight, Freya Lawson. You’re going to drink some alcohol, dance, and even hook up with a random stranger. Who knows? I don’t. But you’re going to f*****g live a little.”
- Writer
