THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US

CHAPTER 16

Ann was just very happy today when she woke up. She and Troy had a virtual date the night before. She had dressed up all lit and fine while they also both watched a movie they loved.

Ann rolled over to the side of her bed as she let out a smile on her lips with her eyes still closed as the memories of the night before flashed through her face. She opened her eye had as she tried to clear her face rubbing the sleep off she heard muffled tears from the side and as she looked up to the side, she realized it was Sophie. She couldn't understand what was wrong because she had been really bubbly the night before as they had both fisted about several things before going to sleep.

Ann sat up straight on her bed as she watches sophie whose head was on her knee which was curled up on the bed.

"Hey" Ann said in a low tone, she hated to see people in distress and sad so the state she saw Sophie really broke her heart. Sophie was an happy girl, one would easily know in the way she played around, joked and laughed with everyone.

Sophie raised her head up gently as she looked at Ann. Her face were swollen, it seemed like she had been crying for a very long time. She looked unhappy and one could easily tell. Her eyes were wet as she sniffled, her jaw was quivering.

"Do you want to talk about what's wrong" Ann asked. She wasn't sure if she would want to talk about it but she wanted to try either ways.

Sophie hesitated for some time than let her legs down from her bed as she sat up straight.

"She still won't stop drinking and buying drugs. It's been three years and she still hasn't moved on" Sophie exclaimed and and one could easily tell how angry she was.

"Who" Ann asked curiously

"Mother" Sophie said.

"What happened"

"Father left us three years ago to live with his new family, mother still hasn't moved on from the hurt. I have a little sister that just started high school. I have to work extra hours at the strip club to make money for all of us but the only thing mother does is spend it all on drugs and alcohol. It's frustrating because there is nothing I can do about it" Sophie explained sadly.

"Have you tried talking to her, like a real talk from the heart" Ann asked.

"I have done everything that I can but nothing us working, she promises to change everytime but everything still remains the same"

"I think you just need to try a little bit harder, you can't give up on her now. Especially for your little sister. Give her one more chance" Ann advised.

"I don't know, I really don't" Sophie said

"Just one more time" Ann said.

Sophie wasn't sure she wanted to give her mother one more chance. She wasn't ready for her to make promises she wouldn't keep eventually. Sophie was done but then may be one more wouldn't hurt.

"It's all going to be fine"Ann said as she pulled Sophie into a tight hug.she stayed that way for sometime before letting go. The past few months she had lived in New York had made her see Sophie as more than a friend now, she was like a sister she never had.

Knock knock

Ann walked to open the door as she heard a knock on it and sophie wiped the tears off her face.

"Are you miss Ann, this flowers were brought for you" the girl at the door said.

A surprised Ann collected the bouquet of flowers as she smiled knowing it was surely going to be from Troy as he liked to surprise her a lot.

Ann closed the door behind her as she walked inside inhaling the nice scent from the flowers.

"From Troy again" Sophie said as she smiled as Ann kept them in a vase. She then noticed a note by the side which read. "Thanks for all your help. This is my little way of showing that I appreciate it all"

Ann looked surprised as she wondered who it was from because it seemed it wasn't from Troy. Her phone rang almost immediately and it was Mike.

"Hey, did you get the flowers I sent" Mike asked and then Ann finally figured they were from him.

"Wow, I didn't know they were from you. What are they for" Ann asked

"To thank you basically" Mike said.

"Thank you" Ann said before going off the call.

"It's from Mike" Ann said as she dropped the call.

"I told you he likes you" Sophie said teasing Ann

"But he really can't, I have a boyfriend and he knows and I love him a lot too" Ann said as she sat on her bed.

"But you can't hate a man for trying though" Sophie said smiling.

"But he really should stop trying now cause it isn't working"Ann said.

"I am sure he won't take that advise" Sophie said

"he really doesn't want a relationship so why would he even like me. he prefers to not be committed" Ann said

"things change, you know" Sophie said with a smile.

"we are really just friends and I am sure he knows that's all I want us to be." Ann explained

"okay, I will remind you of this day if anything changes"Sophie said and Ann just smiled. Ann was glad Sophie was back to her normal happy self. That made her happy and smile too.

Ann didn't want to think too much about what Sophie was saying. why would Mike like her though? she knew he wasn't interested in any relationship so why would he want that now. Ann concluded that Mike was only being this nice to her because she had helped him with Rina and all. she didn't want to think of any other reason there could be.