Never Gone (PG) Part Icrumpled_upSeptember 22 2010, 08:45:10 UTC
I'm not sure if this is exactly what you had in mind, but I hope this works for you. :D (The second part will be right underneath this comment.)
title: Never Gone Gillian; PG; 820 words
She used to spend Mother’s Day trying to cook a decent meal with her brother when she was a kid. They’d try and make scrambled eggs that ended up too runny and toast that ended up too black, but they’d make the perfect cup of coffee, light with two sugars, and bring it to their mom in bed. A handmade card, filled with misspellings, stick figures and sloppy signatures always accompanied the breakfast. Their mom would always take the tray with a smile and plant a wet kiss on each of their cheeks before enthusiastically digging in.
When Gillian was older, away from home, she would call every year without fail. Even when she was swamped with papers and midterms and finals and work, she would take half an hour out of her day to call her mom and wish her a happy Mother’s Day and catch up. Her mother never failed to sound cheerful or to be invested in Gillian’s life. Sometimes they would sit silently on the phone for the last five minutes of the conversation or laugh so hard they couldn’t breathe for the next fifteen minutes. Sometimes she would rant about how her professors didn’t care that there were three other papers and midterms due on the same day or how her boss would send her creepy looks that were supposed to be flirty, and her mom would just listen.
Until she passed away the year before Sophie arrived.
The last thing her mother ever told her was to give adoption a chance because every child deserved to have a good mother. Like a good daughter, she listened and Alec readily agreed. Gillian only wished she could introduce little Sophie to her grandma while she was still alive.
Then Sophie was taken away the week before Mother’s Day and Gillian never hated a holiday so intensely.
Gillian both longed to call her mother and have her heal this heartache, and was relieved that she was no longer around to witness such a loss. If anything, her mother might’ve died from heartbreak alone.
When she and Alec decided to separate, she was never more relieved that her mother was not around. Gillian couldn’t bear the thought of the disappointment and pain that would cross her mother’s face. No child, no husband, all taken from her-what would she think? Or maybe her mom would be proud that she left Alec after finding out about his renewed drug habit. But Gillian would never know, and maybe it was better that way.
Re: Never Gone (PG) Part IIcrumpled_upSeptember 22 2010, 08:46:00 UTC
Every year since her mother’s passing, she visited her gravesite. She always brought a bouquet of white lilies, her mother’s favorite. Since Sophie’s departure, she carried one purple rose to add to the bouquet because in the 57 days she had the little girl, Gillian was quite sure that it was Sophie’s favorite color.
This year was no different. She has the same bouquet, complete with the purple rose, and laid it down by the tombstone. There was another bouquet already there, probably from her brother, who somehow managed to put one there every year even though he lived in California.
She longed to tell her mom about everything that’s happened in the last year, from a crazy gunmen storming into the office, to watching Cal try to kill himself every other week, to four kids breaking into her home, to falling for men who have a secret life, to finding a good friend lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life. But she didn’t. Her mom probably already knew, so instead she rearranged the flowers so they framed the stone perfectly and stalled for time.
“I think I’ve found an unconventional family at least. Cal and Emily have taken me in. You remember Emily? I think you met her once, when you visited the office years ago. She gave me an orange slushie today, out of nowhere. I think she has an idea of what’s going on. She’s a bright girl, much to her dad’s delight and chagrin.”
Emily had come into her office earlier in the day and handed Gillian a large orange slushie, while she sipped from her own cherry red slushie cup. They chatted about boys and school and Cal, and it felt like home. It felt like the times Gillian used to call her mom back in college. She didn’t realize the smile she had on her face or sense a devious plan until Cal came in and whisked Emily away for dinner with Zoe. His wink right before shutting the door gave him away and she smiled.
“I’m not alone, Mom. They’re taking good care of me in their own unique way.”
A small breeze flew by and she could almost feel her mother’s approval. Gillian smiled. “Thanks, Mom. I love you, too.” Watch out for Sophie for me.
Re: Never Gone (PG) Part IIapplesredSeptember 23 2010, 15:20:03 UTC
This is perfect. I love how you wove in Gillian's mother into how Gillian felt about being a mother herself, and losing everything and gaining a sort-of family. I really enjoyed reading this, thank you <3
Re: Never Gone (PG) Part IIcrumpled_upSeptember 23 2010, 21:28:44 UTC
I'm glad you approve. I didn't just want it to be about Sophie and angst, and I wanted to meet Gillian's mom, so I figured why not talk about that for your prompt. So thank you for offering such a wonderful prompt and sparking my muse. ♥
title: Never Gone
Gillian; PG; 820 words
She used to spend Mother’s Day trying to cook a decent meal with her brother when she was a kid. They’d try and make scrambled eggs that ended up too runny and toast that ended up too black, but they’d make the perfect cup of coffee, light with two sugars, and bring it to their mom in bed. A handmade card, filled with misspellings, stick figures and sloppy signatures always accompanied the breakfast. Their mom would always take the tray with a smile and plant a wet kiss on each of their cheeks before enthusiastically digging in.
When Gillian was older, away from home, she would call every year without fail. Even when she was swamped with papers and midterms and finals and work, she would take half an hour out of her day to call her mom and wish her a happy Mother’s Day and catch up. Her mother never failed to sound cheerful or to be invested in Gillian’s life. Sometimes they would sit silently on the phone for the last five minutes of the conversation or laugh so hard they couldn’t breathe for the next fifteen minutes. Sometimes she would rant about how her professors didn’t care that there were three other papers and midterms due on the same day or how her boss would send her creepy looks that were supposed to be flirty, and her mom would just listen.
Until she passed away the year before Sophie arrived.
The last thing her mother ever told her was to give adoption a chance because every child deserved to have a good mother. Like a good daughter, she listened and Alec readily agreed. Gillian only wished she could introduce little Sophie to her grandma while she was still alive.
Then Sophie was taken away the week before Mother’s Day and Gillian never hated a holiday so intensely.
Gillian both longed to call her mother and have her heal this heartache, and was relieved that she was no longer around to witness such a loss. If anything, her mother might’ve died from heartbreak alone.
When she and Alec decided to separate, she was never more relieved that her mother was not around. Gillian couldn’t bear the thought of the disappointment and pain that would cross her mother’s face. No child, no husband, all taken from her-what would she think? Or maybe her mom would be proud that she left Alec after finding out about his renewed drug habit. But Gillian would never know, and maybe it was better that way.
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This year was no different. She has the same bouquet, complete with the purple rose, and laid it down by the tombstone. There was another bouquet already there, probably from her brother, who somehow managed to put one there every year even though he lived in California.
“Happy Mother’s Day, Mom,” she whispered. “I hope you’re doing well.”
She longed to tell her mom about everything that’s happened in the last year, from a crazy gunmen storming into the office, to watching Cal try to kill himself every other week, to four kids breaking into her home, to falling for men who have a secret life, to finding a good friend lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life. But she didn’t. Her mom probably already knew, so instead she rearranged the flowers so they framed the stone perfectly and stalled for time.
“I think I’ve found an unconventional family at least. Cal and Emily have taken me in. You remember Emily? I think you met her once, when you visited the office years ago. She gave me an orange slushie today, out of nowhere. I think she has an idea of what’s going on. She’s a bright girl, much to her dad’s delight and chagrin.”
Emily had come into her office earlier in the day and handed Gillian a large orange slushie, while she sipped from her own cherry red slushie cup. They chatted about boys and school and Cal, and it felt like home. It felt like the times Gillian used to call her mom back in college. She didn’t realize the smile she had on her face or sense a devious plan until Cal came in and whisked Emily away for dinner with Zoe. His wink right before shutting the door gave him away and she smiled.
“I’m not alone, Mom. They’re taking good care of me in their own unique way.”
A small breeze flew by and she could almost feel her mother’s approval. Gillian smiled. “Thanks, Mom. I love you, too.” Watch out for Sophie for me.
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