Fill the Gap

‘Some people are going to leave, but that’s not the end of your story. That’s the end of their part in your story.’

-unknown

Chapter 1

Red lights.

Maia cursed under her breath, wanting to flip the finger to the slow poke, blue Beetle before her. Zion must be waiting all alone for her and it was all because of the wretched sloths in the world who didn’t appreciate the value of time. She was angry alright. She just came from NW University, admitting her application and passing the examination. But it wasn’t because of that, that she was angry.

Her mom left. She left her family and now, instead of flying to the University in New York that she worked so hard to get into, she was stuck in New Orleans, her hometown which she so wanted to leave behind. Her dad didn’t allow her to leave because no one would look after her 9 year old little brother, Zion.

It was all her mother’s fault. If she didn’t leave, she wouldn’t be obligated to stay. If she didn’t leave, she wouldn’t be stuck with boring household duties. If she didn’t leave, she wouldn’t be in the car right now on her way to pick up her little brother from school. If she didn’t leave, she would be making new friends at this very moment in New York and not stuck in traffic behind a blasted turtle beetle.

The lights finally turned green and she quickly swiveled and overtook the blue beetle. Her hand gripped hard on the steering wheel when she arrived at Zion’s school. Zion smiled a little before going in the back of the car, carrying his spider man back pack—the bag her mom bought for him. Seeing it only infuriated Maia more as she released an exasperated sigh before turning the car around to go back home.

The car ride back was silent, Maia was in no mood to have small talk. She was still too angry at her mother for being such an irresponsible adult. When she turned off the engine, arriving at home, she looked up at the mirror and noticed Zion not budging to take off his seat belt. His eyes remained staring out the car window.

“What are you doing? Let’s go,” she said as she took off her seat belt, ready to leave, go to her room and scream at the pillow.

“Maia,” he said softly.

“Yes?”

“Thank you for being here coz I don’t really have a mom anymore.” He sniffled while taking off his seat belt and went out of the car.

Maia stayed behind, overwhelmed with emotions. Tears welled up in her eyes as she repeated Zion’s words in her head. She went back to their empty house and found Zion opening the refrigerator, trying to stop crying as he looked for food.

Maia pulled him in her arms. God, she loves him so much.

How could her mother leave him behind? How could she leave them behind?

She caressed his head as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you behind.”

He cried harder.

A/N: Thank you for giving this story a chance! This story will be a bitter sweet and fun. Hope you liked the first chapter. <3 It will be more exciting as it progresses, promise!