Sarah

Opening my eyes I see the sun shining through the blinds. The sun blazing on my face.

The warmth settling over me keeping me nice and cozy. Remnants of my dreams lingering in my

head make me feel a sense of calm energy radiating. Getting up I slip my feet into my slippers.

Walking to the kitchen I start the get the day ready for my daughter and husband. I get out the

ingredients to start making pancakes, eggs, and coffee. One thing about me is if I don’t get my

morning coffee you should probably never speak to me until I get some. Just as I’m about to take

a sip of my morning espresso I hear.

“Mom!” my daughter says slamming her door open. I don’t even open my mouth to

answer instead I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth taking a deep breath and

first sip of my coffee. Her smile is bright and looks so adorable on her face but I know better

than anyone the smile she makes when she's about to ask for something. Narrowing my eyes at

her I smile back.

“Yes, lovely daughter. Is there something you want?” I answer in a just as sweetly

because I already know how this is going to go. This is when her eyes scan me to find a way to

give me a compliment of some sort.

“Mom you’re just so beautiful this fine morning. How did you sleep?” I smile to myself

for knowing my daughter so well. Setting my coffee down I decide to try and hear her out.

“Alright give it to me what do you want?’ I arch my brow at her waiting for a response.

The gleeful smile that was on her face dropped faster than someone picking up a hot plate.

Laughter bubbling in my chest at the nonsense she thinks she gets away with.
 Lily

“So… I was thinking that my friend's birthday is tomorrow and my friend wanted to

know if I could sleep over with her. I know how you feel about sleepovers but please it’ll only be

this one time.”

“No.” my mother says. Whenever I ask her this she always gets lost in her mind like she's

thinking about something. I try to ask her what she thinking so hard about but she never gives me

a straightforward answer.

“Mom come on I’m a junior in high school I’ll be fine at a silly sleepover,” I beg. I never

understood what her problem was with me. It’s like she tries to make my life as miserable as

possible. She barely ever lets me go out and sleepovers are a no every single time.

“I said no and that is final Lily either take that as an answer or not but you’re staying

home and not going to any sleepover.” She starts to turn her back on me. I get angry at the fact

that I can never live my life like a normal teenager. She’s draining me It’s always no, no, and no.

I wish she could just be a normal parent. A parent that gets happy that their kid even gets invited

or asked to do anything.

“ I bet you would be happy If I was bullied and no one ever asked me to do anything. It’s

like you just want to drain all the happiness out of me. I wish I had a parent that could be happy

for me and actually cared about my happiness.” I scream in outrage. I’m tired of being treated

like a little kid. I’ve come to the conclusion that my mom is just evil.
 Sarah

My heart drops remembering that night. The night that changed my life junior year. The

night that gives me nightmares and has me waking up with tears running down my face.

“Sarah I’m having a slumber party tonight and I would love it if you came. We're going

to do facemasks and watch movies.” I look at my friend Jess excited for the girl's night she had

planned. She glances to her boyfriend for confirmation and her eyes light up as he nods his head

yes.

“Of course, I’ll come it sounds like so much fun.” I exclaim “Just text me the details.”

Jess smiles at me appreciatively and walks away with her boyfriend Noah. Watching them walk

down the school hallway and turn to my locker getting ready for my next class when I get the

details for the party. I noticed the text mentions that pajamas are required and that to bring a

blanket and pillow for the night.

……

I dress in my pajamas thinking about the night ahead of me. I decided on some pink plaid

pj pants and a white tank top. I had never gone to Jessica's parties before I had only heard from

people that they were really fun. Especially since it’s an all-girls slumber party I knew It was

going to be amazing. Aside from her boyfriend Noah. They do everything together. I don’t think

I’ve seen them apart since they got together last year. She fell so hard for him. It’s honestly sad

looking back because Jess has to ask her boyfriend permission for anything. We used to be super

close and then she started hanging out with him more and more and hanging out with me less

and less. At first, I tried talking to her about it and she seemed sorry but ultimately nothing

ended up changing and I just accepted that she wasn’t going to be my best friend anymore. We
have been kind of distant ever since so I was happy that she thought to invite me to her party

tonight.

Driving to Jessica's house I look around at all the cars around. There’s not a huge

amount which I’m glad about. I park on the side of her house and make my way inside. As I open

the door I’m greeted by Noah as he opens the door. “Hey, Sarah Jess is in the kitchen making the

popcorn for the movie.” He says. He doesn’t give me that much space to move so I had to push

my way past him. I scrunched my face at the contact I made with him. Ew. Not thinking anything

more of it I walk towards my friend.

“Sarah oh my god you came. I am so happy that you’re here!” I smile at the way she's

radiating the Jess that I used to know. Although I do love this spontaneous slumber party I

wonder why she randomly decided to do this and invite me of all people. The one her boyfriend

hates. I go to set my bag down watching all her friends getting their spots and sleeping bags

settled while I observe what everyone doing which consists of nail painting while we all wait for

the movie.

By the time the movie gets started some of the girls are already cuddled up in their

sleeping bags with their eyes slowly shutting. I grabbed a cherry coke from the fridge surprised

that I would find one. There are not a bunch of fans of the stuff but I’ve been in love ever since

My taste buds had a taste when I was in kindergarten. Some popcorn hits the floor as girls stuff

their mouths not getting everything they grabbed. My eyes linger on the girl as she munches

away “CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH.” The sound slowly chipped away at my patience. I grab

a piece of popcorn from my little baggie that Jess brought over and discreetly throw it at her.

Trying my hardest trying to keep a poker face I fail miserably.

 “Hey Sarah I know that was you I can literally see you laughing.” I giggle at the wild

expression on her face. I feel something hit the side of my head and look over to see Jess not so

discreetly hiding her baggie of popcorn and trying to hardest to pay attention to the movie. We

all look around in silence until I’m the one to break it by busting out laughing. I’m glad she

decided to play ‘Scream’ it’s one of my favorite films. I love all of the Scream movies because It’s

always so fun doing the Who Done It game. Sometimes you never know when a person can just

snap their fingers and go insane.

As the movie comes to an end and the credits start rolling girls get in more comfortable

positions and start to snooze away. I smile in contempt at the night of peace that I’ve wanted

forever. Even if I and Jess weren’t friends after this night it still kind of gave me a sense of peace.

I rush to the bathroom realizing that the cherry Coke I downed probably wasn’t the best idea.

“Hey Sarah, You know I miss when you and Jess were friends.” Noah startles me opening

the door to the bathroom just as I start to wash my hands. His expression is a little frightening

the way the light shines above casting an ominous shadow over his face.

“Dude maybe knock next time.” I rub my thumb and pointer finger together back and forth

hoping for the the sudden claustrophobic feeling to go away.

“Now why would I do that?” Noah steps closer to me. I take a step back. Sweat starting to cool

my hot skin. My heartbeat was beginning to speed up.

“I think I should get back to the girls Jess is out there If that’s who you’re looking for.” I spit out

quickly trying to sidestep Noah. He throws out his hand to grip my arm pulling me back into the

bathroom. He smiles like a predator corning its prey knowing it’s exactly where they want it.

Noah kicks the door shut pushing me towards to wall. I suddenly feel like all the air is being

taken out of my lungs. I start to shake.

“I'm not looking for Jess. I was looking for you and it looks like I found what I was looking for.”

He whispers in my ear.

“Let me go. what is wrong with you?” I yell. He slaps me across the face leaving a stinging print

behind.

“I would keep quiet about this. It would be so easy to spin this on you. Throwing yourself at me.

At a party, your friend invited you too because she felt bad for you. How low and pathetic of you.

Oh my god, what’s wrong with you?” He laughs in my face as the tears start to spill down my

face. The worst part about it is he wasn’t wrong she would never believe me. He goes to turn the

light off. I suddenly become empty like my soul leaves my body and my brain shuts off. I don’t

want to feel anymore so I don’t. Now all I see and feel is darkness.

I started to realize that my daughters did not see it the same way that I did. Feeling a little

guilty for never giving her an actual answer I grab Lily’s hands and lead her to the couch so we

can finally have the conversation I've been dreading. The explanation of that night. If I was ever

going to really get passed it I needed to acknowledge it and finally tell her the truth, the whole

truth.