Fluidity. Abeo Robinson

It took me only a moment to decide, "I guess I am. I'll text you my address?"

      Monet nodded with a newfound elation in her eyes and chuckled, "You're so formal. Anyways, text me the addy and we'll be there at 11."

       Once I nodded, she smiled and winked at me, then ended the call.

       Cliche as it may sound, I let out a shaky breath I didn't even know I'd been holding in.

       •

       "Eden, what's the matter? You haven't taken a bite of your food. You love pizza night, right?" my mom asked me at the dinner table around 9:30 PM.

       My eyes flashed over to her and Dad staring, "Huh? Oh yeah! I do love pizza night but they gave me jello and crackers at the doctor's office, remember? It was more filling than I thought it'd be."

       Dad nodded in understanding, "Why don't you head to bed, kiddo?"

       Mom shook her head and held Dad's hand, "Wait a moment, babe, shouldn't we tell her?"

       I looked at them questioningly, "Tell me what?"

       Their eyes met and they nodded simultaneously.

       "We didn't want to mention it until we knew we were sure, but..." Dad started, giving leeway for Mom to continue.

       "...you're getting a little brother soon! We've been in contact with a young mother willing to allow us to take on her child once it's born. The baby boy is expected to be in good health and the mother thinks we'd be the perfect family!"

       I was utterly dejected. They didn't think to clue me in before welcoming a new baby to our home? That meant they'd pay even less attention to me, Dad being a business man and Mom investing in launching her bakery. Luckily, my disappointment didn't show. I smiled mirthlessly at them and squealed.

       "Oh my gosh, are you guys for real?" I clapped in false excitement, and they beamed at me, nodding.

       I sprung from my seat to put myself between them and hug them at the same time.

      "See, babe," my mom said to my dad, "I told you she'd be excited!"

       After a bit of chatter about the who's, when's, and why's, I excused myself from the table and scampered off to my room.

       The moment the door shut, my resolve crumbled and the light disappeared from my eyes. The party was the furthest thing from my mind when I locked the door and heaved silent sobs into my Strawberry Shortcake pillowcase. The only thing keeping me from drifting off to sleep was my fear of what was to come in the dreaming world, if anything at all.