The sound of the phone rung in my ears, waking me up from my restless sleep. Who is calling me at this hour? I sat up and looked at the digital clock on my nightstand, it was eight AM. Much later then I first thought it was.
“Hello?” I said with a groggy voice.
“Hey, it’s Noah,” Said the voice on the other end of the phone.
“Oh, hey.” I said. I laid back down in my bed.
“Is everything alright?” Noah asked.
“No. Not really.” I sobbed.
“What happened Chloe?” He asked, he sounded worried.
“I-it’s Grace. The police updated us yesterday. They found her body.” Salty tears dripped down my face, I didn’t want Noah to hear me cry but I needed to let it out. I couldn’t help it.
“Oh my god, I am so very sorry Chloe. Is there anything I can do? Do you need me to come over?” Just the thought of Noah being with me in my apartment gave me a feeling of comfort.
“Y-yeah, I will send you my address.” I took a deep breath.
“See you soon.”
I heard a knock on the door about ten minutes later, was it Noah? How did he get there so fast? I walk over and as soon as I answer the door Noah pushes himself into my apartment. He holds my shoulders tight.
“Chloe, what happened?” My knees buckled at his words, tears still streamed down my face. I just wanted Grace. Noah helped me over to the couch and he sat down beside me.
“I-I-I got a phone call from the police and they s-said that they found Grace’s body. We had to go, and just stare at her body. She was just laying there, still. I had to stare at her, at my Sister’s dead body!” I sobbed. Noah pulled me close and hugged me, I let my head fall limp on his shoulder. After a few minutes I pulled away and took a deep breath. He had a worried expression on his face that I didn’t realize before. Why does he look like he is worried about Grace? He barley knows me let alone her. I gazed over to a shelf on the opposite side of the room, I had taken a bunch of Grace’s CDs a few months prior. All I could do was imagine her and I dancing together in our Mother’s living room. The music was blasted so loud the neighbours made noise complaints. It was so much fun though. Just thinking about that made me cry again.
“Oh Chloe,” Noah put his hand on my shoulder and looked into my eyes. He jumped as someone knocked on the front door.
“Hold on.” I got up and answered the door, it was my Mother, Zara.
“Are you alright Chloe?” She asked as she barged into my apartment. Her eyes winded as she saw Noah sitting on the couch. A wave of embarrassment washed over me. My Mother had never met Noah before, i hadn’t even brought him up before.
“A boy?” My Mother looked at Noah then me.
“H-he is just a friend Mom.” She crossed her arms.
“You are a fully grown woman, you are allowed to date.”
“But I just told you, we’re not dating!”
“I should go…” Noah said as he stood up and walked towards the door.
“Good idea.” I said, and Noah left.
“Who was that?” She asked me.
“That was Noah.” I sighed. She looked at me, her eyes were filled with sorrow and anger. What was wrong with her?
“You shouldn’t be dating right now Chloe.” Zara said as she set he set down her purse on the island in the kitchen.
“Why not? You just said that I am a fully gown woman! What’s the matter with you?” I raised my voice at my Mother.
“And YOU are only dating because you are upset about Grace!” She yelled back. Tears streamed down my face once again. Why would my own Mother think that?
“You will regret this relationship in the future.” I took a deep breath and put my hand on my forehead.
“You should leave.”
“You can’t kick your own Mother out of this house!” She screeched.
“Yes I can because it’s my damn house!” I yelled back. My heart was racing and sweat dripped down my neck. She looked insulted, like her own daughter hated her, even though i had a feeling it was the other way around.
“Fine.” She grabbed her purse and opened the front door.
“It should have been you to disappear.” Her words hurt me more then a bullet through my heart.