“Well,” Mom begins, “we wanted to talk to you about something. I’m sure you’ve noticed that things between your dad and me have been…”
“Rough?” I supply.
“Exactly. Things have beenroughlately. There’s no easy way to say this, but… we’ve decided to take some time apart.”
Panic seeps into my chest. “Are you getting a divorce?”
“No,” Dad says quickly.
Mom shoots him a glare, then settles her eyes on me. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
I shake my head. “Okay, well, I know you two have been fighting a lot, but can’t you work it out?”
“No, we can’t. Not this time,” Mom says. “But your aunt Naomi has some extra space at her house, and I think some time apart will be best for all of us.”
I look at Dad, hoping he’ll object. Hoping he’ll have some other solution. Healwayshas a solution to everything.
But he only continues to stare at the wall, his jaw twitching.
“Dad? Say something.Dosomething.”
“There’s nothing to do, Ellis. The decision’s been made,” he says, finally meeting my eyes. Stubble shadows his face, and his hair looks as though he’s run his hand through it a hundred times. He looksdefeated.
“It’ll be tough for the family not to be together, but we’ll get through it,” Mom says, offering a weak smile.
“How long will you be gone?” I ask.
Mom’s eyes widen a bit, some realization dawning on her. “Oh. Well, you’re coming with me to Bramble Falls.”
“What?” I stop breathing. “No, I’m not. School starts this week,” I remind her.
“You’ll go to school in Bramble Falls for a little while,” she says. “We’ll be back by Thanksgiving.”
“Absolutely not. I’mnot starting at a new school. Dad, tell her.”
Dad pinches the bridge of his nose. “Like I said, the decision’s been made, Ellis. You heard your mother.”
I stand, now hovering over Mom, who sits with her lipspressed tightly together, avoiding looking at me. “I’m not going to freaking Connecticut. You can’t make me leave my home and my friends and my school during mysenior year! What about my commitments? I mean, I’m volunteering at the nursing home, and I’m still doing my internship at Street Media after school three days a week. And I’m finally the editor of the school newspaper this year! I’m sorry, but no. I can’t leave. Being here is imperative to my getting into Columbia. Why can’t I just stay with Dad?”
Mom finally looks at me, her face hard and unreadable. “This isn’t up for debate.” She stands. “We’re leaving first thing tomorrow morning, so you better go pack.”
“What?I don’t even get to say goodbye to Fern or give my jobs any notice? I’m supposed to have lunch with Mr. Street this week. Please, Mom, don’t do this.”
My heart thuds wildly and unshed tears blur my vision. I can’t believe this is happening.
“Staying isn’t an option,” she says, her eyes glassing over. “I’m sorry.”
I turn my back to her. “Dad, please,” I beg, walking over to him, blinking rapidly in my refusal to cry.
Dad pulls me into a hug and kisses the top of my head. “It’s only temporary, Ellis. Your internship will be waiting for you, okay? I’m sure Mr. Street would love to have lunch when you get back.”
I pull out of his arms, shaking my head in disbelief. How can he just let this happen?
I clench my teeth as my eyes dart between my parents. “I hate you both for doing this.”
“Ellis—”
My bare feet pound against the hardwood floor with each step toward my bedroom, cutting off whatever empty argument my mom was about to offer. I slam my door behind me and walk over to my window, where, finally, I let my tears zigzag freely down my cheeks.
