Little Miss Brown Eyes

The red flowers rustled in the wind and it blew my hair around my face. The wooden bench underneath me wasn't very comfortable but I didn't move a muscle. I stared out on the expanse of our backyard. It was covered in flowers and little blossoming trees. What use was a yard if you couldn't even play in it? I heard screaming from the front. My sisters must be playing in the sprinklers again. I heard my mom laughing, an inviting sound, but it only hardened my face more. School tomorrow; my chest tightened. I couldn't take much more of it. Day after day, people shoving things at me, telling me what to do I was going to snap! And my friends? What friends. I couldn't even be myself around them and they ditched me whenever they got the chance. Ever since Dad had left everything has been terrible. Mom's been working nonstop and we've barley got any money. The girls got over it fast. They act as if nothing's wrong; everything's still normal. Nothing is still normal! It's all his fault! Why did he have to leave? I wiped the tears from my cheeks. I need him. I leaned my head against the wood. I was being selfish. I'm sure everyone missed him, mom the most. But she had to stay strong for our family and I was just bringing them down; bringing myself down. I curled my knees to my chest and let go of my pitiful lies. Letting the truth lash out at me like a whip. I was putting all this on myself. I constantly sulked and no one wanted to be around me, I put myself in a bad mood and yelled at people for no reason, I pushed my friends away, I pushed my family away. I was making myself and everyone around me miserable. I buried my face between my knees and cried. I cried for all the pain I had and for all the pain I was causing. I cried for things I had done and things I should have. I cried for letting my mom fight through this time alone and I cried for how much I loved and missed my dad. The tears slowed, the anger and pain left. I sat up and felt refreshed. It was a new start. I could change, I would change, and I could turn everything around. I got up and walked into the house, going through the halls and across the living room to the front door. I walked out, seeing my sisters giant grins as they ran around, sopping wet. I saw my mom in a lawn chair, watching them with a small smile on her face. I went and sat next to her. We looked at each other and smiled. It was all looking up from here.