Ficlets

Remembering Parents

Her expression changed. The smile was suddenly forced, “They’re in Florida, of course.”
I stared at her for a moment, “Both of them?” I didn’t know why I asked, it was just that I recognized something in her expression. Something that reminded me of someone else.
She went very quiet.
“Mom is,” she said eventually, “Dad’s probably in LA.”
“What does he do for a living?” I pressed.
“He’s a movie director,” she whispered.
I opened my mouth, preparing to say Why does talking about them bother you so much? but she interupted.
“I moved out. I’m using all the money I’ve saved over the years and the college money my parents were saving because they had it put into my bank account. Dad isn’t happy with me, but I’m sure he’ll come around by the time I need money for college. That’s all,” she had a defiant look in her eyes.
But that wasn’t all. She hadn’t told me why she’d moved out to begin with. She hadn’t told me why she’d moved to a place so far from home. She hadn’t told me anything at all.

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