PETALS OF LOVE

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the new house.Sam's Mom handed them glasses of juice and followed them to the balcony with cookies. She was nice and pretty, more chubby than Sophie remembered."Sophie darling, I haven't seen you in a very long while. Sam disappeared with her lover and you did the same?" She was laughing."No Ma'am. I've been busy lately.""Of course, darling." She squeezed Sophie to herself and kissed her forehead. " You are a lovely child. Make sure to be fine."Sophie nodded as she left. A lovely child? I'm a lovely child because I do all my mother's biddings? I'm a lovely child because I've been stupid all theses years? I don't want to be a lovely child. Sophie was shaken with emotions. The more she thought about Monday morning, the .ore she was certain that she wanted to leave her Mom.Sam put a hand on her shoulder and whispered, "I'm scared for you, and if I'm scared for you, I'm scared for us." She hated melancholy. Inasmuch as she wanted Sophie to be fine, she hated tears and was tired of consoling her.Sophie raised her eyes that were fast becoming red in colour. "I want to ask a question. One simple question.""Okay, but first calm down. I want you to be calm.""You know I always do whatever my Mom says.""Yeah", replied Sam, and added with a smirk, "that, I find very funny, or no, somewhat patriotic." She burst out laughing.Sophie smiled, the girl was a breath of fresh air. "I'm serious, Sam.""Okay, okay, fine!" She raised her hands."I do all she says, I stay away from people out of my own wish because of her. I have only you asmy friend because of her. I'm literally my Mother's pet!""Soph, you don't have to see it like that, she's your Mom and that's what mom's do." Sam was thinking about how Sophie suddenly had this thought."No, Sam not all Moms are controlling.""She's not being controlling. Trust me every Mom is like that. The difference in your case is that you let her control you." Sam realized she shouldn't have said that, it wouldn't help matters.She chose her words. " What I mean is that, you do all your Mom wants you to do, other kids don't do that and that's the difference. The truth is that once they get used to you always obeying them,it's a problem when you don't and you never get to own your own choices."Sam looked closely at Sophie. She felt like she was saying the wrong things. She needed to know why Sophie was saying all of these, it'll determine what answer he'd give her."But Sophie, where's all of these coming from?""My life's a mess, a total mess.""Okay, so what's going on, I need to know because this is getting too much.""My Mom refused me to take the job you told me about, I wasn't having it and we had a fight.""What? Sophie!"What exactly is the problem? Don't you have fights witgypur Mom?""Sophie, you know it's not the same, you know.""A fight is a fight. Every other person can fight with their Moms why should mine be different."Sam in her confusion didn't know how to explain to Sophie that their relationship was different and that they had only each other. How would she explain that her Mom loved her and would not hurt her."Look Sophie, you need ample rest and time. With time everything would fall in place. You can stay here until you're ready to go home.""I'm not going back.""Was the flight that bad?" "I blurted out my mind?""Sophie!" Sam screamed and covered her mouth with her hand. Whenever Sophie said her mind it always turns out disastrous. She herself was always ironing things out immediately, but that was not for Sophie, so anyday she let it out, there'd be problem."What?" Sophie screamed back.Sam could virtually see the conversation the way it played out. She knew Sophie that well. She held her up and they walked inside together not touching their drinks or cookies. ★. ★. ★. ★. ★The girls words kept ringing in Gerald's ears. He was particularly angry at her for adding to his troubles for the day. He pressed the button that usually failed Karen's telephone and in exactly eight secoi she walked in."I have a little something for you to do." He raised his brows to meet her serious face.When his gaze lingered, she became tensed and said, "yes sir, what can I do for you."He