Jade

"Frank is Dad's friend; he'll always be just 'Uncle Frank' to me, Mom!"

My mother fixed me with a furious gaze, her face twisted by the same emotion, and her breaths labored as she fought to rein in her anger. This marked the umpteenth dispute we'd endured, or perhaps more, as I'd only started counting when it became overwhelming.

Let me be clear- My mom was getting married to my dad's friend, and despite my unceasing objections and even pleas, the wedding was set. She remained indifferent to my wishes and the moral implications. She simply didn't care.

To hell with her marriage!

Frank would forever remain an uncle to me, even if they exchanged vows and my mother seemed unable to grasp that fact. Why? Why couldn't she? The situation was already so inherently wrong. Just so fucking wrong.

How could I ever bear witness to her with another man, apart from my dad?

"Why can't you, just for once, attempt to understand me, Jade?!"

"Fuck off, Mom. Why does it always have to be about you? Can't you see what the fuck are you doing by marrying another man? You're betraying my dad! It's fucking hard for me to even think about it, let alone stand there and fucking clap for the two of you!"

She shut her eyes, letting out a tight breath, "This isn't cheating, Jade! I need someone to help me move on, to be my support, to be there for me. I can't live the rest of my life alone. Can't you fucking see that?!"

"I was there for you the whole time, Mom. I stuck by your side through everything! Look at me! What am I? To be your constant source of comfort, your shoulder to cry on, wipe off your fucking tears, fix things that you should have taken responsibility for, I sacrificed everything, whether it was making friends or having a relationship! And now, after all these years, not even six months ago, you suddenly drop the bombshell that you're in love with Frank! And just fifteen days ago, you spring it on me that you two are getting married," I yelled, my emotions erupting, "And as if that wasn't enough, you want me to call him 'dad' now? I won't. I absolutely fucking won't call him dad because he isn't and can never be!

"Fine! You don't need to call him dad. I wasn't even that serious when I suggested it, Jade, so don't make a huge deal out of it! I just thought it might make him happy if you did! Why are you overreacting and making this a big deal?!"

Overreacting? She had to be fucking kidding me!

"Because I can't handle this shit anymore, Mom! I can't fathom how you can do this to Dad!" Tears flowed down my cheeks, and I hastily brushed them away, "You claim to love him! For god's sake! He's your mate- part of your soul! How can you just toss that away and choose someone else to be the other half of your soul? It doesn't work that way! This is all fucked up!"

"Your dad is fucking dead, Jade! Do you hear me? How many times do I have to say that he's gone?!" She shouted, "I know it's difficult for you to accept, but that's the harsh reality. The truth you need to fucking accept and move on! To go on with life, I need someone! Frank is that person for me. Yes, I love him, and I still love your dad, but can you bring him back? Can you, tell me, can you?"

She hit me where it hurt the most.

Fuck! She got that one sore spot right? Very right.

I drew in a breath at her question, my chest constricting, and anxiety creeping in.

I couldn't bring him back. Oh god...I could never bring him back.

"If you can bring him back, then go ahead, and I'll cancel this wedding right now! I'll fucking call the whole thing off!" Tears streamed down her face as well. "But if you can't, please try to be happy with what Frank and I share, because I don't want to grow old all alone. I've had enough of it. Yes, you were there, but we all need a partner, Jade. Everyone needs someone to make it through. In the end, it's that connection that lasts. But you...you want me to live alone? To keep crying for someone I can never bring back? What do you want from me? Just tell me and let's get it over with!"

I drew another breath in, taking multiple steps backward.

I was losing control.

Fuck I can't.

"Fine," I breathed out, cold sweat beading on my forehead. "Since I can't bring my dead father back, congratulations! You can do whatever you want, but don't fucking expect me to be a part of this." I could tell she was about to speak, but I gestured to silence her. I was exhausted from this shit anyway, "Tomorrow is your wedding; you go and attend that shit. Play the bride and stuff but I'm fucking out of it."

With that, I walked into my room and slammed the door shut.

I heard my mom's voice on the other side, clearly agitated. "Jade, open the door. We need to talk!"