Lena I huffed and puffed on the run on the top of the hill, whilst my boys run and jumped like freaking soldiers on a mission. I was barely keeping up, but Max helped me all the way. A timid summer breeze cooled my flashed face and the sun would soon set. This short hike, had an amazing view to offer at the end, it worth the sweat. We gazed upon the pine tree tops, the small rived passing through them, the colorful fields all around, the rocky mountain ahead and the amazing orange sky with the whitest clouds lazily setting the most beautiful picture. I felt like I could write the sweetest poem, the view was very inspiring. I always loved nature, but what made it breathtaking was when Max put me in his arms and we stayed there in blissful silence, as we enjoyed what was unfolding in front of us, while Jake never stopped smelling around. “How many mountains have you climbed?” I asked him but yet it wasn’t a question, I already knew that he walked a lot of uphill. “If you lik

Lena Paul asked the server to add two more sittings to the table and he politely obliged. He set them up between Paul and Chris. Karla didn’t even greet anyone, as she was sitting on her chair. She kept touching her hair with her long red long nails and looked bored as always. Karen on the other hand, sat softly on her chair and crossed her legs, as she pointed her nose up proudly, like she accomplished something. Even though I didn’t like her change of attitude, she kept herself behaved. I thought she would start a fight or complain about something at least minor, but nope, she was being an angel. She stayed there silently at her seat and listened to the rest of our guest chatting. I was relieved and somehow happy, considering that I wanted her in her son's life, she was his mother. Funny that I was quick to let her off the hook when I couldn’t do the same with my own mother. We kept chatting, laughing, and sharing stories, as it was excepted. "And we were dancing at this c

Lena Once I reached the final step of the stairs, Max rushed close to me and yelled, not to me but definitely around him "We are leaving, now!", as he grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me towards the main entrance door. "What is wrong, son?" Karen raised her voice in concern. She got no answer. He quickly put me in the car, without saying goodbye to anyone and practically drove like crazy through the driveway and out of the house in seconds it seemed. The wheels even spined during his effort. He was very angry, very, very angry, I haven’t ever seen him like this. After five minutes of just driving in silence, I dared asked him "What happened?" "Karen happened!" he raised his voice; he wasn’t yet calm. "What did she do?" I tried to stay calm for the both of us. "She invited her!" He kept the same tone. "Christina?" "Who else, babe?" "Why were you chasing each other?" "What?" he snapped and looked at me for a second and then turn his eyes on the road again. At least h

Lena I stopped the car in front of this very sketchy bar. It seemed dirty, as every bar in this city that wasn’t downtown. I sighed, as I didn't expect anything better. Vanessa’s boyfriend was waiting for us outside and waved to her the moment we parked. He was tall and seemed very strong despite his weight. He was bald but had a huge beard. His tattoo above his right eye seemed painful and it was like a tiger or something, I couldn't see clearly. Both of his knuckles were fully tattooed and even though I liked tattoos a lot, I didn’t like what I was looking at. He opened the door and sat on the back seat, like we knew each other for years and we were about to have a fun ride. He had a very confident attitude. A heavy smell of marijuana filled my car and I felt like throwing up. I hated the smell, as it reminded my childhood. "Hello, baby" Vanessa greeted him with the greatest joy, like he was the most important thing for her, as he just simply nodded at her with a half-smile

Lena My widened eyes stayed on her for a second, thanking her silently for this selfless act that would shock me until the day I die. I have never experienced such deep connection with my mother until this day. With that stare I felt love, even though we said nothing. I closed the door and pushed myself in the front seat. I put my keys in the ignition and turned to look at her one more time. She was leaning close to the passenger seat window, as she wiped a tear off her eyes and pressed her lips together. "You'll never, ever, see me again," she whimpered. Her voice was focused and she made extra effort to stop her tears like she was making the statement of the century. As lovely as it was, I preferred to cut my arm off, instead of seeing her ever again! I didn't know how to react, she got me fooled too many times. I was just staring at her, battling between run away or give her one last hug. Was she concerned over me or it was just another rouse? "Go back and live your life. I'