A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime

by Monica Murphy

My father’s eyes lock with mine and I physically recoil, desperate to get away from him. Why is he acting like this? Saying such awful things? “You changed your iCloud password because you’ve got something to hide,” he continues. “I thought I raised you better than this.” “It’s not that I have anything to hide, it’s that you don’t trust me so you think it’s okay to invade my privacy! That’s not right.” “I am your father. I can do whatever the hell I want. I made you.” I jerk out of his hold, right as my mother appears in the hallway. “What in the world is going on?” She is so calm. Like ice. Impenetrable. “I’m leaving.” “Going to the Lancaster residence?” When I nod, she smiles. “Have fun, darling. Don’t stay out too late.” Daddy is gaping at her like a dying fish, his mouth opening and closing as if he can’t find the right words. “You’re just going to let her—leave?” I march past him, stopping to give Mom a brief hug before I keep walking. “You need to stop treating her like a little girl, Harvey. I’ve already told you this. The tighter you hold onto her, the more you’ll make her run,” I hear her say. She’s so right. He keeps holding me too tight. And I keep wanting to run away.

PERIOD MY LIKE CLOCK THAT SLAYING BADDIE T :P