last day of school

Elizabeth was raised by her mother, her father had died when she was a baby. There were no pictures of him in the house and bringing him up left her mother in tears, so she hadn’t asked about him in years. He was always on her mind though, like there was some link there she couldn’t understand. Was that the voice she always heard in her head? Was her dad reaching out to her? Was he even dead? She quickly put those thoughts aside. “That’s just silly’ she murmured to herself “he’s dead, people don’t talk to the dead...normal people anyway”. Elizabeth had always felt something was different about her she could just never put her finger on what it was. Her birthday was two days away and she was so excited to finally be eighteen. Tomorrow was her last day of high school and she was so relieved. Having no friends and no one to talk to had made the last few years difficult. It wasn’t that she was unlikeable, she was just odd. Most kids stayed away because they could feel something different about her and that made her the least popular girl in school. Home life wasn’t much better, her mother worked a lot so was never home, leaving Elizabeth to take care of herself. She didn’t have a car, so she never really went anywhere. 

As she rode the bus to school, she let her mind wonder to how life would be different after today. No more high school and she wasn’t going to college, not that she didn’t have the grades or ambition, they just didn’t have the money. Not that it bothered her, she knew her mother felt badly about it but she did the best she could just to keep a roof over their head. The school day went as it always did, quiet. It was only a half day but Elizabeth couldn’t wait to get home. 

She was surprised to see her mom's car in the driveway when she got home, normally her mom is at work. “Hey sweetie!’ her mom yelled from the kitchen. “hey mom why aren't you at work? Are you ok?” Elizabeth questioned her concerned. Lily chuckled “I just wanted to spend time with you and talk about your birthday.” Shock filled Elizabeth’s face “oh! Mom it's no big deal I’m happy just staying home.” Lily shook her head at her daughter “honey your turning eighteen, how about instead of staying home we go shopping. I took the day off, maybe we can get something nice for you to wear to graduation!” She looked so happy Elizabeth just couldn’t say no “Sure that would be awesome! And maybe a new pair of shoes?” looking down at her feet and seeing the worn-out Nikes' she has had for the past three years. Lily felt guilty for not being able to do it sooner “absolutely honey. And I am so proud of you and the woman you have become.” pride showing in her eyes at this amazing woman standing in front of her. “okay, well im going to head upstairs and put my stuff away and read for a bit” Elizabeth could tell her moms’ mind was somewhere else, so she went upstairs quiet as a mouse. Lily had kept a huge part of her life from her and looking at her now, she couldn’t tell if she did the right thing. But now she’s wondering if it’s too late to tell Elizabeth the truth. How would she even start explaining it to her. “oh hey honey just wanted to tell you I lied, your father is alive and happens to be a ware-wolf, which means your half ware-wolf. I wanted to give you a different life so I left your father and our mate bond behind so you wouldn’t grow up in that world.” Yeah, that would go over well.