The Diary Of A Spring Well Lived

Chapter 7.2

The next day, Amber called Mr Junior Smith and asked him to come over. Lisa sat in her room, the anxiety gnawing at her insides as she waited for the inevitable confrontation. She could hear the murmur of voices downstairs as her mother explained the situation to him, and then the long, heavy silence that followed. She didn't need to hear the words to know that Mr Smith was as shocked and devastated as they were.

After what felt like hours, Lisa heard a soft knock on her door. "Lisa, honey, can I come in?" It was her mother's voice, weak and trembling.

Lisa opened the door to find both her mother and Mr Smith standing there, their faces drawn with sorrow. "Lisa," Mr Smith began, his voice thick with emotion, "I… I don't know what to say. This is all such a terrible mistake."

Lisa didn't trust herself to speak, so she simply nodded, tears stinging her eyes. Mr Smith took a step closer, his hands wringing together. "If I had known… if I had any idea, I would never have let things get this far."

Amber placed a hand on his arm, a small gesture of comfort, though it was clear she was struggling just as much as he was. "None of us knew, Junior. But now that we do, we have to figure out where to go from here."

Mr Smith nodded, his eyes fixed on the floor. "I love your mother, Lisa. I hope you know that. I would never want to do anything to hurt either of you."

Lisa swallowed hard, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I know. I believe you."

Amber took a deep breath, her voice firmer now as she addressed her daughter. "Lisa, I understand if you need time to process all of this. But I want you to know that whatever happens, I'm here for you. We'll figure this out together."

Lisa nodded, though she wasn't sure what that would look like. Everything felt so uncertain, so fragile. The life she had known was slipping away, and she had no idea what would take its place.

In the days that followed, Lisa and her mother barely spoke about Mr Smith or Franclon. They went through the motions of their daily lives, but there was an unspoken tension between them, a shared understanding that they were both grappling with the same impossible situation.

Lisa didn't see Franclon at all during that time. She couldn't bring herself to face him, not after everything that had happened. But she missed him terribly, missed the way he made her laugh, the way he made her feel understood and loved. She wondered how he was coping, whether he was as lost and confused as she was.