AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I smiled. “Okay.” I stepped forward and gave her one last hug, and then I watched her walk away and slip behind the wheel of her car.
Once she’d steered her car off my street, I walked inside and headed to the kitchen. Sitting at the breakfast bar, I opened the top envelope. It was a short letter from me in pink ink, and she’d enclosed her response in black.
––––––––
DEAR MOMMY,
I miss you. I hope you come home soon. I still don’t like my current foster dad. His house smells like cat piss and the basement gives me nightmares.
I’m praying you get to break out by Christmas so we can have hot chocolate together.
Okay.
Write me back.
Your daughter,
Hayley
––––––––
PS—CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? Even though I hate all the boys at my school, I think I like Corey. He’s older, and he’s John’s best friend...But I really like him. A LOT.
PSS—Please write me back
––––––––
DEAR HAYLEY,
I miss you more. One day I’ll spend the rest of my life making this up to you, I promise.
I’m sorry you don’t like your foster family and the house smells like cat piss. If it makes you feel any better, my place always smells like dog poop. (Way worse than cat piss.) Be sure to tell the case worker you don’t like it, so she can move you.
I can’t break out by this Christmas, but we will finally spend a Christmas together when I get out. I promise. And I’ll make you all the hot chocolate you want.
Love,
Mommy
PS—Yes, I can keep a secret. I won’t tell anyone about your friend Corey. He sounds sweet and I can’t wait to meet him. Stay close to him so that can happen, okay?
––––––––
I READ THROUGH EACHof the letters I’d sent, crying and laughing my way through each of the one hundred and seventy-six responses I’d never received.
By the time I finished the last set, it was midnight and Corey’s name was calling my phone again.
Hitting ignore, I poured myself a cup of cranberry and vodka. I debated calling him back just to tell him about what had happened between me and my mom, but as I sipped the drink—the same drink I’d had all night at the rooftop party, I started remembering exactly what had happened after the moments he’d described in that email.
