27

                                    

                                          
By the time I finally made it back home, the sun had set, and the streetlights were casting long shadows across the quiet neighborhood. I felt a knot of anxiety in my chest as I approached the house, half-hoping that my mom and Richard would still be upstairs, giving me a chance to slip inside unnoticed. 
With Charlie nestled in my arms, purring softly, I took a deep breath and pushed open the front door. The house was unnervingly quiet now, no more sounds from upstairs, no clinking of wine glasses. The dishes and glasses that had been left out earlier were gone, the kitchen spotless, and the scent of air freshener hung in the air-like they had tried to erase all evidence of whatever had happened while I was out.
I barely made it two steps inside before I heard my mom's voice cut through the silence.
"Nala!" she snapped, her tone sharp with anger. I winced, not in the mood to deal with whatever was coming. I turned to see her standing in the doorway of the living room, arms crossed and glaring at me, with Richard lurking behind her, trying to look stern. "Where have you been? Do you know how late it is?"
I couldn't help the eye roll that escaped me. "I was just out for a walk," I said, keeping my voice calm even though my patience was already wearing thin. "I needed some air."
"Nala, it's nearly dark! You can't just wander around like that without telling me where you're going," my mom continued, her voice rising with frustration. "I've been worried sick! What if something had happened to you?"
I shrugged, not really caring about her feigned concern. "Well, something *did* happen to me. I came home to find you and Richard doing... whatever it was you were doing upstairs."
My mom's face turned red, and her eyes widened with a mix of shock and embarrassment. "That's not the point, Nala! You don't just leave the house without telling me where you're going!"
"Maybe I wouldn't have left if I didn't have to hear you two up there," I shot back, my voice full of disgust. "Do you seriously expect me to just sit around while you're... being intimate with Richard? While I'm in the house?"
My mom's eyes narrowed, her anger growing. "That's not your business, young lady. I'm allowed to have a relationship, and I'm allowed to spend time with Richard. You can't keep running off like this and then come home with that kind of attitude!"
I scoffed, tightening my grip on Charlie. "And you can't just pretend I don't exist when he's around."
Richard, who had been silent up until now, decided to step in. He took a step forward, his voice trying to sound authoritative but failing miserably. "Nala, your mom is right. You need to be more respectful of her-of us. We're just trying to do what's best for you."
I felt my blood boil at his words. "Oh, don't you *dare* act like you have any right to tell me what's best for me. You're not my father, and you never will be," I spat, glaring at him with all the pent-up frustration I'd been holding in. "So stop pretending like you have a say in my life."
"Nala!" my mom shouted, her voice reaching a pitch I hadn't heard in a while. "That is enough! Richard is part of my life now, and you need to accept that."
"I don't need to accept anything!" I shot back, my voice shaking with anger. "You're the one who's trying to force him into everything, and I'm not going to just sit here and pretend it's okay!"
My mom looked like she was about to explode, but then her eyes fell on Charlie, still nestled in my arms. Her expression shifted to one of annoyance, and she pointed a finger at the little ball of fur. "And what is *that* doing in the house? I thought I told you no pets, Nala! Get rid of that cat immediately."
I looked down at Charlie, who blinked up at me innocently, his golden eyes reflecting the tension in the room. The last straw had just been pulled.
"No," I said flatly, lifting my chin defiantly. "I'm keeping him."
My mom's eyes widened, and for a second, she looked like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Excuse me? Did you just say no?"
"Yeah, I did," I replied, my voice cold. "You don't get to dictate everything. Charlie stays."
"Nala, I'm not going to argue with you about this! Get rid of that cat, or I will!" she threatened, her voice shaking with fury.
I raised an eyebrow, feeling a surge of defiance. "Try it. I dare you."
For a split second, the room fell into a stunned silence. My mom looked like she might explode, and Richard's attempt to look authoritative had crumbled into awkwardness. But before either of them could say anything, I turned on my heel, clutching Charlie close to my chest, and stormed toward the stairs.
"You're not my father, and you sure as hell don't get to act like one," I threw over my shoulder as I reached the stairs, directing the words at Richard, who stood there looking completely lost. "And as for you, Mom-good luck trying to control everything."
Without waiting for a response, I bolted up the stairs and slammed the door to my room behind me. My heart was pounding, my entire body buzzing with adrenaline from the confrontation. I set Charlie down on the bed and sank onto the edge of it, running my hands through my hair as I tried to calm myself down.
Charlie immediately padded over, rubbing his head against my leg, his purring a soothing vibration against the chaos in my mind. I stroked his fur absentmindedly, grateful for the comfort he brought. 
I knew my mom would probably come up at some point, demanding to talk or to lay down some kind of punishment, but for now, I didn't care. I was done letting her and Richard dictate how I lived my life. And as for Charlie, there was no way I was getting rid of him-no matter what they said.
For now, I just needed to breathe.