𝗔𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗟 𝟰𝗧𝗛, 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟰 — 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗞𝗔𝗡𝗘, 𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗧𝗢𝗡

𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗔 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗥𝗬

𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗔 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗔 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗗 yawn, her eyelids fluttering open gently before she squinted against the bright sunlight streaming through her small window. The warm rays danced across her face, coaxing her from the depths of slumber. She groggily pushed herself up into a sitting position, her muscles protesting slightly as she stretched her arms above her head. A series of satisfying pops emanated from her joints as she extended her limbs, working out the stiffness that had settled in during the night.

For a moment, she remained motionless, allowing her mind to slowly shake off the remnants of sleep. She took deep, deliberate breaths, mentally preparing herself for the day ahead. After a minute of this quiet contemplation, she reluctantly reached for her blankets, her fingers curling around the soft fabric. With a gentle tug, she pulled them away from her body, exposing herself to the cool morning air. A soft breath escaped her lips as the chilly atmosphere caressed her bare legs, sending a slight shiver up her spine.

Della let out a low groan as she shifted her body, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. As she did so, a familiar twinge in her lower back made her wince. The morning crick, an unwelcome companion, had once again made its presence known. Determined to alleviate the discomfort, she quickly rose to her feet. Placing her hands on her lower back, she arched backward, her spine curving as she stretched. A wave of relief washed over her as she heard the satisfying series of cracks, her vertebrae realigning and easing the tension.

Her gaze wandered lazily around her room, taking in the familiar surroundings before finally settling on the digital clock perched on her nightstand. As her eyes focused on the glowing numbers, a satisfied smile spread across her face, crinkling the corners of her eyes.

1 2 : 0 5

The time displayed was a pleasant departure from her usual wake-up hour. Instead of the customary six or seven that typically greeted her on the red LED display, she was met with the luxury of a late morning. A sense of contentment washed over her as she reveled in the fact that she had successfully managed to sleep in for once. She wondered if perhaps the accumulation of stress and emotions from the previous day had contributed to her extended slumber, allowing her body the extra rest it craved.

However, her moment of satisfaction was abruptly cut short as an unexpected sound reached her ears. The familiar scraping of a kitchen chair against the floor echoed through the house, instantly putting her on edge. A frown creased her brow as she glanced back at the clock, confirming the time. It was indeed past noon, a time when her mother should undoubtedly be at work. The question of why her mother was home at this hour sent a wave of unease through Della. She inhaled deeply, steeling herself for what was to come. With slow, deliberate steps, she made her way towards her bedroom door, a sense of foreboding growing with each movement. Experience had taught her that her mother's unexpected presence at home during her waking hours often heralded the onset of an argument.

"Mom?" Della called out cautiously as she emerged from her room, her voice tinged with a mix of confusion and apprehension. "What are you doing home? Shouldn't you be at work?"

"Sit down." Heather's curt response came without so much as a glance in Della's direction. Her mother's gaze remained fixed on something on the table, her tone leaving no room for argument.

As Della took a few tentative steps forward, her eyes locked onto an object lying on the table. The sight of it sent a jolt of horror through her body. A wave of dread and fear washed over her, seeping into her very bones as she slowly approached and lowered herself into the chair across from her mother. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "Mom... I can explain-"

"What the hell is this?" Heather interjected, her voice sharp as she gestured towards the paper on the table.

"A Planned Parenthood pamphlet," Della answered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't you dare get smart with me, young lady!" Heather's fist came down hard on the table, the sudden impact causing Della to flinch. "Explain to me right now why I found this in your bag."

Della swallowed hard, feeling a lump forming in her throat. Her voice quavered as she began to speak, "I had an appointment yesterday at Planned Parenthood, to..." She paused, struggling to force the words out. "To see if I was pregnant."

Heather's eyes flashed with an emotion Della knew all too well - pure, unbridled rage. "So, what? You're just out there whoring around now?" she spat, her words dripping with venom. "While I'm breaking my back at work, trying to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table, you're out there sleeping around?"

"No!" Della's response was immediate and vehement. "No, of course not. It's not like that at all."

"Well, you sure as hell didn't get pregnant by staying at home all day!" Heather's voice rose to a shout. "So who have you been sleeping with, huh? Who is it?"

"I don't know," Della whispered, her gaze dropping to the table.

"You don't know?" Heather's voice was dangerously quiet for a moment before she exploded again. "You don't know?!" Once more, her fist slammed against the table, causing Della to jump in her seat.

"It... it was at a party a few weeks ago," Della finally admitted, her voice barely audible. "I went out with some friends, and I got drunk, and..."

"Oh, that's just great." Heather's laughter was harsh and devoid of any humor. "So not only do I have a daughter who sleeps around, but she's a drunk too!"

"Mom-" Della began, her voice pleading.

"Don't you dare 'Mom' me, Della!" Heather shouted, abruptly standing up. The wooden chair screeched against the floor as it was pushed back.

"Mom?" Della's voice quivered as she watched her mother storm towards her room. "Mom?" she called again, her heart racing as she heard the sound of closet doors being thrown open.

With trepidation, the teenager quickly made her way to her room. Her eyes widened in disbelief, filling with tears as she watched her mother violently yank open a backpack and begin shoving clothes from Della's closet into it.

"Mom, stop!" Della cried out, reaching for the backpack. But Heather roughly shoved her arm away. "What are you doing?" The teen's voice broke as she watched her mother continue to pile clothes into the bag, her actions becoming increasingly frantic.

"Since you want to act all grown up and get yourself pregnant, you can get the hell out of my house," Heather snarled, grabbing more clothes from her daughter's closet. "You want to be an adult so badly? Go be an adult somewhere else."

"Mom, please," Della sobbed, wrapping her arms around herself as if trying to hold herself together. She silently prayed that this was all just a terrible nightmare, that she would wake up in her bed and realize it was just a bad dream. But the harsh reality of the situation was undeniable. This was happening, and it was very real. "I don't have anywhere else to go!"

"Well, that's just too damn bad, isn't it?" Heather retorted, her voice cold and unfeeling. "Maybe you should have thought about that before you went and got yourself knocked up." She zipped up the bag with finality. "You've got five minutes to grab whatever else you want and get out."

"Momma, please," Della pleaded, her voice breaking as she watched her mother stride towards the door. "Please don't do this to me."

Heather paused at the doorway, turning to fix her daughter with a steely glare. "You've got five minutes before I call the cops and have them drag your ass out of here." Without another word, she walked out, slamming the door behind her with such force that the walls seemed to shake.

Left alone in the sudden silence, Della's sobs echoed in the room. With shaky hands and blurred vision, she stumbled to her closet and pulled out a small duffel bag. She placed it on her bed, unzipping it with trembling fingers. Moving as if in a daze, she slowly made her way around her room, gathering various items and placing them in the bag.

"Three minutes, Della!" Her mother's voice, muffled but still harsh, called out from beyond the closed door. The reminder only intensified Della's sobs.

Grabbing the last of her belongings, Della shoved them into the bag and zipped it closed. With both bags in hand, she made her way to the front door, pausing only to grab her shoulder bag from the kitchen table. As she reached the door, desperation overtook her. "Where am I supposed to go?" she cried out, her voice breaking. "I don't have any money for a hotel!"

"Tough shit," Heather's callous laugh echoed from down the hall. She emerged from her room, a lit cigarette dangling between her fingers. Making her way to the refrigerator, she yanked off a small note that had been held in place by a magnet. Without a word, she tossed it at Della. "There. That'll give you somewhere to go." With that final, cold statement, Heather turned on her heel and disappeared back into her room.

Della, her body shaking with silent sobs, bent down to retrieve her shoes. She pulled them on mechanically, her movements slow and unsteady. With one last look at the place she had called home, she opened the front door and stepped out into the unknown, her world forever changed.

𝗔𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗟 𝟰𝗧𝗛, 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟰 - 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦, 𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗧𝗢𝗡

𝗔𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗡 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗧

"𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧'𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗦𝗔𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚, man!" One of Aaron's coworkers exclaimed with a hearty laugh as they approached the construction site trailer. The midday sun beat down on their hard hats, and the smell of freshly cut lumber filled the air. Both men were eager to take a break and enjoy their well-deserved lunch. "I don't understand how anyone could possibly-" The man's animated conversation was abruptly interrupted by the shrill ring of Aaron's phone, cutting through the ambient noise of the construction site.

"I'll catch up with you inside," Aaron told his friend, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and slight annoyance at the unexpected call. He fumbled for a moment, reaching into the depths of his work belt pocket, his calloused fingers finally grasping the vibrating device. As he pulled it out, his eyebrows knitted together in confusion at the sight of an unfamiliar number flashing on the screen. "Hello?" Aaron questioned, his deep voice laced with uncertainty as he pressed the phone against his ear, shielding it from the noise of the bustling worksite.

"Aaron?" A trembling voice came through the speaker, barely above a whisper. It was Della, and the sound of her voice sent a jolt of surprise through Aaron's body.

"Della?" Aaron's eyes widened in disbelief, his mind racing to process the unexpected call. It was the voice of his god-daughter, a voice he hadn't heard in what felt like an eternity. The last time they spoke seemed like a lifetime ago, and hearing her now stirred a mix of emotions within him.

"Mom...Mom kicked me out of the house," Della's words tumbled out between heart-wrenching sobs, each one making Aaron's chest tighten with concern. "She told me to call you, and...and I don't know what to do, Aaron. I'm so lost and scared." The pain in her voice was palpable, cutting through the phone line and straight to Aaron's heart.

"Della, where are you right now?" Aaron questioned quickly, his protective instincts kicking into high gear. He paced back and forth, his free hand clenched at his side, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

"I'm sitting in my car, in an abandoned parking lot," Della answered, her voice small and frightened. Aaron let out a sigh of relief, grateful that Della was at least somewhere that offered a modicum of safety. "But, I don't know what to do next. I have nowhere to go, no one to turn to. I feel so alone." The desperation in her voice was clear, tugging at Aaron's heartstrings.

"Okay, Della, I need you to take a deep breath for me," Aaron instructed softly, his own voice calm and steady despite the worry churning in his gut. He could hear Della's ragged breathing on the other end of the line, bordering on hyperventilation. "You're going to be alright, I promise. Just try to calm down a bit. You're going to make yourself have a panic attack if you don't slow your breathing."

"I have nowhere to go," Della repeated, her words punctuated by heart-wrenching sobs. "I don't wanna live out of my car. I'm scared, Aaron. I don't know what to do or where to turn."

"Listen to me, Della. You're not going to live out of your car," Aaron assured her, his voice firm but gentle. "We're going to figure this out together, okay? First things first, how much gas do you have in your car?"

"Half a tank," Della answered, a hint of confusion in her voice. "Why? What does that matter?"

"That's good, that's a start," Aaron nodded to himself, already formulating a plan. "Do you have any money on you? Even a little bit could help right now."

"I have fifteen bucks," Della answered after a moment of hesitation. "That's all I managed to grab before...before I had to leave."

"Alright, Della, I want you to listen to me very carefully, okay?" Aaron spoke softly into the phone, his voice steady and reassuring. He waited for Della's small, shaky 'okay' before continuing. "Here's what we're going to do. I want you to go to the nearest gas station and fill up your tank. Use that fifteen dollars - it'll get you started. Once you've done that, I'm going to send you my address, and I want you to come here to Forks. Can you do that for me?"

"Okay," Della whimpered, a glimmer of hope finally breaking through her despair. "Thank you, Aaron. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Hey, now. Don't thank me," Aaron shook his head, even though Della couldn't see him. His voice softened further, filled with genuine care and concern. "I care about you, Della. You're my god-daughter, and I want you to be safe. That's what matters right now. So, here's the plan: fill your gas tank, start driving to Forks, and I'll be here waiting for you when you arrive, okay? No matter how long it takes, I'll be here."

"Okay," Della nodded, her voice sounding a bit stronger now. "I can do that. I'll start driving as soon as I fill up."

"That's my girl," Aaron said encouragingly. "Now, listen. I'm going to turn my ringer up to full volume, and I want you to promise me something. If anything happens, anything at all, I want you to call me right away. Don't hesitate, okay? I'm here for you, no matter what. I'll see you soon, alright?"

"See you soon," Della confirmed, her voice now carrying a hint of determination alongside the lingering fear. "Thank you, Aaron. Really." With that, the line went dead, leaving Aaron standing in the middle of the construction site, his mind reeling from the unexpected turn of events.

Aaron slowly lowered the phone from his ear, a deep frown etching lines across his forehead. He stared at the screen for a long moment before quickly adding Della's number to his contacts, determined not to lose touch with her again. As he finished, he became aware of a presence beside him and looked up to see another one of his coworkers approaching, curiosity evident on his face.

"Who was that on the phone?" The coworker asked, gesturing towards the device still clutched in Aaron's hand. "Seemed pretty intense from what I could overhear."

"It was my god-daughter," Aaron answered, his voice heavy with concern and a touch of disbelief at the situation.

"Wait, isn't that the one you haven't spoken to in years?" The man questioned, his eyebrows rising in surprise. Aaron nodded solemnly in response, the weight of the lost time settling on his shoulders. "What did she want? Is everything okay?"

"Her mother, that heartless woman, kicked her out of the house," Aaron scoffed, unable to keep the anger from his voice. The coworker's eyes widened at the revelation, shock evident on his face. "Can you believe it? Throwing her own daughter out on the street like that?"

"That's awful," the coworker shook his head in disbelief. "So, what's going to happen now? Is she going to come stay with you?"

"If she wants to, absolutely," Aaron's eyes softened, a mix of determination and hope replacing the anger. "I mean, I've got a spare room that's just sitting there collecting dust. I've got the financial means to support her, and God knows I've got the time. Plus," he added with a small, wistful smile, "I could use some company in that big old house of mine. It'll be good to have her around, to be there for her like I should have been all these years."

𝗔𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗟 𝟰𝗧𝗛, 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟰 - 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗞𝗔𝗡𝗘, 𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗧𝗢𝗡

𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗔 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗥𝗬

𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗔 𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗔 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗞𝗬 breath as she hung up the phone, her hands trembling uncontrollably as she tossed her phone onto the passenger seat with a soft thud. Her forehead came to rest heavily on the cool surface of the steering wheel as she struggled to regulate her erratic breathing. Tears streamed down her cheeks, leaving glistening trails that she hastily wiped away with trembling fingers, her chest heaving with each suppressed sob.

As the minutes ticked by, Della's breathing gradually steadied, the storm of emotions slowly subsiding. With a deep, shuddering sigh, she lifted her head from the steering wheel, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy. Her hand, still slightly unsteady, found the key in the ignition and twisted it, bringing the car to life with a low rumble. The sudden vibration of her phone against the seat beside her made her jump, her heart racing as she quickly reached for it, fumbling to unlock the screen and open her messages.

A wave of relief washed over Della as she saw Aaron's text containing his address. Her fingers moved swiftly across the screen of her car, inputting the information into her GPS with practiced efficiency. She paused for a moment, composing herself before sending Aaron a reply. Her message was brief but reassuring, informing him of her estimated arrival time and confirming that she was departing immediately.

With a deep breath to steel her nerves, Della shifted the car into drive. The familiar action grounded her, providing a small measure of comfort as she prepared for the journey ahead. As she pulled away from the curb, her mind raced with thoughts of what awaited her at the end of this long, winding road. The GPS display blinked steadily, guiding her towards her destination: Forks, Washington.