Silent Tears

HEY GUYS, NOTE, NEW STORY HERE. SRRY...BUT THIS ONE IS GONNA FINISH, PROMISE. ENJOY!

     It was a snowy night. 12-year-old Evelyn and 10-year-old Sylvia trudged home through the snow.  Heads down, they moved onwards. They breathed heavily, their breaths forming clouds in front of their face. Dragging their feet into their neighborhood and onto their driveway, they looked up to see the comforting lights of home. Sharing a smile, they delightfully ran inside.

     It was Evelyn who opened the door and first saw mom crying in the living room.

     And it was Sylvia who went to comfort her first.

     “Mommy, why are you crying?” Sylvia patted her mom on the back with her little hand.

     The mom didn't answer.

      “Mom, where’s dad?” Evelyn said, looking around. She dropped her bag by the door, and slammed it shut.

      “Mommy, where’s daddy?” Sylvia asked.

      “Gone,” The mom finally answered. She wiped her tears away and walked to the kitchen. “Gone,” she repeated.

     Sylvia followed her, “When’s he coming back, mommy?”

     The mom didn’t answer at first. She walked to the stove and began to chop vegetables, throwing them into a soup. When it was done, she set the pot on the table, told the girls to sit down, and served them.

       “Girls, I need to talk to you. And you need to be brave,” The mom pleaded. “Your dad…” she paused and swallowed. “He’s not coming back. Ever.”

       Sylvia burst into tears and cried out, “HE DIED! HE DIED! MY DADDY DIED!”

        “Shhh, hush now, he just left…” the mom whispered, “And he’s not coming back.”

        Not. Coming. Back. The words rolled around in Evelyn’s head as Sylvia bawled on and on. Never was she going to see her dad again. Never. But Evelyn would not cry, she would be brave, for her mom. Still, inside, she cried her silent tears.