It was pass 3 PM as the sounds of a stack of paper hit the floor, scattering in different places.  It was a long day for Lerisia, so long and slow as she often looked at the round, reddish clock on the side of the window. It's sound resonated within her head, ticking and tingling went through her ears in the silence of the room.<span style="font-style: italic">tick tock, tick tock</span>, she heard the soft but firm sounds of the clock's needle. She sighed once again "Oh christ..." she murmured to herself, her breathing getting deeper. She sighed depressingly as she quickly lowered herself to pick them, one by one. Lerisia often told herself that the start of a new life was exciting, but deep inside she knew it was not going to be easy. Lerisia wasn't always positive of the things she does and has done, and that exact thought has been followed her and tormented her in previous years before moving to Everpsring, a place she considered the renaissance of her life as a young mother. As she moved her left arm, her golden brown hair fell on her shoulders, smoothly making it's way to the front and placing itself onto her pinky tender cheek, like a Autum leaf falling on skin. She pulled it back with one hand as she continued to pick the rest of the paper work. Her Honey-colored eyes blinks of exhaustion, an indication of tiredness. Must she force herself to keep herself awake? she had to, as of this day was normal like any other...yet, for her it wasn't.<br/><br/>It's been 5 months since Lerisia Salem and her two children had moved into the bungalow house on the side of the road of Everspring. It was better than their previous residence in the city of New York, which ambient was too loud, too dirty and too lively to stay. Lerisia can't lie herself, she liked the city life she had and did not have many complains. Her lips curved into a small smile, remembering the diversity of the neighborhood where she once lived. The people knew her. They knew her family. Those who lived in the gray and brown buildings on Delancey street, regardless of the lack of maintenance, was full with people that were cooperative within themselves. There was the old, gray-haired man, Mr. Gilbson, who liked to have his shirt unbuttoned halfway, showing it's gray chest hair, which he thought it was sexy. There was Mrs. Sepulveda and her husband, Eugenio of puerto rican descendant, who they often called out the man in care of the buildings for the lack of response to repairs and were likely angry enough to gossip with the neighbors about the complains behind the people's back. There was the crazy woman, Mrs. Larm who just stood right about outside of the building where Lerisia lived, smoking a cigarette who apparently, and this was in Lerisia's mind, took a toll on her thin, boned body and wrinkly face which she tried to hide with heavy make up. Lerisia never thought she lived in a crazy neighborhood, in fact she thought it was normal, even after her parents taught her of morals and civic manners within the community. "Stay away from this person" they used to lecture her, pointing their finger onto her face, their looks sending her warning signs. She nodded in agreement while in her mind, she imagined crossing her fingers on her back. People aren't interesting if they don't have-<br/><br/>"YEOW!" Lerisia squeaked as she let go of the sheet of paper she had in her fingers. This one falling farther from her. She looked at her right middle finger. Nothing. Perhaps a light paper cut? she thought. She lightly massaged it with her right thumb, the feeling on her skin embracing it's warm touch. Lerisia blinked as she did it for 5 seconds. It did not show blood but it was a noticeable cut, not too long but open enough to show how deep it went. Her breath going a bit more faster than before, head turning to look upwards. She sighs. "Oh christ..." Lerisia says once again.<br/><br/>Ignoring the cut, Lerisia goes back again to pick the papers up. After getting all of them, she returned to her desk to put everything in order. It was a decent size space, the reception room of Dr. Richard. Nothing too fancy, but favorable to the eyes of the people who comes in for the appointment. Lerisia was fortunate. Dr. Richard happened to have an open position for receptionist in his office the same week as she arrived to Everspring, placing her into the job immediately. He was an interesting man, Dr. Isaac Richards. Who would have thought he would understand her situation without even having to mention it? No. He doesn't know it, Lerisia still tells herself. She wasn't that feeble and transparent, and she was sure the doctor wasn't interested in her personal problems. Consider it lucky, though! Now you have a job! she imagined herself said. You have a house! She expressed herself with content in her mind. Your children live with you and no one else! she screamed in her head with force.<br/><br/>Her two children.<br/><br/>It was not that lerisia wouldn't anticipate their actions, it was clear to her that this was meant to happen. She never imagine that they would be so affected by her decisions that it would go so out of hand. Having them bring into an unknown place, where there was no one familiar who can protect them, far away from a city they grew up,  and even more sadder, just after a family argument. Her grandparents were against it.<span style="font-style: italic">"What will you do so far away from home, to a place that you don't even know?!"</span>they exclaimed to her, begging her to stay. Lerisia persisted. Her mind was troubled at the time.<span style="font-style: italic">Think of where you are going to take your children!</span>they said. Those words inflicted her even more into her heart. That day, as she remembers, was sunny. The clouds were bright with he touch of the light, looking so majestic like the pictures of the kingdom of heaven reflected in the bibles. Her grandmother used to tell her that with a day like that, good things will come to those who had suffered under the thunderous, rainy days. Guess she was wrong.<span style="font-style: italic">Can't you at least think of how we feel if you leave? What THEY will feel?!</span>her grandmother said. Of course she did. Jon and Hannes. Her two children, her babies. Her everything. Lerisia only wanted to raised them in a peaceful environment, free of the turmoil that was Delancey street back where she was married. So even now, Lerisia does not feel guilty of her decision, her heart was decisive and a decisive heart was a a sign of strength. Strength is what she needs now, more than ever to deal with what now is a broken relationship with her son. As soon as she stopped her remembrance, she realized she had already finished putting the paper work in order. Lerisia brushed her hair backwards, barely making it a bit more tame. She stood and walked towards what it appeared to be a big, wooden bookcase with several binders in each rectangular space. She moves her fingers, feeling the touch of passing through each binder marked with a name until finding the one she was looking for: Mrs. Blake, that was her name. Lerisia took out the binder and opened to place the papers inside. Once placed back in the book shelf, she headed back to her desk.<br/><br/>Before checking the rest of the work, Lerisia turns to checks the clock once again. 3:30 PM. Perhaps was time to call him? Lerisia's finger crossed onto each other as a gesture of worrying. Jon was already big enough to understand, yet the problem relies on whenever he listen to her and how he responds to her warnings. Aside for the constant fear that crawls within Lerisia's skin, she was aware they were strangers in a town; They only have been in town for a couple of months. Well, hell, they are strangers to each other and it was a more stressing feeling that a mother could ever feel. Lerisia would lament her decision no matter what she choose. It was decided then, she'll call him regardless. She quickly checked the front door and around if there was anyone who was coming, fortunately for her, No one was in sight.  Dr. Richard had a client inside and was still in session. Lerisia turned to the office phone and dial a number. Calls should be quickly as Lerisia is aware is unprofessional to make personal calls. She hated this actions, but her motherly sense overcomes her and takes her over like a puppet. Lerisia taps the desk with her fingers as she hear the phone's sound. At the 7th sound, she hears his voice.<br/><br/>"Yeah?"<br/><br/>"Are you out of the house, honey?" Lerisia asked.<br/><br/>"Hm."<br/><br/>"Where are you heading?"<br/><br/>"I don't know."<br/><br/>"What do you mean 'I don't know'?"<br/><br/>"I haven't decided"<br/><br/>"Don't go anywhere dangerous, please."<br/><br/>"I know"<br/><br/>"And could you please call me later so I don't get worry?"<br/><br/>"Ok"<br/><br/>"Alright."<br/><br/>"Ok."<br/><br/>"I love yo-" Lerisia felt the line cut before she even finishes her sentences. She tighten her grip a bit more onto the phone. Somehow, this left her feeling empty inside, a void that was slowly becoming deeper with each rejection. Her son was it's digger, who constantly craves to reach the bottom of her heart until she can't hold no more. Lerisia was getting anxious of this sort of relationship. While non-violet at the moment, which she appreciates, the distance before the two of them may lead Jon to do things that can hurt her, and of course, hurt himself.<br/><br/>Lerisia jumps out of her state of mind after hearing the sound of the phone's line. She blinked twice and looked away for a quick second, trying to shake off the feeling that she just experienced about a moment ago. It's depressing hearing that your own son doesn't want to answer to your concerns, neither said the world "love you, Mom". Maybe she was overreacting, maybe she was being too fixed onto her son lately and perhaps maybe she needed to let go for some time. He was 14, living adolescence was his daily dose right now and he was about to get more in the upcoming years. She could understand that she was the same, but it felt so frustrating to think how apart from each other it felt, as if losing him. As Lerisia hang up the phone, she noticed that there was a small, reddish smudge onto it's side. She frowned. Turned to see her hand, she saw that her fingers were lightly dirty. The middle finger's cut had blood.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">_______________________________________________________________</div><br/><br/>Somehow, the feeling of closing the phone so quickly gave Jon some relief. He breathe deeply and let it out as quickly as he can. He brushed his black, wavy hair and hold on to his head,  feeling his head spinning a bit.  F*ck, why did he felt that her voice was annoying? her words felt like a demand rather than a question and Jon didn't like it. He let his arm fall lazily, turning around his surroundings and looking if there was someone. He found himself to be a few blocks from home, where he got out just a few minutes ago. He had not desired to stay, rather wanted to walk around town and feel that all his compulsive feelings that he had contained since his arrival on Everspring would just go away. He started walking, with no destination whatsoever, mumbling to himself words of a song that once his friends from the city used to hear with him every day. The scenery of Everspring, while vastly different from the place he grew up, brought him a bit of comfort. It was perhaps the sense of solitude of the town, surrounded by mountains with trees that can reach so high, that he enjoyed. He liked being alone, but it was never like this. His place on Delancy Street was blooming with people with such diversity, let alone it's crazy days. He would often open the small window from his apartment to watch the streets and the people outside, it didn't matter if anyone was fighting, or any incidents were happening, or any man was talking out loud to some wall. It was a interesting atmosphere, but it was never quiet and with a "sense of wonder" as Everspring's.<br/><br/>As he kept walking, Jon took his black backpack and swing it in front of him to look for his headphones. They were the last piece of equipment he bought before leaving the city. It was expensive but worth it , as he loves music and preferred to listen to it in high quality and not just simple and cheap stereo. He took it out, placed it in his head and grabbed his small MP3 player to connect it. He throw his backpack onto his back once again and pressed the button to play. The music was loud, it give him enough vibe to lose himself into the sound of the beat. He closed his eyes. Humming to the rhythm, he started to remember the time he first listened to that song. The song he listens is some sort of modern remix of the original song called "Come and Get my Lovin' ". It was the song his father liked and introduced to him when he was a bit more younger. He remembered that he used to play it with other funk music every Sunday in the afternoon, where everyone was outside, sitting in chairs or in a near park, enjoying the sun. Jon was always tapping his feet to the song as he father sang the lyrics. It was one of the best memories he had of him.<br/><br/>As he opened his eyes, he suddenly made a stop. In front of him, just a few yards away, he found a girl with Orange-reddish hair, at least a bit smaller than him. Eyes like his, the girl stared at him while holding onto her small but stylish Violet backpack. Her expression show no happiness nor sadness, rather a pale and cold face. He quickly paused his music player, though he did not bother taking his headphones off. "Can you hear me?" said the girl. Jon nodded lightly and the girl raised her eyebrows in response "So, I guess mother called you?" the girl questioned. "You know it. " Jon responded. He looked at the girl that was his little sister Hannes. He acknowledged that it is his little sister, but sometimes can't stand her personality, specially around their mother. Jon came to the conclusion that she got out of the house to avoid any chores first, which he found a bit irritated but fair. Hannes made a few steps. "Is she still at work?" "Yeah" Jon confirmed.  "Are you somewhere in particular?" Hannes did not hesitate to ask quickly. "Not for now" Jon walked pass Hannes. Hannes turned quickly to ask him one more question.<br/><br/>"Can you come with me?"