The road was familiar, but everything that lined the road had grown older and changed. Time was a bitch. In her car seat Cleo was singing a never ending round of the Wheels on the Bus. The song didn’t wear on Sophia, it comforted her. Her child was happy and healthy. It was one of life’s greatest gifts. It was not one she would squander.

Sophia turned down her street. It had once been the place to live, decades before he had even been born. Now it was a bit shabby. The people who lived here were comfortable in their lives and accepting of their neighborhood. There wasn’t an HOA depriving homeowners of their personal freedom of expression.

When she pulled into the drive, the front door immediately opened. Out of it rushed her dad and Kate. Kate who once wore the tiny red bikini was now a plump menopausal woman whose smile could warm any heart. Cleo started tugging at her seat belt whining to get OUT! Sophia unlocked the door and her father pulled Cleo out. His words echoed in her heart, when he asked, “How’s my girls?”

Truth was Sophia wasn’t up to pretending. She stepped into Kate’s hug, and immediately felt comforted. In her ear Kate whispered, “You okay?”

Silently, Sophia shook her head.

Kate released her and said, “We will talk later.”

*

The waiting room was the same, the smell was the same. The receptionist Betty was almost the same except for her gray hair. When she was called into the doctor’s office, Sophia stepped in with trepidation. Dr. Bettin’s face lit up. “Good to see you Sophie. So, what’s going on?” He motioned for her to take a seat opposite his desk.

Sophia sat down. Her heart beat was pounding in her ears. She felt a bit light headed. Unsure of how to begin she blurted out, “I think I need to see a psychiatrist.”

Doctor Bettin cocked his gray head side ways. His eyes were filled with concern. “Why do you think that.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Now was the time to be honest. Now was the place, but it was so damn hard to stammer out her story. She didn’t look at Dr. Bettin once and kept her eyes focused on the floor. Dr. Bettin didn’t interrupt her or ask any questions until she finished. Softly he said, “You have been keeping this secret since you were five?”

She nodded.

“That’s a long time girl.” He let out a soft sigh. “I have a friend in Corpus Christi I will refer you to. She’s a bit prickly but I think she can help you, if you put in the work. She can also recommend a therapist.”

Finally, Sophia raised her eyes. Of course there were tears in them. She whispered, “Do you think I’m crazy?”

“No. But something is going on with you. Despite doctor patient confidentiality, I think I should tell you, your mom had some issues that she didn’t even try to resolve. I know you will do the work.” He paused and then asked, “Have you heard from your mother?”

“No.”

He shook his head and reached for his pad. He asked her a few questions about her sleep and her appetite then he wrote down the name and number of the psychiatrist. He gave it to her and said, “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call or come by. It takes a few weeks to get in to see a psychiatrist so be patient and don’t let that over active imagination of yours run away from you.”

“Yes, Sir. Thank you.”

Dr. Bettin gave him one of he dazzling smiles. She smiled as best as she could and left. Her brain was moving at such a fast speed, she was on the freeway driving before she became aware she was headed home. Mama had had issues. Dr. Bettin hadn’t said the same issues. Where was Mama? The thought, Under the sea, floated through her mind. She pushed it away. That was ridiculous. Still the thought stuck.

Back at the house, she went to her old bedroom and rummaged through the closet. In the very back was a painting her mother had done. She pulled it out. On it a sand castle, not a sandcastle but an underwater sea castle. It had delicate spires and coral grew all around it. The castle seemed to be lit within, all around it were dark waters. It was a painting Sophia had loved before the sea took hold of her and had hated ever since. She thought of the sandcastle Cleo had made the other day. In that moment several questions struck Sophia hard. What if this thing whatever it was, started with building sandcastles? What if it was generational? What if the waves captured Cleo one day, what if they had already and Cleo hadn’t told her? But, Cleo would tell her, she trusted her as a mother. Sophia had never really trusted her mother. Her mood swings had been so abrupt and she’d vanish in an instant on a whim. It had been six years since she had last seen her mother. Where was she? Was she even still alive?

The door banged open and Cleo rushed in her. Her eyes sparkled with happiness. “Grandpa said I get to help him harvest carrots for supper. I never harvested carrots before. Grandma Kate said I get to help cook them!” She spun around on her bare feet and rushed out the door. Yes, unlike her, Cleo was a happy girl. Sophia knew she needed to do everything in her power to protect that happiness for as long as she could.