I lay down on my bed, exhausted. This was by far the longest day and it had worn me out. I let my eyes close. When I reopened them, I took in the sight of my darkened bedroom. It was three in the morning, earlier than my usual waking time. How could it already be morning? I was so wide awake I could barely stand it.

I was afraid to hope but I couldn’t help it and hoping in this almost-doomed-to-fail situation made me want to cry.

~*~_~*~

“Ji-Hye!” Nicole called. “Are you up? I made waffles. Come and eat before they get cold.”

She knew how to draw a girl out of bed. My mouth watered like a drooling pup. I shuffled out of bed, feeling as though I’m fighting a war instead of just waking up from sleep. I made it to the kitchen. My mother was at the table.

“Morning, sweetie.” I walked over to the coffeemaker and poured myself a cup. “Slept well?” She looked at me.

I was wearing pink nightclothes. I couldn’t remember changing last night.

“Morning.” I slumped into a chair across from her. “Did you change my clothes last night?”

“I haven’t done so since you learn to do it yourself.”

Then who?

“What do you have planned for today?” I asked, trying to make small talk.

“Work on my painting. There’s still much to get done. I want it perfect for the art show.”

“I’m sure it’ll be great.”

Nicole had been thinking of renting a studio for some time now, to display her paintings. The art show was important to Nicole. A way for the art community to see her work and tell her how brilliant it was. I fear if they didn’t like her work, it would devastate her.

“Why did you get in so late last night?”

I stopped chewing and gazed over at my mother. So not in the mood for a lecture this morning, I swear it.

“Uta is great, but he also has to respect my request when I say no late nights.”

I finished my breakfast and dropped the dirty plate in the sink. I caught sight of my mother’s reflection on the windowpane.

“It’s not like you didn’t know where I was or what I was doing.” It was hilarious she thinks Uta and I was doing more than just hanging out. I had to break a laugh.

“I do not know what you do when you’re out, Ji-Hye Von D!”

“Ma quit bugging. You know Uta won’t make anything happen to me or do anything to me!”

“That’s beside the point.”

“Is it? I thought that was the point.”

“I gave both of you a time frame and you broke it. The next time it happens, I will ground you for three weeks!”

“I’m not a child. I should have no curfews,” I argued.

She folded her arms, staring me up and down. “My house. My rules.” She opened her eyes wide at me.

Okay. Now it was official. Nicole had lost her mind. Either that or she was facing menopause. Either way, she’d gone crazy.

“Wondering around all hours of the night is not safe.”

“But I’m not wandering.”

“I know Uta is the best thing to happen to you. He has been so wonderful, but it scares me when you’re out so late.”

Deciding it was best not to get into it this morning, I caved. “Okay. I get it. Won’t happen again.”

She studied me. “Make sure or I’ll ground you.”

“Sure mother,” I muttered and dismissed myself.

Do you ever see Tom Welling from Smallville getting grounded when he’s out saving the town from danger? No! But I do.

Fog was all I could see through my bedroom window. Like a shroud, it hung around my house. My birthplace was by far the most absurd in terms of climate. I grimaced when I saw there were at least forty-five minutes left before school started. Moving my gaze away, I noticed a note next to my clock. I picked it up. It read: Have a wonderful day, love. I traced my fingers over it and grinned. Uta had returned last night after dropping me home. He had taken me because Alfred hadn’t returned. That explained my change of clothes. I wondered what else happened or if we talked about anything, but the night was a blur.

Some minutes later, I was dressed for school.