Cry Baby by Melanie Martinez "You seem to replace your brain with your heart, you take things so hard and then you fall apart"

She was sure she was ready. All she had to do was go to her parents and have a civil conversation with them. But knowing how her father is, she could predict things weren't that simple.

Showing up in front of his office door and waiting outside almost made her give up. Her stomach churned and her palms began to sweat. If all the other times she didn't stick up for herself this was the time to do it. Except it was more than just defending herself from the wrath of her father, it was taking a big step closer to something she wanted for a while. Her freedom. And if it meant moving the hell out as a senior in high school, then so be it. She'll just have to trailblaze then.

She knocked on the door, listening to her father and mother talk about whatever business venture they were moving on to next. "Come in!" She heard her father's deep voice exclaim.

She took a deep breath before sauntering in the room. Her mother was sprawled out on the couch with a magazine in her hand and her dad was sitting on his desk with a glass of scotch in his. "Gege, what a pleasant surprise!" Her mother's voice rang out.

That greeting alone almost made her drop the whole thing and hide away in her room but she continued. She took a seat on an armchair facing them. "Hi," was all she could say.

"Hi, mi figlia," Donati replied. He raised an eyebrow because he's known his daughter to never really visit him in his office, it must've been important.

"I need to actually speak to you guys." She began but for some reason the words weren't rolling out as easy as she thought they would. Its like it was stuck in a mice trap.

"Your grades?" He assumed, his face full of curiosity. His accent came out stronger with each word. "Your pictures?"

Sage shook her head, rubbing her palms together. Her mother was still reading the realtor magazine intently.

"I've decided...I'm moving out. Of the house." Once she said that, the room absolutely stopped. Everything came to a halt and all that was heard was white noise. Ezra dropped her magazine and Donati dropped the glass of scotch. Whatever she did, she couldn't take it back now or it would be very hard to.

"You're what?" Ezra spoke first. She looked like she saw a ghost. Her face became very pale and her eyes were as wide as saucers.

"What is this nonsense?" Donati asked rhetorically. He couldn't even come up with anything else to say. He thought being open-minded towards her art was a step towards a better relationship with them, but it didn't seem like it.

Sage gulped and held up her hands in defense. She took another deep breath, "I know what you guys--"

"You're making a grave mistake! You idiota!" Donati roared. "How could you? After everything your mother and I have done for you?"

"Do you even have a plan?" Her mother spoke up. This whole time she was in a daze. She felt like this was coming but she still didn't wanna believe it. "Donati, you can pretend to be blindsided all you want but this was coming!" Her voice cracked with the last statement. She was on the verge of tears.

If this is so right, why did it feel so wrong? She was too ashamed to look at her parents but she pushed herself to. She had to be confident and stand in what she just announced.

"There has to be someone involved...I refuse to let you just leave!" He cried out. Despite what his wife was saying, he didn't foresee this. All he could do was wonder what went wrong because back in his day you listened and respected everything your parents told you, no matter what.

"My husband, you can't keep a 17 year old hostage...she isn't five anymore, this isn't how things work," Ezra tried to reason as she leaned forward, thrusting her head in her hands.

Donati loosened his body and pinched the bridge of his nose. When he released his nose, he looked up at his daughter. Here she was making a very adult situation that he was sure she wasn't ready for, but this time he couldn't choose for her. His whole life all he knew to work for was for his daughter and wife and give back to his parents, but that all changed in 15 minutes.

"Well, I have nothing else to say to you. You are not my own. My own wouldn't betray me like this," His tone was cool, disappointed but assertive. Sage's eyes fell because for once she was flying on her own, but it didn't feel as nice as she thought. She didn't know what independence tasted like but it seemed to be a lot more flavorful than what her life was like. But was she really independent? She'll go right back to living with someone else who basically protected her all the same. Was there really a difference living with Dave?

"That's fine," Sage finally spoke. She didn't know what else to say to either of them. This was her chance to finally let them hear it all but she was at loss of words. She wished things were better and she wished they took the news well, but that was just hopeful thinking on her end. Abrupt change can be scary and heartbreaking, she didn't even take it that well despite it being her own decision.

All that could be heard when walking out the room was sobbing and muttering in disbelief. She wished she could believe that she felt stronger or she reclaimed her life but it didn't.

It was just her and her decisions now.

***

Aubrey sat in the waiting room of the doctor's office trying to hear for his name to be called. One minute, five minutes, ten minutes...

The smell of the area brought him back to younger him when his mom would participate in "Bring your Child to Work Day '' and it would really be a room in their house. You wouldn't know it at first because she always had candles that smelled like lavender and deep quotes by Socrates and other ancient people. This place definitely took him back with the similar incense smell and quotes from old people decorating the wall, it messed with his nostalgia.

The receptionist at the desk answered the phone and hung up in a matter of seconds. Her glasses sat atop her head. "Mr. Graham?" Her high pitched voice rang through the room as he looked up from his phone, "Dr. Union is ready for you. Third door on your right." Her bony fingers gestured to the hallway he was supposed to take.

He nodded and headed to the correct door. He was only here seeing a shrink because of Ella but he didn't notify her about it. He couldn't bring himself to admit that he was interested in the journey she was on too after their argument. He wouldn't admit to anyone about his visit for now. This was something for him, and only him, although he was sure Ella would be happy if he did tell her.

He knocked slowly and waited for a response. A brown skinned lady in her late thirties answered the door. She had a big smile plastered on her face that brought out a set of dimples. "Hi, so nice to meet you," she greeted happily. She held out her hand and waited for him to shake it.

He was a bit taken aback by her upbeat personality, he didn't know much psychologists beyond his mother. He thought no one was like her and he was right but Dr. Union seemed as happy to help people as she was when she was alive.

He took it and gave her a warm smile in return. "You too," was all he managed before she stepped aside for him to come in.

"Sit anywhere you like. It's all up to you." Dr. Union said. Her room wasn't typical. There were various ways to sit: a plush couch on one wall, a firm bean bag by it and a long leather seat on a different wall. The walls had pictures of her with family and friends and her degrees. There was also African art lining the wall behind her desk. Aubrey decided on the regular plush couch by the armrest. The doctor grabbed an iPad from her desk and sat on a chair in front of Aubrey. "So glad you were able to make it."

Aubrey shook his head already feeling stupid for coming here. He didn't know what pushed him or maybe Ella's words meant so much to him. Maybe his problems were multilayered and needed some unraveling but he can fix it himself, can't he? "I don't know why I did." He said bluntly. He didn't mean to come off as rude but it was his truth.

Instead of being offended, Dr. Union just shrugged. "Most times why we do things remains a mystery, we can't solve most of those mysteries either."

Aubrey licked his lips and leaned forward a bit more. "Maybe it's because I have issues I don't want to admit to having," he continued.

"What do you mean? What issues do you think you have?" She looked at him, the messy black hair framing the outlines of her face. "What issues?" She asked again.

"That's why I'm here...I can't tell you...I don't know myself." there was a whiff of silence before Dr. Union set her iPad on the coffee table next to her.

"Let's talk about your family. Who do you admire the most out of everyone in your family?" She interrogates. Her tone was very inviting and casual, not like she was a certified doctor to confirm you're a maniac.

He could tell he liked her but he didn't know what admiration had to do with his issues. He disregarded his skepticism and answered her anyway, "My mom."

"Are you close with her?"

"She's dead."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No...good memories I don't mind though." He compromised.

"So what are some good memories you associate with her? Why are they good for you?" The question was loaded on purpose. Dr. Union wanted him to do most of the talking. Already she can tell that his mom's death played a huge role in what he considered his "issues." She wondered what he did to cope with that tragedy.

"Anything before they took her," he said as he rubbed the side of his face and sighed.

"Help me picture her and all the good that came with her," she pleaded. He hesitated before sinking into the couch. It was soft and he kind of wanted to kick his feet up and just lay there. He was unclear of what it would mean for him to elaborate on these memories but he let his guard down a little. Everything was new to him, he never created that relationship with anyone where he reminisced and talked about her in depth. But he was ready to start with her and so he did, starting with a sweet story about his mother rescuing a stray dog on their way back from the park.

Endnote: I don't normally reply to comments so I'll say this here, thank you for voting, commenting and overall interacting with my story. It means a lot especially in times I feel like throwing the towel in because writing is no joke, but everyone makes it so much better. Love ya!