Thirty Seven

I get into the black van in a trance. "What did Sydney say to you?" My mother asks when I get comfortable. "You've been out of it." She says sneakily.

"I love you." He told me that. He told me he loves me.

"Okay. You're smiling. Now I'm curious." My mum laughs and I look at her and the urge to hug her overwhelms me. I place my hands around her cheeks and bring her close to me and kiss her cheeks and she laughs. I'm just so happy that I don't know what to do. I want to scream in happiness and sing in my so bad voice. I got my voice from my dad apparently.

"He loves me." I laugh as a tear falls. Candice pats my back. I even forgot she's here.

"I never knew I'd get to see my Bella in love." My mum says as I smile. What she says hits me. I never got to say the words back. Am I in love with Sydney Kings? I think of all the times we were together. The arguments, the time in the cottage, him teaching me how to shoot and time in the apartment.