WOW! HELLO! It has been a hot minute, hasn't it! Listen, I apologize for the delay. SURPRISE! I am alive. I will be honest - I forgotten about this story. The only reason I had remembered it is because I was watching some DnA videos on Youtube. The nostalgia hit and I guess my creative shpill came back. There is a lot more to the story. I don't remember how the ending was...but, I guess it is fate that brought me back.

And, I am glad to be back! :D

How It Begun: The Past (Part 2)

Brightness. Colors. Laughter.

That is what filled the air that day in the new house. A new couple arrived with their newborn child into their new home. As the entire family had celebrated for their new home and the new start for their lives, they couldn't wait for the following years to come.

However, years later, the family was in a bundle. As their child began to grow, it became more difficult to maintain their financial needs. The husband was a coach for a high school baseball team and the wife worked at a hotel.

Their taxes began to increase while their money began to plummet. They weren't able to catch up to the numbers needing their paychecks.

But, underneath all that gray, the couple wouldn't let that get in the way with their happy life. They were a family – to them – that is all that mattered. Occasionally, the child and the wife would go to see the husband's games to cheer the team on and support them. And in return, the husband and child would go visit the Misses during her lunch break.

Then, one day, the visiting slowly began to stop. After one loss at the baseball game, the husband seemed to slowly slip away. The relationship between the husband and wife started to slowly dissipate. The brightness, the color, and the laughter faded into nothing.

It was cloudy, silent, and dull.

And, one day, in the mail, the husband received a letter of recommendation to work somewhere north. It was a contract suggestion for a popular team in one of the states. The husband was on board with the idea; however, the wife disagreed. With the money that they had, they couldn't afford a new home or think of another new start.

This led to countless arguing over the matter. The husband wanted to fulfill the dream that he always wanted, but the wife wanted to stick around in the small town.

"This isn't about you, Hugh!" the wife would claim, "This is about our family!"

"I know, Sara! I'm doing this for the family! By doing this, my dream, I can finally -"

"Like I said, this isn't about you!"

"Do it!" their daughter cried, smiling, "Daddy will be a great coach!"

Fallen silent, Hugh and Sara noticed their daughter jump with glee. Giving a concerning look, the wife stared at her husband who seem to be conflicted. Nevertheless, Hugh gave a confident, shimmering smile to his young daughter. Lifting her up in the air, her daughter's laugh broke the tension that filled in the air.

Sara stood there thinking over the matter. They couldn't afford another move, they were well situated in this town, and they could grow here. However, how could she decline? The happiness that shimmered from her daughter was more important. She wanted her daughter to always be happy – no matter what.

From that day on, her husband would leave and stay up north for weeks to months. It was tough and lonesome some of the time, but the wife knew that it would be worth it. The money that her husband earned did help them catch up with their taxes and other payments. Their daughter was able to go to a good day-care when no one's at home and they could afford any other luxury. Nevertheless, this was shortly lived.

One night, after dinner, the wife and husband sat around the table in silence. The divorce papers that laid before them spoke louder than words.

"Why…" the wife mumbled, "Why now?"

"…"

The husband couldn't reply. He sat there, spinning the paper against the table.

"Hugh! Tell me! What did I do wrong?" the wife rose her voice, hurt.

The husband sighed, stopping the paper's spinning, he replied, "Y-you didn't do anything wrong, Sara,"

"Then, why am I having to sign this-this thing!" Sara yelled, pointing at the stack. Her voice becoming hoarse.

"Shush, you'll wake up Alex," Hugh whispered, glaring at Sara.

Sara closed her mouth, puffing. Her cheeks were stained and her nose was brightly red. She wrapped her arms around her chest, tightly and securely.

"I just don't understand," she mumbled, her voice cracking, "I thought we were happy, now,"

"I'm not," Hugh stated simply.

Sara looked up at her husband who couldn't give a single glance her way. The paper that laid in front of him seemed more important to him than his wife. Sara had a great fear during these passed months, but she ignored them. Until this moment, it seemed that bridge needed to be crossed. Sara narrowed her eyes, feeling her gut squeeze.

"There's another woman, isn't there?" she stated, gritting her teeth.

Hugh froze and glanced towards Sara's direction. However, ignoring his beating heart and shaking hands, he shook his head confidently.

"No, there isn't,"

"Don't you dare lie to me, Hugh!" Sara hissed, banging her hands on the table, "Tell me the truth!"

Hugh couldn't look away from her dark, auburn orbs that flickered with flames. He was trapped. Clenching his hands, he opened his mouth.

Sara saw his mouth move, but she couldn't hear a word. Her shock took over her body as she saw her husband sit in front of her. His pale, blue eyes not looking away from her own. His eyes were so lifeless and cold, giving her goose bumps. Sara could feel herself begin to break down. The room around her was beginning to close in and spin.

"Leave," Sara mumbled incoherently.

"What?" Hugh asked, not understanding.

"Leave!" Sara hollered, facing turning red.

Sara stood up quickly, slammed her hands on the table, and hollered at her ex-husband to leave. Hugh complied, not saying a word, and began to get his things that were already packed. Sara just watched him leave the kitchen without any turns back. Sara began to break down. Her chest was tight, her heart was going to burst, and she couldn't hold herself anymore. She felt her legs break underneath her, collapsing onto the ground.

Her body ran numb. Faintly, Sara could hear the cries of her just-awoken daughter and the screeches of tires. She never saw him again.

"Sara,"

"Sara!"

Snapping back to reality, Sara noticed her mother's kitchen and the worried looks from her mother.

"Sara, are you alright?" she asked her daughter, worriedly.

"Sí. I'm fine, Mama," Sara stated, softly, "I-I need to t-talk to Alex,"

"Okay," her mother agreed, smiling softly, "Just – Just explain to her about everything,"

Leaving the kitchen without a word, Sara trudged through the semi-lit hallway. Not paying any attention to the hung family portraits on the walls, Sara's sight was deadlocked at Alex's door. Sara was afraid. The feeling of losing her daughter terrified her to no end. Oh, the thought of losing her or Alex hating her makes her chest clench. Sara couldn't find any way to tell her daughter about her thoughts or the fact that her role model had an affair. Sara knew that Alex was devastated about losing her father – to this day even. Alex always blamed herself about her father's leaving. Sara, too, blames herself.

Stopping in front of Alex's door, Sara could hear her pulse quicken. Her fists were clammy when she clenched them tightly. Scenarios of Alex's reactions about Sara's truth exploded inside her conscious. The door seemed to stretch farther and farther away. Indecisively, Sara was beginning to think letting Alex have space will be the only solution.

"No," Sara thought, shaking her head, "You've been leaving her alone long enough,"

Trying to go against the weight of her arm, Sara gives two heavy knocks on the door.

"Alex? Can I come in?" Sara called through the door.

There wasn't an answer.

"Alex?" she called, one more time.

Silence. Sara's heart stopped.

Opening the door, she entered into an empty room. Sara noticed the windows wide open and the curtains dancing along with the chilly blows of the wind. Alex was nowhere to be seen. Sara froze, thinking of the absolute worst about her daughter.

"M-ma!" Sara shouted, voice cracking, "Mama!"

Turning around, Sara quickly ran through the hallway and abruptly stopped inside the kitchen. Heaving, Sara tried to tell her mother about Alex's absence. However, Sara's mother couldn't understand her with Sara's fast speech and panting.

"Sara! Tranquila! What's the matter?" her grandmother asked, grabbing her shoulders.

Sighing, Sara said, "Alex. She – she ran away,"

"What?" her grandmother asked, shocked.

Sara nodded her head, sighing again, saying, "She wasn't in her room. Window wide open. I don't know where she could run off to…"

"She couldn't have gone far," the grandmother spoke, "I'll see if she took her bike with her,"

The mother nodded and decided to look around the house. Sara noted when she was little she would always hide underneath the porch in the backyard to explore for bugs or miscellaneous items. Going to the porch, Sara looked underneath the porch. She called out her name a couple times but left without any answer.

"Sara, Sara!"

Sara ran into the house and saw her mother gravely worried. She shook her head, pointing to the front door. Sara looked out the window and noticed Alex's bike chain on the ground. Sighing, Sara pressed her forehead against the cold window.

"Where do you think she went?" her grandmother asked, softly.

Sara shook her head, replying, "I don't know, Ma…"

Then, sudden realization hit. Sara had a hunch, but it was a rare chance. Quickly going to the kitchen to grab her jacket, Sara told her mom that she will look around the neighborhood. However, Sara will be having a fifteen-minute drive to a baseball field where she and Alex would see her father play.

Entering into the semi-filled parking lot, Sara parked her car in front of the stadium's entrance. Making her way inside, smiling and greeting strangers, Sara made her way to the nearest stands. Scanning the rows of seats, Sara looked for her daughter. The stadium's lights shined over the large baseball stadium. However, Sara couldn't see any sign of her daughter. Her heart dropped.

Sara tried to find places where Alex loved as a child until now. She drove around town, going to candy stores, restaurants, and public libraries. Feeling defeated, she went to the house of one of Alex's friends. Alex's friend's mother shook her head, apologetically. Sara was growing anxious. Feeling her eyes sting, Sara was silently weeping in her car.

"If we had our old life, our old house, and our old happiness, I bet none of this would've happened," Sara thought, forehead leaning against the stirring wheel.

The flash of the old home that she and Alex use to live in gave Sara a thought. Quickly turning on the ignition, Sara quickly drove to the old home.

Parking by the curb, Sara leaned over and looked out the passenger side's window. The fences were a perfect white, the grass healthy, and the large, matured tree towered over the one-floor adobe. Sara noticed through the open windows of a new family that happily moved about inside.

"At least the house is still intact," Sara mumbled, exiting her car.

Closing the door behind her, Sara's eyes locked onto a small figure sitting on a bench across from the house. Her small hands covering her face as she wept silently, underneath the lonely streetlight. Walking slowly to the small, weeping figure, Sara silently called out. Her daughter looked up, sniffling and huffing. Her eyes widened, and she felt her heart pick up.

"M-mama!" she gasped, looking around quickly.

"Alex!" Sara yelled, running towards her.

Alex's grip on the bench tightened when she felt her body stiffen. Expecting the worst, Alex received a tight hug from her mother.

"I'm so sorry," Sara mumbled, "I'm so, so, so sorry."

Alex was dumbfounded. Slowly reaching around her crying mother, Alex patted her back. "A-about what?"

She pulled away and looked dearly into her daughter's eyes. "For everything. I'm so sorry, hija. I shouldn't have done those things over the years and today…and just everything. I just – well, there isn't any excuse I could give. I'm just a terrible mother. I was so scared that you had left forever, Alex. I'll be so lonely without you,"

"Ma, what are you saying?" Alex asked, sniffling, "You're a perfect – well, not perfect, but you are a great mother to me. I know you work a lot and you get very cranky because of it. But – but that doesn't mean you're terrible,"

Sara could feel her eyes sting again. "Thank you, Alex," Sara tried to speak, "Sometimes I think that I need to be your foundation, but I think it's the other way around,"

Alex furrowed her brows, asking, "What do you mean?"

"You always brighten my day and wake me from the hell that I'm living," Sara spoke, smiling softly, "I'm so thankful to have a miracle like you."

Alex felt her chest tighten. Looking at her mother's fallen tears made Alex's eyes sting. Alex closed her eyes tightly, feeling the yearning tears fall.

Alex shook her head and pressed her hands on her mother's cheeks, saying, "'We need each other.' That is what Mamita says."

Sara smiled, "Yes, we need each other."

Sara moved next to Alex, placing her hand on her daughter's thigh. Sara noticed Alex eyes flickered to the house across the street.

"When I want to clear my mind, I go here. I don't know why, but the memories that I have about this place…" Alex trailed off, squeezing her hand on her mother's.

Alex continued, "The reason why I want to play baseball, Mama, is because one day I want dad to see me – wherever he may be. Every time I close my eyes – just quick moments – I think of him. I just want him to come home. Every time I come by here, I hope to see him strolling on the side walk and greet me with the bear hugs that he gave. I-I just miss him so much."

Sara heard her daughter's voice crack, saw her tears streaming down her cheeks, and felt her shoulders trembling. Sara held onto her child and rocked her.

Underneath the street lamp, Sara looked at the sleeping house. The memories rushed back like a stampede and Sara felt her heart stop.

"I miss him too," Sara mumbled, kissing the top of her daughter's head.

"Will he ever come back?" Alex sniffled, saying.

Sara tightly shut her eyes, pressing her chin on the top of her daughter's head. She didn't reply.

Pulling away, Sara looked at her sullen daughter. Her large orbs were wet and red, her soft nose was rosy and runny, and her lips were chapped.

Sara brushed the loose strands that hung behind her ear. "Hija, I think it is time we talk."

Alex looked at her mother, concerned and anxious. "If I'm grounded, I promise I will do anything you ask."

Sara chuckled, shaking her head, saying, "No, no. You're not grounded. It's about your dad and I."

Alex's ears perked to the sound of the word "dad". Sara began to tell the story about her relationship with her ex-husband, the situation they were in, and the ordeal that they went through. Alex couldn't believe that all of this happened around her. She didn't see it like the way her mother described it. Everything was so cheery – that is what she saw.

When her mother was finished, Alex noticed the grief that filled inside her eyes.

"I was so scared to tell you this," Sara stated, softly, "I never wanted to show that side of your life…and it was embarrassing for me,"

"No," Alex stated, "I'm grateful that you had to sacrifice so much for me. But, at the same time, I'm upset that I never met my half-blooded sibling."

Shocked, Sara stared at her daughter. However, she burst into laughter.

"Half-blooded sibling?" her mother thought, amusingly.

Alex watched her mother cackle loudly. Her roaring laughter echoing through the night's air.

"You're something else, Alexandra!" Sara said, snickering.

Alex joined in with her mother's laughter. Then, just as quick, they both fell silent. Both stared at the house across from them, letting the chilled air breeze by.

"Mama," Alex called, quietly.

Faintly, Sara heard her daughter call her name. Sara glanced over at her daughter who sat there quietly. Her eyes reddened, and soft tears covered the corner of her eyes. Sara wrapped her arm around her daughter and let Alex's head rest upon her chest.

Alex knew after tonight that all of Alex's patient hopes will never become true – no matter how desperate she may be. But, for now, she just needs to have her mom by her side.

Please leave a review! Thanks to all the follows and favorites! I honestly had no idea that so many people followed/favorited this story! I'm so shocked! Please! Leave some feedback! All of it will help me become motivated!
MUCHAS GRACIAS!