Not Wholly Enough

  Claire stared at Mercy for a while before answering,"no I don't"

  "Okay, if you don't why then do you talk to yourself?"

  "Mom, cut me the slack. I am not seeing anything and I am not talking to myself. Stop questioning me, I don't like it"

  Mercy raised her brows,"really Claire. You now talk to me anyhow you like?"

"Mom, can you stop, please?"

  Claire pleaded. It was so obvious to Mercy that her daughter doesn't want to admit the fact she talks to herself. She has observed her for a long time now and she is certain that it's either Claire sees someone she always talks to or she has found the habit of talking to herself, the either one is true. 

  Mercy sighed and sat beside Claire then raised Claire's face with her palm. She stared at her daughter with pure admiration.

 "I love you darling and if I ask questions, it's because I care. It's unfair that you are always rude to me. You behave strangely towards me. You call me mom but never mean it. Have I given you a reason to hate me like this?"

   Her voice was pained and Claire started feeling bad, it was never her intention to make her mom feel this way. It's just that she can't help the way she behaves towards her mom. She has tried severally to be nice but she ended up doing the opposite.

  Claire took Mercy's hand into hers and smiled at her,"Mom, don't think like this. I am sorry I behave the way I do. It's not my intentions or maybe you are assuming things"

And there, she did it again unknowingly. Mercy pulled her hands away and stood up.

   "I am sure all you need has been packed. Don't forget your guitar"

She said effortlessly with a mild tune.

 Claire, not realizing what she has done, nodded,"I will mom."

"Alright, my regards to your aunt."

After saying that, she left the room without saying anything again to Claire. 

  "You really can't control how you behave towards your mom, do you?"

Susan's voice came behind Claire and she turned sharply towards it. Susan was watching her keenly.

  "It's sad I can't help it but I think I was nice this time around" she responded with a shrugged shoulders. Susan chuckled, shaking her head.

  "Obviously" she said sarcastically then turned towards Claire's boxes that were parked at the far end of the room.

  "We will be leaving any moment from now"

Claire nodded,"sure. Let me just take my guitar and I would go tell uncle Zain I am ready to leave."

*****

  The moment Mercy got to her room, she broke down and sobbed. Her heart was twitching apart and you can no longer bear it. It is so painful that her daughter has to hurt her like this unknowingly. It's not bad that she agreed to get married to a man who loves her heart and the father of the girl she loves. Claire is her world but that same Claire is shattering her own world. 

  "How long will I cope with the rejection? The girl is unknowingly doing what she is doing and it's not her fault but at least I have been the best mom in the world. At least I should be compensated for it with her showing me a little love. I am not unfortunate, am I?"

   She lamented bitterly. Owen watched her worriedly. He is even confused himself. He has watched his wife in pain everyday because of how Claire treats her and he can't do anything about it. Perhaps, it's time to tell Claire the truth, maybe when she knows she would understand that Mercy loves her more than anything in the world.

  He unfolded his arms and strolled towards his crying wife on the floor. He squatted beside her and engulfed her into his embrace. He stroked her cheeks tenderly, soothing her pain. The more he comforts her the more she cries. He let her cry, it's always the best thing to pour your emotions out. It's okay to cry. 

  Both stayed like that for a while, the other comforting and the one being comforted, crying. When Mercy felt heart lighted. She looked up at her husband, watching the one whose undying love is the reason she is still in this marriage. Owen loves her to a fault and as much as she feels bad for not getting loved by Claire, Owen's love seemed to be enough but not wholly enough. Her heart heaved and she buried her face on his chest,"I don't know what I should do to make Claire love me"

  Owen smiled sadly and pulled her off the floor, wordlessly he led her to their bed, gently, he made her sit and he sat too.

  Silence greeted them for a while, with each in deep thoughts. While Mercy soothes for answers in Owen's eyes, Owen struggles with his emotions. He fears for the day when Claire will find the truth, yet he can no longer keep the truth to himself. They have to find a way to tell Claire what she needs to know.