Snowflakes fluttered in the air, covering the city with sheer layers of white blanket. Snow weighed down on the bare trees, filling the empty hollows while people walked with their reddened noses hidden in scarves.
Samantha stood at the window, her arms folded, brows – knitted. Fury flooded her eyes, about to overflow from her. She kept unconsciously stomping her feet and shaking her head, inaudible sounds leaving her parched mouth.
The sound of water boiler screaming snapped Samantha out and exhaling, she began pouring the liquid in a mug, her eyes still pinned on the road through the window.
“Why does she take so long?!” she barked before feeling her skin burning.
Gasping, Samantha looked down, realizing she had kept pouring the water until it filled the cup, streaming down her hand.
Wheezing from pain, she rushed to the cabinet, taking an ointment out and spreading the yellow substance on her burned skin, when suddenly she heard the sound of the car stopping. Looking out of the window, Samantha saw her daughter getting out of the car. In a minute, the front door opened, and the girl appeared. Emily smiled brightly, her curls bouncing over her shoulders before her smile melted.
“Mom, what happened?!” she let out, tossed her bag, and rushed to the woman.
Samantha, already putting a bandage around her hand, jumped to the side as if avoiding her daughter’s touch. Shocked, Emily stopped, gawking at her.
“Where were you?!” Samantha growled. “Your classes finished two hours ago.”
Emily’s brows lowered.
“I was hanging out with friends,” she replied, humiliated.
“Friends?!” Samantha yelled. “Our neighbor told me that she saw you with that boy from the rock band! Are you dating?”
With the last drops of patience seeping out of her, Emily screamed back.
“Yes, we are! So, what?! We are both adults; you can’t forbid anything from me anymore!”
“That Oliver boy?!” Samantha slammed her burning fist on the table. “That crazy boy?! He is in some kind of stupid band instead of studying. You can’t let yourself fall as low as him. He’s too peculiar.”
“Stop, mom, it’s too much!” Emily turned, shaking her head, tears brimming her eyes. “You’re hurting me now.”
“I just don’t want you to become a junkie like him!” Samantha couldn’t hold back.
Emily shot her a killing glare before she dashed to her bedroom door and opened it.
“You’ve ruined my life a lot of times already!” the girl shouted. “I won’t let you do that again!”
With the last yells leaving her mouth, Emily slammed the door close and locked herself inside.
Turning, Samantha dried her eyes, but new tears streamed down her face. She had always been a strict mother, limiting her daughter from a lot other children had; thinking this would help Emily avoid the worst.
But it had still happened, and now Samantha’s world was about to crumble into pieces.
Tears filled her eyes, and Samantha looked down at her burning skin, convincing herself that she cried because of it.
The winter had spread its roots to every corner, and shivering, Samantha walked down the street, hurrying home.
“Samantha!” her neighbor’s voice stopped her.
An elderly woman was smiling at her from the other end of the road, waving.
“I just saw Emily!” the neighbor said aloud to reach her voice to Samantha.
“Oh, really! Where?”
“Just at the corner!” the woman smiled. “She and Oliver are having a charity event. They’re collecting old, unwanted toys to take them to the orphanage!”
Samantha looked around, scared of people hearing about her daughter being with Oliver. Then, with a formal smile, she turned, rushing to the end of the street.
Soon, her eyes landed on Emily and Oliver. They stood with a huge box of toys in front of them and a sign asking people to join the charity.
Shivers ran down Samantha’s spine as she saw Oliver’s dyed hair, tattoos on his neck, and face piercings. But the more she watched, the more the ice in her heart melted. People kept bringing toys, filling the box as Emily and Oliver thanked them with polite and sweet expressions.
“Whatever,” Samantha turned her back at them, scurrying home. “Doing one good thing doesn’t mean he’s worthy of my daughter.”
That night, when she sat at the TV, Emily flopped next to her, taking a handful of popcorn from the bowl.
“I want to ask you something,” she said. “Or no, I’m not asking. I’m doing it – I’m inviting Oliver for dinner tomorrow.”
Samantha winced, uttering no word.
“You saw us today, right?” Emily asked playfully. “It was Oliver’s idea. The charity.”
Trying to suppress the shock, Samantha swallowed the popcorn and filled her mouth again.
“Do whatever you want,” she muttered with a mask of apathy on her face.
With the smile of a winner, Emily stood up, going into her bedroom, leaving her mother behind with anger and doubts bubbling in her.
In 24 hours, right at the exact time, Samantha wasn’t sitting on the couch anymore but fumbling in the kitchen getting ready for dinner. Even though she didn’t like the guest, she still couldn’t abandon her tradition of welcoming him as perfectly as possible.
The doorbell startled her, and Samantha rushed to the door, inhaling deeply before opening the door. Oliver stood next to Emily with a huge bouquet and chocolate in his hands – two things Samantha loved the most. Still, the blonde hair and the tattoos almost made Samantha shrivel. But she couldn’t ignore his polite smile and sparkling eyes.
After she welcomed them inside, everyone sat at the table full of plates and different meals.
“This is so delicious!” Oliver exclaimed as he took a bite. “You added a little angelica and basil, right?”
Amazed, Samantha nodded.
“Yes, I did,” she replied. “You’re the first one who figured out the secret of my seasoning.”
He smiled radiantly.
“By the way, your garden looks beautiful,” he added. “I have a garden myself. I especially love roses and tulips.”
“You do?” Samantha couldn’t hide the surprise. “It’s so rare for young people to take care of gardens.”
“I know,” he nodded. “And that’s surprising to me too, to be honest.”
The more they talked, the less Samantha saw Oliver’s tattoos and piercings. She couldn’t even realize how she got immersed into the conversation that touched every subject, from politics to baking. She hadn’t had such an exciting conversation for years, and she couldn’t notice how she and Oliver agreed on most of the things. They had more in common than she could ever imagine, and when the clock struck twelve, she felt the exhaustion brought by overwhelming emotions and endless discussions.
In the end, Oliver was just an ordinary boy, and his different appearance couldn’t overshadow his personality.
As Oliver left and Samantha found herself alone with Emily, she held her hands, tears of regret welling up in her eyes.
“I’m so sorry for judging him before getting to know him,” Samantha confessed. “I realized that what really matters is invisible to the eye. Oliver is a really good boy. Maybe a little different, but why should everyone be the same? Different doesn’t mean bad.”
Emily beamed, hugging her mother, and Samantha let herself melt into her daughter’s warmth.
*
White rose petals covered the floor, and yellow candles brightened the church. Samantha held Emily’s hand, watching her long wedding dress.
The doors opened, and people stood up. Oliver smiled, standing at the altar.
Samantha leaned toward Emily, whispering in her ear.
“You made a perfect choice.”