2 The Painful Separation.

"Hurry the hell up, Athena. I don't have all day." I heard my mom shout from downstairs. I vigorously wiped my tears as I packed my clothes into the duffel bag. Indeed, I don't have much, but I was contented and happy with what I have.

I was done packing within 20 minutes, but I wasn't ready to go downstairs. So I stood in the center of my room as I took in the room I spent most of my time in.

I've had lots of memories in this room. I remember when I was 8, and my Dad gave me a personal concert in this room. A smile broke out on my face as I remembered that day. I was upset at Mom for breaking my favorite toy, and even though she apologized for it, I didn't stop crying. They both tried pleading with me, but I still didn't stop crying. Dad then got an idea. He took his guitar and played my favorite song. Mom joined in even though her voice was so horrible, and I remember her looking so silly as she made faces at me.

I broke down in tears when I remembered all the good times we've had as a family.

"Athena!!! Don't make me come up there." She screamed again. I wiped my tears with my sleeves before looking around the room one last time.

I saw my dad at a corner. He had his hands in his pockets, and his head down as he looked at the ground like it was the most interesting thing in the world. More tears clouded my vision after seeing how helpless he looked.

"Dad!!" I ran to him. He wrapped around me as he brought me closer to him. "I don't want to go. I don't want to leave you."

"Jellybean! I'm so sorry, baby." He buried his head in my neck, and I swear I felt water trailing down my neck.

"You didn't do anything, Dad. Please, don't cry." I said as I rubbed his back softly as he does to me when I feel sad. I heard my Mom snort behind me.

"Look, Athena. I'm only letting you have this moment cause I know it's your last one. Be fast about it and join me in the car. You have 3 minutes." Mom glared at both of us before making her way out of the house with my bag. I turned back to my Dad to see his eyes swollen and puffy from tears.

"Bean! I hope you know that I love you so much. I love you with every fiber of my being, but like you Mom said, my love isn't enough." I shook my head in negative, wiping the few tears that managed to escape his eyes.

"I love you too, Dad. And your love is all that's keeping me going in this wicked world. So please, don't talk like that." More tears ran down my face as I poured my heart to him. My mom is making me leave the one person that has been my source of strength since day one. He was there for me when she wasn't. They don't know about the bullying and the humiliation I faced at school, but I was more than happy with that. I chose not to tell them about it.

My dad wiped his tears as he searched his pockets for something, before pulling out a small wooden box that looked old and rusty. He opened it to reveal a personalized guitar necklace. The necklace is sterling silver with rose gold plating on the sides, and the letter A inscribed on the back.

"I want you to have this, Athena. I was supposed to give you on your birthday, but since you won't be here, you should have it now." I nodded as I gathered my hair to enable him to put the necklace on me.

"You've grown into a beautiful lady, Bean. I don't think I'm allowed to call you Bean anymore." He said with tears in his eyes.

A smile broke out on my face. "I love being your Bean. I'll always be your Bean, Dad and nothing can change that."

He pulled me for a hug. The sudden blaring noise from outside made me jump.

"Let's go out before your mom comes in here," Dad said as he led me out of the house.

"What the hell, Nathan. I told you you had 3 minutes. You're wasting my time." Mom yelled, her face red in anger.

"Athena, it's almost time to go. Take this." He handed me a piece of paper. "It has my number and address. I don't know where your new house is but make sure you write me. And when you get a phone, give me a call first, okay?"

I nodded. "That would be the first thing I do when I get there."

"Please, don't forget me, Bean. You're all I have. Never forget that, okay?" Tears clouded my vision as I saw the hurt in his eyes. I wish I didn't have to leave him. I'll choose to stay with him anytime.

"I know, Dad. I wish I had a say in this. I wouldn't think twice before choosing to stay with you."

"That's it. Athena, let's go." Mom said as she got out of the car. She came closer to us as she tried pulling me.

"Mom, please. I want to stay with Dad." I pleaded as my tears blurred my vision.

"I'm doing what's best for you, Athena. You'll thank me for this later. Your new dad has a lot of money, and he'll take good care of you."

"But I want Dad."

"Enough!! Get in the car now. Now!" She yelled at the top of her lungs, her face red in anger. I still refused to move from my spot.

"Bean, listen to your mother, okay? Remember what I told you, alright? Here. It's my guitar pick. I'm always with you no matter where you are." I collected the pick from him before hugging him.

"I love you, Dad," I whispered.

"I love you too, Bean. Take care, okay?" I nodded. Just as I was getting comfortable in his arms, I felt someone pull me away from him.

"I said we're leaving now." She said as she dragged me to the car.

"Please, Mom, I just want to say goodbye." I can feel a headache coming from how much I was crying but that's not what matters now.

"Please, Leah. Let me hug her one more time." I heard him plead, but knowing my mom, she won't agree. She has changed. She wasn't the same woman I once knew.

"You should be thankful. I've given you more than enough time to do whatever it was you were doing. I'm leaving and, remember, don't even think of looking for us."

"Please, Leah. Don't do this. I can't live without her. She's my life and, you know it."

"Bye, Nathan." Mom said as she stepped into the car, locking the door. Dad ran to open the door, but the doors are locked already.

"Mom, please. I'll go with you. Let me hug him goodbye one last time."

"You're going with me anyway. So what's the point?" She shrugged as she started the car.

"Mom, Please. I'm begging you." She reversed the car in a full speed before making her way out of the driveway. I turned around to see my father running after the car in desperation.

"Mom! Mom, please."

"God, why is he so persistent?" She said, glancing at him from the front mirror. She started driving with a speed I was so sure was illegal. I was still looking at Dad, and I watched as he slowed down, exhausted. He got on his knees as he cried. He faded as the distance between us got bigger.

"I HATE YOU!! I HATE YOU SO MUCH!!" I yelled at her. I wasn't lying. I meant it. She has taken all that ever mattered to me.

"You don't know what you're saying, Athena. I'm doing all this for you. That man can't take care of you. Can't you see how expensive I look these days? Do you think it was your father that got everything for me? For Heaven's sake, you're 15, and you don't even have a phone."

"I don't care. Dad said that money doesn't buy happiness. I was happy with him."

"Of course, he has polluted your mind. What do you know?" She sighed, before running her hand through her brown wavy hair. "It's a long drive to the airport, so I would advise you get comfortable." She said as she concentrated on her driving.

'I miss you, Dad.'