I was nervously biting the inside of my cheek as me and my mother walked past several shops and stores.

We had just finished with getting the school supplies that were needed for the start of the rest of my senior year. My mother thought it'd be a good idea to go shopping for some new clothes and shoes since I tend to get cold easily, even though it may not be that cold here in North Carolina.

Being that me and mother were from Florida, this slight change of weather I found to be cold.

"Ooh! Jan look! Want to head into H&M? They have just the cutest shirts for you teenagers these day" my mother said, glancing towards me with a smile.

I felt myself silently chuckle.

"Sure mom"

As we headed inside H&M I sighed in relief to find that there weren't as many people as I thought there'd be. I followed my mother towards the girl's section when I felt a pair of eyes watching me. I felt my heart race as I quickly looked towards my right. But no one was there.

Calm down Jan. He's not here. He's gone. He can't get you anymore.

I closed my eyes and began counting numbers in my head when I felt a slight tap on my shoulder. I opened my eyes, frantically looking around the store when I finally realized that it was my mother's palm on my shoulder.

A look of concern was etched all over her face with a slight frown.

"Honey, I'm here. Don't worry" she said with a soft smile before pulling me in for a hug.

Despite the fact that I was the one that came up with the idea of going to Staples in the first place, I was only doing it to try and get used to this place and actually move on. But I guess it wasn't going to be as easy as I thought it would be. I wiped away a single tear from my right eye when I felt a wetness on my hair, only to find that they were my mother's tears.

I wiped her left cheek when I took her hand and guided her towards a rack in the girl's section. I picked up a long knitted gray cardigan and held it up to my mother with a small smile.

"Do you think this would look good on me?"

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"God am I tired" my mother said as she finally managed to open the door. I groaned at the pain I was feeling in my feet as I trudged inside with my hands filled with bags from Staples and H&M.

"Now I remember why else it was that I hated going to the mall" I muttered to myself.

I loved getting new things, but hate walking for long periods of time. I am laziest person I know.

Why do you think I still haven't unpacked all of my stuff yet?

"Alright, I'm going to help you settle your things upstairs and then in about an hour start dinner. How does that sound?" my mother said, following behind me up the stairs towards my room.

I nodded my head, opening the door to my room. I moved some of the boxes out of the way with the kick of my feet and placed the bags down on the ground.

"I'm going to head over to my room and organize some of this stuff okay? If you need anything I'm down the hall" my mother said, picking up the bags that were hers and heading out of my room door.

I placed my hands on my hips and deeply sighed, wondering where it I was going to start with this mess.

"And I want that room cleaned and organized before Monday morning!"

I playfully rolled my eyes as I let out a soft smile.

That's what I loved about my mother; she's cool at times, but she also knows when to parent.

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Hey guys!

Wow it's been a while hasn't it, heh heh heh... e-e

I've decided to continue updating this story and leaving my others on hold.

Stay alert for my next update!

Joyleen.