I've been reading this place for a few years now, and recently I thought of submitting a story that had been going through my mind lately. English is not my first language, but since i'm unlikely to submit a second story, I've decided not to bother an editor, so all mistakes are mine.
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When Alice woke up, her mind was in a haze for a few precious seconds, but then the memories of the previous day came back rushing in. She got out of bed and prepared herself for her last day of school. Her mother, Debbie, was in the kitchen, preparing breakfast, but Alice did not acknowledge her as she passed through.
"Alice, I...", her mother managed to say before getting ignored as Alice left the house.
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When Alice had come from school the previous day, her mother had told her to get ready to go out for dinner. They were going out with James, her boyfriend of the last year. James had been a friend of her father since they both were in school, and a year after his death, he started seeing Debbie.
Alice was lukewarm on the relationship. She had always liked James well enough, but the thought of her father's friend dating her mom was weird. She couldn't deny she seemed happier than ever, so she never spoke up about it.
When they arrived to the restaurant, a nice Italian place, James was waiting for them. He was always polite with Alice, and had tried to get closer to her during the last year, but Alice kept him at arms length. She had been a daddy's girl, and needed no replacement figure in her life.