There was a knock on my door. I was trying to just enjoy the last couple days of spring break the best I could but the time was going by quicker than I thought. It was already Friday, I just had the weekend and I would be back in those halls.

"Come in." I called out.

My brother peaked his head into my room before pushing the door all the way open and walking into my room. He made himself comfortable and sprawled out onto my bed, his feet dangerously close to my face.

"You're a freaking animal." I shook my head and shoved his feet away from me.

He chuckled and sat up.

"So you have an suspicions?" He questioned.

I gave him a puzzled look.

"Family dinner." Jack clued me in.

My mom had announced this morning at breakfast that we were having a family dinner tonight, all four of us. We hadn't had a family dinner in what seemed like forever. I knew it was probably coming with some type of news.

"I try not to think about it." I stated.

I couldn't help but think I knew exactly what was coming. I could almost hear my dad breaking the news that they were separating. I didn't want to think that was the case but how could I not suspect when my parents barely got along?

"You think they are splitting too right?" Jackson sighed.

"I don't want to think about it." I shook my head.

I could see the sad look my brother was giving me. I should be prepared for this, I mean it wasn't like I didn't see it coming. I just couldn't stop myself from holding out hope that they would fix their relationship. I wanted them to just wake up one day and decide to make it work but so far it has yet to happen.

"You know no matter what happens with mom and dad you always got me." He smiled at me.

I knew that, of course but I didn't want to deal with my parents getting a divorce. I had always thought that maybe they were waiting until we both moved out to actually split. It was obvious their relationship was rocky at best.

"It could be something else." I tried to keep my thoughts positive.

There could be plenty of other explanations for this.

"I guess we will find out tonight." Jackson nodded.

—

I was strange. I wasn't used to walking downstairs for dinner to see my dad sitting there. He was always absent for some reason. He came up with some good excuses over the years. He had work to catch up on, he was waiting on a business call, and my favorite he already ate. Those were the nights that it was bad, the nights he came home and had already eaten. My parents were usually in total nonspeaking terms at that point.

But there he was sitting across from my mother as she set the plates up. She had made my dads favorite, steak tips with roasted potatoes and corn. It was usually corn on the cob but it wasn't quite corn season yet so it was canned corn instead.

"This all looks amazing." My dad smiled down at his plate.

"It better, I didn't spend all afternoon in the kitchen for nothing." My mom shot back with a laugh.

What was happening right now? I felt like I was in some alternate reality. These weren't my parents, my parents could barely spend two seconds in the same room together let alone smiling and laughing with each other. This couldn't be real.

Just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating I pinched my arm lightly. All I felt was a small rush of pain and when I looked back up my parents were still sitting together in the kitchen.

I guess I should just go and get this dinner over with.

"What the fuck?" I heard my brother mutter behind me.

I turned to look at him and he was just staring at my parents. They were currently opening a bottle of wine for the two of them.

"Never thought you'd see that right?" I joked.

"You think someone kidnapped our real parents and replaced them with clones?" He questioned.

"Seems like the most logical scenario." I shrugged.

"I guess we should figure out the news." He walked past me and entered the kitchen.

I quickly followed and sat in my usual seat.

"What's going on?" My brother asked, not bothering with the small talk.

"What do you mean?" My mom questioned sipping on her glass of wine.

"Why are we all of a sudden having a family dinner? There has to be a reason." He looked between my parents to try and figure out what was going on.

My father sighed next to me and I knew. I shrunk back into my seat. I knew what was coming before he even opened his mouth.

"Your mother and I have decided that we are much happier apart so we have decided to separate." He stated.

I stayed silent, shoveling a roasted potato into my mouth. I wanted to escape from this conversation.

"So that's why you guys are getting along? Because you finally don't have to deal with each other anymore." He brother frowned.

"This has been a really hard decision but I think it's the best for this family. I talked to your sister before she left for her trip and she mentioned how miserable I was with your father. I knew our relationship wasn't good but hearing it from her really made me realize that I don't want to be miserable and I don't want your father to be either." My mom explained.

"So it's my fault?" I spoke.

The realization hit me. I had told my mom straight up how awful her relationship with my dad was and it drove them into divorce. Maybe if I hadn't said anything this wouldn't be happening.

"No of course not Ella. This is all between me and your father. We just don't work together and we haven't been happy for awhile. Splitting up will be the best thing we can you. You don't deserve to live in a house where your parents don't get along and are miserable. I told you I'd be better and this is me doing that. I need to be happy in order to make you happy." She grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

I pulled it away.

I stood up not being able to be here any longer.

"I can't do this right now." I just shook my head and ran for the stairs.

I really should have just kept my mouth shut. Why had I lashed out at my mom? Maybe if I hadn't my family wouldn't be crumbling around me.