Find You in the Dark

second story window. I had chewed my nails to the quick and was currently gnawing on the skin of my fingers.
    I heard a light knock on my door and without waiting for permission, my mom pushed my door open with an arm load of laundry. She wore an annoyingly perky smile and was still dressed in her office clothes. She must have just gotten home from work.
    She dropped the pile of clean clothes on my bed. “How was school?” She asked me. I shrugged, not looking at her. I just wanted her to leave. I still blamed she and dad for a lot of my current situation. Maybe if they had been more accepting of Clay, things would have been different. Or maybe it would snow in July. Well, whatever, I needed to blame someone and they fit the bill.
    “Is that a good shrug or a bad shrug?” She asked lightly. I shrugged again. My mom was quiet and then I heard the squeak of my bed springs and suppressed a sigh. Great, she wanted to talk. I swung my desk chair back around and gave her my best stink eye. “Yes?” I asked in irritation.
    My mom frowned at me. “What's with the attitude? I just wanted to know how my only child is doing. Is it wrong for a mother to care about her daughter's well- being?” Okay, that was it. I was sick of their concern. Sick to death of their overprotective mama and papa bear bullshit.
    I glared at my mother, the woman who had been my best friend and biggest support for most of my life. But in that moment I forgot all about that. Instead, all I saw when I looked at her, was my enemy.
    “You know what mom? If you cared about my well- being you'd back off and let me live my life with whomever I choose to live it with.” I spat at her. My mother's eyes widened in shock at my outburst.
    Yes, this was not the little girl she knew. This was some crazy woman who was wearing Maggie Young's skin. My mom drew herself upright and a stern look took over her face. “Don't you dare speak to me that way. Your father and I have always done what was best for you.” I cut her off with a maniacal laugh. “What's best for me? Are you kidding? You have pretty much forbidden me from seeing the only guy I'll ever love! How is that good for me?” I shrieked at her.
    My mom sighed and looked at me with a less than patient look on her face. “Stop being so dramatic. I tried to like Clayton, if you'll remember. It doesn't change the fact that while you were with him you made terrible decisions and behaved reprehensibly. You started lying, sneaking around, shutting out your friends. Love doesn't make you act like that, Maggie. No matter what you choose to believe.” She said with irritation.
    “You don't know the first thing about Clay and me. You never will!” I yelled, grinding the heels of my hands into my eyes. I felt like I was about to bust out of my skin. I was so wound up about Clay and everything else, I just couldn't deal with my parents right now.
    My mom took on a concerned expression. “What's going on, Maggie? You've always been able to tell me things. You know I'd listen.” For a moment, I softened. I wanted to tell her everything. I wanted to go back to the time when I felt like my mother would listen to me without condemnation and judgment.
    Maybe, just maybe, I could share with her everything that was going on with Clay and she'd have some advice, a suggestion or two. And I wouldn't feel so freaking alone in all this mess.
    But her next statement blew my little fantasy out of the water.
    “But you have to stop getting so worked up over that boy . He is nothing but trouble. Look at yourself, Maggie May. Look at who you've become. I think you need to really think about the way he has completely taken over your life. Is this thing you have with him really worth saving?” Her psychobabble made me want to gouge my eyes out. Or hers. Whichever came first.
    I covered my face with my hands and screamed in frustration. “Are you serious?” I screeched. I lept to my feet. “This is total bullshit! Nobody has taken over my life. Your Clay paranoia is ridiculous! Have you ever thought that maybe I'm just changing? God forbid that I'm not your perfect little girl anymore. That I have feelings that have absolutely NOTHING to do with you and dad?! My life is mine! And I'm sick of your insane need to control it!” My mom opened her mouth to say something, probably to scold me for cursing, but I kept on going.
    “You are the ones driving me crazy and creating all of this drama. So please, just give it a