Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Daimen

"Mrs. Princeston. I'm looking for my mother, Kimberly Princeston." I huffed as I came to a stop at the front desk. I frowned looking around the hospital waiting room.

My heart was banging against my ribcage.

"Yes, she's in room 209C." The lady said gazing up at me and I gave a nod before walking away.

I made my way to the room, my heart drumming in my chest. Sweat accumulated on my forehead and I wiped it away.

The hospital had called me and told me my mother was under their care. They'd said she'd been passed out outside of a bar, high and tripping. They said it wasn't promising, the way she was.

I frowned as I found the room and looked at the door for a double check. The door was made of a dark polished wood with a metal tag beside it branded with 209C. My hand grabbed the cold metal doorknob and I felt myself freeze for a moment.

Getting a hold of myself, I let out a breath and slipped inside.

I stopped as I saw my mother and I heard the door close shut behind me. My eyes trained on her and my stomach churned. She was awfully thin and tubes and IV's were hooked up to her body. She looked like death.

"Mom?" I asked as I crept closer.

Her eyes peeled open, dull and bleak. They focused slowly on me, "Hey Daimen." Her voice was scratchy and hoarse.

"What'd you do?" I questioned and she gave a soft sigh.

"A lot of stuff." She rasped and I gave a nod.

I walked over to stand by her bedside and looked down at her. Her hair was matted and I frowned and brushed some of it from her face.

I don't know how long I stood there but I started as someone pounded on the door.

I glanced behind me and frowned as the door opened to show boys in blue.

"What are you doing here?" My mom asked and I looked away from the police feeling anger and annoyance rush through me. I knew I'd done bad, but technically I wasn't guilty; not anymore. So they should get off my back.

They couldn't have at least waited? I was visiting my mother; couldn't it just wait a bit?

"We just have a couple questions for your son." One of the officers said.

"Go to Hell." My mom snapped at the cop.

"Mom." I croaked.

"No. My son is a good boy. He didn't even leave the house that night. That bastard raped me and my boy stayed with me the whole night. He didn't kill that man. Now please leave my baby alone." Mom wheezed looking to the police in the doorway and they paused. My heart clenched and tears escaped my eyes as I clasped her frail hand in mine.

"Mama don't strain yourself." I said softly.

"Oh hush boy I'm dying anyway. You leave him alone, ya hear me?" Mom said trying to sit up and I pushed her back gently.

"They get it." I sighed and she looked up at me, her blue eyes shining.

"There's something I have to tell you..." she said motioning me closer and I leaned down so she could whisper in my ear. My body tensed and jaw clenched as I pulled away and she gave me a guilty look.

"I was such a bad mother, I-I'm so sorry Dai." She laid her free hand against my cheek and I let out a shuttering sigh.

"I forgive you Mama." I said holding her hand to my cheek and I felt my mask breaking.

Tears snuck down my cheeks and I sobbed softly. Her hand began to go limp and I held tighter.

"I love you. I wish I could say more, but I'm going." Mom gasped quietly and I squeezed my eyes shut briefly and gave an understanding nod.

"I love you too Mommy." I said and a sob gurgled in my throat. She gave a soft smile and her eyes slipped shut.

I huffed in sorrow and looked away frowning as I noticed the cops were still by the door.

"Get out." I spat and I glared specifically at Officer Hulling, who was at the lead. He looked... apologetic.

"I'm sorry." He said and I scoffed tears burning my eyes.

"Get the fuck out!" I yelled.

"You heard him; leave." A deep voice said and I froze as my uncle shoved his way into the room. He stopped in his tracks as he saw my mother and his face paled.

"Kim..." he croaked.

The officers filed out of the room muttering condolences that I didn't care about.

River

It'd been a long day and I was on my way home. The streetlight turned red and I let my car roll to a stop.

Abruptly my phone started ringing and I picked it up, bringing it to my ear as I answered the call.

"Where are you?" I felt my eyebrows raise at Daimen's sad sounding voice.

"On my way home; what's wrong?" I asked. He was silent for a beat.

"I'm at the hospital... my mom..." he broke off and I felt my heart drop.

Oh no.

"Daimen... I'm so sorry." I said watching as the light turned green, but not moving; the roads were empty.

"The police came... she told them Trace had raped her and left when I got home; she told them that I'd stayed with her that whole night." Daimen said and took a shaking breath.

"Then she just... she won't wake up." He groaned and I felt sick to my stomach.

"Okay. I'm on my way." I said and did a not-so-legal U-turn.

It took me a few frantic minutes to find the exact place I was to be in the hospital. The receptionist told me where to go but my mind went blank once I entered the elevator. All I could remember was it was on the forth floor.

The elevator ride was silent except for the occasional ding. Then the doors opened to my destination.

So I hurried down numerous halls, finally pulling up short when I saw him.

He was down the hall from me, leaned against a wall. His shoulders were slumped and even though I couldn't see his face because it was turned away from me, I knew he must look awful.

I crept towards him, my footsteps suddenly sounding as loud as bombs exploding. He was shaking softly, I noticed as I neared. He was crying...

I froze for a moment as I heard his soft sobs before carrying on. I stopped as I came to stand in front of him, but he didn't acknowledge me, I'm sure he didn't even realize I was there.

"Daimen?" I asked in a whisper and the young man jerked his head to me before quickly wiping his eyes. My heart dropped as I gazed at him.

"Hey." He croaked and swallowed hard, his eyes going downcast for a moment.

I almost couldn't bare to look. His eyes were red from crying and his body shook softly with emotion as he pulled at his messy hair. The hallway was rather empty and quiet as he leaned against the wall.

"This is my fault... I shouldn't have kicked her out." Daimen groaned and I bit my lip, not knowing what to do.

When his eyes finally focused on me again he looked totally lost. His hand ran over his face and for a moment he covered his mouth and swallowed hard. He roughly wiped the tears from his eyes and gave a shuddering sigh.

"D-do you," he cleared his throat, "do you think this is life's way of punishment... for me killing that man?" He asked so I looked at him and frowned softly.

"I... No. No it's not. Your mother chose to start again Daimen. That's not your doing. Death took her because it was her time." I said softly even though I wasn't entirely sure of my words, I knew that it wasn't his obligation to feel guilty. I laid my hand on his shoulder. Slowly, as if wary of his actions, he reached up and grabbed onto it with his own. He didn't say anything just held on and closed his eyes.

"I know, she wasn't the best... but she was still my mom." Daimen croaked and I nodded softly before glancing down the white corridor.

I didn't know what to say so I just shut my mouth and let him hold my hand. After some time he linked our fingers and sighed.

"River..." he said in a gruff voice and I looked up and found myself lost in his eyes. His hand guided me closer and my heart stuttered as his eyes glanced at my lips before he began leaning in.

"Daimen." A deep voice interrupted and the boy stepped away from me as we turned still hand in hand to face whoever was speaking. Part of me was relieved.

I wasn't sure if I was shocked to see Principal Princeston standing there. His eyes were dark and he looked like he'd just seen a ghost. After a moment of staring at the two of us he sighed.

"I'm sorry about your mother, if I'd've known that it was this bad-" the man began, but Daimen cut his kin off with a shake of his head.

"Don't, you knew damn well how bad it was. You knew. So don't come in here with that bullshit. She's dead." Daimen spat and took a step toward the man.

"Stop." I whispered as he tried to get passed me, but I'd blocked his path. He stood there shooting daggers at his relative and swearing under his breath.

"What was I supposed to do Daimen? She didn't want help, wouldn't let me even take her to a hospital. I-" the man answered.

"You should've forced her." Daimen spat. His voice broke a bit and I swallowed painfully.

"Daimen, if you couldn't get her to go, what makes you think I could?" Mr. Princeston said and for a while all was quiet.

"I don't know Dad what could you've done?" The boy finally spat and my mouth gaped. He knew.

"I-I-" Principal Princeston stumbled over his words and Daimen glared.

"You weren't gonna tell me were you? Well what've you got to say?" Daimen shot out and tried to step around me again.

Then Mr. Princeston threw me under the bus.

"River explain it to him please." The man said and I tensed. Dammit.

"Son of a..." I muttered.

Daimen looked down at me with a confused, hurt expression.

"You knew?" He asked softly and my mouth ran dry. I shot a quick glare to his father.

"Daimen I-"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't know how... we weren't really talking and all the stuff with Rocky was going on at the bar and then this... I didn't know how to tell you." I breathed looking at the ground.

"Oh..." Daimen said and backed away from me. I looked up at him and he avoided my eyes.

"Daimen--" I started and his abrupt glare had me lost for words.

"Don't." He snapped at me and I blinked. He ran a hand through his hair and clenched his jaw.

"The funeral's Monday. Don't come to it. And don't talk to me." Daimen growled and walked away from me. I watched him go and felt tears well up in my eyes. He went into the hospital room and shut the door firmly behind him.

"Thanks a lot." I said blinking away the tears and glaring at his dad; the man raised his eyebrows and gave an incredulous look. He shook his head before sighing.

"Sorry, I--" he started and I cut him off.

"You just wanted the attention off of you. You know, I liked you better when you were ignoring your responsibilities as a father. So do everyone a favor and fuck off." I snapped and turned before walking down the hallway, ignoring the tears burning my eyes.

I was going home.