I was still thinking about what Riku said as I was walking home. I declined Riku's offer for me to stay the night and he looked upset about it. So he finally knows, I'm supposed to be happy about that, right? But I'm not. I'm terrified. He now knows my darkest secret, and I'm terrified, because I thought I could keep this side of my life hidden. He should have minded his own business. This horror I'm feeling is his fault. I sigh and go inside my house.

Looking around I find Mom nowhere to be seen. I step farther into the living room and call out, "Mom? You home?"

I look around, and finding her nowhere, and all the lights off, I venture upstairs to check her room. Walking up the stairs all I can hear is the soft squeak of the old stairs and my own soft breathing.

I call out again, "Mom?"

The stillness of the house was driving me insane. I had to know if she was okay, where she was, why it was so deathly silent. I make it to the top of the stairs and take a right, down the hall, towards Mom's room. Passing the hall I am forced to stop. My heart skips a beat as my gaze finds an image I haven't looked at since I was twelve. A picture of Mom, Dad, and I when I was eight.

I turn towards the picture, as if in a daze, my fingertips gently brush the glass containing the sacred image inside. A tear escapes, I didn't know it had formed. Dad. He looks just like me. He has the same shade of brown hair, the same eyes, darker than Mom's, like mine. I look just like him, remembering a picture I saw long ago of Dad as a teenager, we look just alike.

Another tear escapes. I bite my bottom lip to hold back a sob. Dad, why did you go? Why were you taken from us? I take the picture off the wall, a stray sob escaping my lips before I clamp my mouth shut. I hug the picture to my chest and run to my room with it, previous intentions lost in my swirling mind. I put the picture on my night stand and lean over it. Tears fall onto the glass, and I don't bother to wipe them off as more and more fall.

I fall to my knees and sobs escape me finally, racking my body with shivers. I can't stop shaking or sobbing, and a part of me doesn't want to. A part of me wants to weep for my lost father, for what's become of my mother, and to weep for the Sora that hides away his pain. For me. I just want to weep for me, and for my family, and for hiding all of this from Riku for so long, and for him even knowing.

I wanted to live in a magic bubble that kept my misery at home, that let me escape my fears while out with Riku and the others in school. I want to weep until I can't anymore. And so I do. I stay in my room and weep the entire day away. I'm not sure when, but I fell asleep, leaning against the nightstand. I wake with a start, my neck hurting. I sigh and pop my neck then stand stiffly, my joints groaning as I do so.

Remembering Mom I leave the room after glancing down at the tear stained glass holding my memories. I leave the room, closing the door softly, realizing it must be very late. I call softly out for my mother but I get no response. I quickly run to her room, but hesitate at the door. Getting over my fear I push the door open and peer inside. I gasp, my eyes widening at the sight I see.

As the lights flash in the window I still sit at my mother's bed, staring at the empty bottle of pills at my feet. i didn't dare touch it. Mom lay limp on the bed. A sickening feeling hits me as a part of me hopes she's died. I shake my head, forcing back bile, "How could I think that?" I mutter. The paramedics rush in and head upstairs. I heard them before I saw them. They came in and instantly take Mom away. One of them stays and helps me to my feet, "Want to tell me what happened, son?"

I shake lightly, "I came home from school and went to my room. I fell asleep. When I woke up I realized I hadn't seen Mom, so I came to check on her and found her like this. Then I called you guys."

He nods, eyeing me as if he knows I know more, "I see."

I nod limply, then he asks, "Do you want to come to the hospital with us? How old are you?"

"No, I don't live too far from my best friend, I'll just go stay with him. I'm sixteen. Will she be okay?" I reply.

"Okay, you go there, kid. And, I don't know yet. We'll do what we can." he says, leading me from the house.

Once the ambulance leaves with her I make my hike to Riku's. It's about five in the morning by the time I get there. I'm so tired.. I walk up to Riku's house and knock on the door as hard as I can. Riku's Mom is the one who answers the door, "Sora? Do you know what time it is?"

"Can I see Riku?" I ask.

She frowns, "He's asleep. You both have school tomorrow.."

"Please, Mrs. Hallow.." I say.

"Why..?" she asks slowly.

"My Mom.. I saw her... She overdosed on her headache medication.." I say, fighting not to cry.

Mrs. Hallow's face softens, "Come inside, Sora.. I'll go wake Riku."

She's gone in an instant and I move into the house, shutting the door with a soft click. I lean against the door, feeling sick, trying to figure out how and why this happened.