Hola! New chapter today! Time has passed by pretty fast. Its already May. I hope all of you are safe and well. The next chapter will be posted on Tuesday so make sure to be on the lookout. Enjoy and be safe.

Chapter 21

Dani got out of the shower feeling more relaxed. She changed into some boxing shorts and an oversized long-sleeved shirt. She dried and combed her hair and headed out to the living room. She turned on the tv, going through the channels but didn't find anything interesting to watch so she just put on the local news.

The news was talking about the weather, robberies, and some other stuff that Dani wasn't paying attention to. She just had on the tv for background noise. She was thinking about what Emily said earlier. About her not learning about her mother's mistakes. If only she had known what it was like, Dani thought to herself. Yes, Emily did know her past because of police reports but she didn't live through it as Dani did. Dani remembers vividly living with her mother and watching her health deteriorate because of all the drugs she would take in. She out of all people knew all the negative effects of drugs.

4 Years Ago

Dani arrived back home from school. She was supposed to go back to her foster home but she knew that no one would notice her arriving a few hours late. She just wanted to see her mother again. The girl was very excited to tell her mother that she got the highest score on her English test. She unlocked the front door of the apartment and opened it. She entered and closed the door behind her. She hears her mother talking to a man. A voice that Dani hated to hear. She steps into the small living room and sees her mother talking to a tall, rather skinny man with a bald cut. The man was one of the many dealers inside the town who would distribute drugs. The man looks at Dani and gives her a cold smile.

"Hey there kid," he said with a grin. "I see you came back from school already."

"Yep," Dani said with a small nod. "What are you doing here?"

"I just came to give your ma a package, that's all," he said while grabbing his bag. "Ima go now. See you ladies, later," he walks past Dani and leaves through the front door. Dani looks at her mother, who was standing beside the window.

"Ma, you told me that you were going to quit that stuff," Dani said, disappointment in the girl's eyes.

"I know, mi Amor," her mother said, walking up to her. "It's just a little. I promise you that it's not a lot." She places her hand on Dani's shoulder. "Why don't you go sit down while I prepare you something to eat, okay?"

Dani nods and sits down, waiting for her mother to finish preparing her meal. When she was done, her mother handed her a plate of chicken with beans. Her mother sits across from Dani with a plate in front of her. They both chatted for a bit while eating.

Dani finished her food and looked up at her mother who had barely touched her plate. She noticed her body start to shake and her forehead sweaty. Dani knew what those signs meant. It meant that her mother needed another fix.

"Dani, you go to your room and watch tv. I need to… clean up the living room," her mother said while standing up. She picked up both plates and placed them in the dishwasher.

"Ma, we could watch tv together. I can put up a movie if you want," Dani said. She didn't want to leave her mother alone, especially if she knows that her mother wanted to use it again.

"No, that's okay. You go ahead in your room," her mother replied with a shaky voice. Her body was visibly trembling. "I am just tired. I just need to relax," she said while scratching her arm.

Dani stands up and looks at her mother. "Please ma, don't use that stuff," Dani pleaded. "It's not good for you. Por favor, no lo uses."

"Dan, just go to your room, hun," her mother said. "Don't worry about me. I will be fine," she said, giving her a weak smile.

Dani hesitantly walked into her room. She locked her door and stared at her mirror. She felt sad and incompetent. How could she help her mother quit? What would her brother do? She felt useless due to her not helping her mother. She has tried different ways to help her mother but it never worked. Dani sat down on the floor and covered her face. She was crying in a silent manner. She felt like a coward but didn't know what else to do so she let her tears silently roll down her face.

About half an hour passed by and Dani got out of her room. She walked towards the living room and saw her mother lying on the couch, presumably unconscious. Dani's heart skipped a beat. She quickly ran to her mother and touched her wrist, trying to find a pulse. Dani sighed in relief when she felt a pulse from her mother's wrist. She backed up, looking at the woman. She was lying down on the couch with her head resting against her arm. Her long, dark hair was tied up in a messy bun. Dani let out a sad sigh when she saw her mother's arm. She saw that her arm had a red bruise around due to her tying a band around it. She saw a pinch where she injected herself with the needle. Dani looked at the coffee table which had the used needle on it. She hated needles with all her heart. They are the main instrument that causes her mother to be like this. Dani went to her room and got a blanket.

She went back to the living room where her mother was sleeping. She walked up towards the pale and skinny woman. Dani covered her and turned around when out of nowhere she heard her mother gasp for air. Dani looked at her and saw her mother violently shaking from head to toe. She had foam in her mouth and her eyes rolled back. It was like a scene from a horror movie. Dani ran towards her mother but didn't know what to do. "Please mommy, don't go," she said with tears in her eyes.

She grabbed a phone that was near the couch and dialed 911. The operator answered and asked what the emergency was.

"Please help," Dani said with a shaky voice, hardly being able to say her words. "My mom overdosed. She is dying."

Present Time

Dani snaps back from her memories with tears in her eyes. She didn't like crying so she quickly wiped her tears away. She hated how her brain vividly remembers the worst moments of her life. That memory was one of the many she has from her mother overdosing. The memories that bring back the feelings of sadness, anger, and frustration against herself. Dani wished she could have done more to help her mom. That was the one thing that Dani really hated about herself. The fact that she failed in protecting her mother. Her failure has cost her a life.

Dani thought to herself, what does Emily know about her mother anyways? She never saw her or has met her in person. She didn't know anything from her except for what is written in police reports. Dani frowned. Emily has no right to judge her mom. It's true, her mother has committed a lot of mistakes but that does not give Emily the right to judge her. She didn't know how her mother was suffering.

She didn't know anything at all.

Dani let out a sigh of frustration. Frustration towards herself and towards Emily. She thought Emily trusted Dani in doing the right thing. Why would Emily assume those pills were hers? Didn't Dani prove herself better? Maybe the teen overestimated her good acts.