I walked up the dirty road, my boots kicking up the dust. The Inn was just as I remembered it. Being back from the Interstellar Academy felt better than I had imagined. No homework, no responsibilities just me working at the Inn like old times. Best of all, I was about to see my mother again! The last time I was away from her this long was when I adventured to Treasure Planet. The wind swept my brunette hair back as I reached the door. I opened the door with a flourish, setting my bags in the doorway. "Mom?" My voice rang through the halls of the Benbow Inn. She wasn't there. "Mom? I'm home!" I called once more as I stepped into the kitchen. No answer. A pot of water was boiling over. "Woah!" I exclaimed as I quickly took it off of the stove.
The door had been open, the stove had been on. She was here. Yet, she hadn't greeted me. Something was wrong. I began to run through the house, searching every room. I couldn't find her for the life of me.
The last room I had to check. Her bedroom. My hand grazed the handle, opening the door to the room. My hands shook as I walked into the room, my eyes searching for her. She wasn't at her desk either. I turned the corner to the bathroom and in that one second my life turned to pure horror. I screamed until my throat hurt, my tears flowing down my face. "No... NO!" My voice threatened to rip my own throat out. I ran to her lifeless body, cradling her. Blood stained the white tiles of the floor, the water dyed red. My senses finally captured me and I ran for the phone.
I didn't eat. I didn't sleep. My mind tumbled into chaos as I waited for the words of relief. She had to be alive. She had to. The thing that killed me was that my mother was a happy person. Hadn't I been there for her? Was I the reason she picked up the knife? Over and over my mind swirled.
"Sir?" A doctor stood next to me. I sprang up, clinging to him.
"Will she be okay? Is she alive? Tell me, damn you!" I yelled in his face. No one in that waiting room dared to meet my gaze. The gaze held a thousand emotions, each fiercer than the last.
"We had to give several blood transfusions for her to survive but... she will be alright. You can see her now." The doctor said and pointed to the double doors. I didn't thank him. I didn't acknowledge anyone. All I knew was that I had to see my mother. I stumbled into the first room I saw. A girl with bright blue eyes stared at me, red hair twirling around her pale face. A deep bruise covered her eye and I'm sure there were several more. A blanket covered her up to her chin.
"Can I help you?" Her voice was soft, gaining it's strength back. That's when I realized I hadn't even asked where my mothers room was. I had just walked into another patients room. "Are you looking for someone?" The girl managed a smile. She was about my age and looked to be in great pain. I could see through her bruised face she had once been beautiful.
"Yes... I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." I began to leave the room to find my mother. Her voice halted me.
"Wait! Maybe... I could help you find the person you're looking for." She said politely, straining to sit up. The stranger winced but managed.
"Well..." I stared at the floor, the ceiling, anything to not look at her face. "I'm looking for my mother. She was just brought in about twelve hours ago." I said softly, daring myself to look at her eyes again. Big mistake. The brilliant blue held so much compassion, I had never seen something like that before.
"Your mother? Well, I do know that a woman came in here on a stretcher... attempted suicide?" She asked kindly, in a way that didn't make me feel any pain. I merely nodded. "I don't know what room she is in but when I asked my nurse about her she said she would be in the next wing over." The girl pointed past me, down the hall. "I always ask about the patients... There isn't anything in here to distract me. So, I imagine the kind of life they had. I make up nice tales." The girl chatted away. I began to shift from foot to foot uncomfortably. At once the girl noticed. "Oh... right. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help... I'm Ariel." The girl introduced with another strained smile.
"Jim." I said softly and nodded at the girl in the bed. "Thank you." I mumbled as I left.
I went to the wing that Ariel had pointed out slowly. I didn't want to walk in on another unfortunate soul. I passed a nurse, quickly asking where I could find Sarah Hawkins. The helpful worker showed me to the room herself, making sure I got there. "Thank you." I said with a nod. The room was dreary, a suicide watch guard in the corner, a wilting plant on the sill. My mother in the bed. As I walked to her she turned her head toward me, a small smile reaching across her dry lips. She tried to say my name,but her voice was too hoarse.
"Mother... I'm here." I whispered, taking her weak hand. The guard left the room slowly, closing the door behind him. I didn't know what to say, I fought back the tears that lingered.
My mother shook her head slowly at me, "Jim... I can't say how sorry I am..." She whispered. "I never wanted this to happen. I didn't... he- he did this to me."
"Who did this?" I said back, keeping with her hushed tone.
"Your father..."