Five Years Overdue

Sean

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5 years ago

Music wrung through my ears and I reeked of vape juice and alcohol.

That party was fucking sick. What was mom thinking when she forbade me from going? I mean, come on. Did she really believe that I wasn't going to attend just because she said so?

I nudge through the bushes and make my way to the living room window that I had previously left unlocked a couple hours ago. I then slid it open, before quietly climbing inside. It was late, and everyone was sleeping. I didn't want to wake anyone. Not to mention, if I get caught, I'd be grounded till I'm forty.

After successfully making it inside with not even the smallest sound, I close the window behind me and turn around to the sudden bright lights, almost blinding me.

Shit.

I tramped into the kitchen, followed by the sound of my mom's footsteps trailing closely behind me. The solitary did nothing to ease the rising tension. Anyone could sense the tensity between us two.

"Sean Davis, don't you walk away from me!" she hollers.

It was almost two in the morning, meaning I was supposed to be home four hours ago. At least, that was the case to her.

"I'm thirteen years old. I don't need a fucking curfew, and I most certainly don't need you bossing me around!"

When will she realize that I'm not a kid anymore? She has Kordell and hell, she has Julianna to worry about. Me? I can take care of myself.

"You will not use that kind of language, especially directed to me," she demands in a quiet but firm voice.

"You will not tell me what to do," I mock.

Mature.

"I'm your mother!—"

"And I wish you weren't! I hate you."

She looked at me with so much pain and I could see her heart breaking through her eyes. I was frustrated and could care less about what I said. It was late. I was having the time of my life before I came home and now, none of that seemed to matter. She completely wrecked my mood and I wasn't going to have it. I wasn't a kid anymore and she needed to understand that.

"Sean—"

The door flies wide open, followed by two armed men in ski masks.

"Get on the ground!" One of the men screamed. They looked horrified, even clueless. It was as if this robbery had no executed plan.

Before my mom could finish her sentence, she is forced onto her knees and cries aloud before the man loads his gun, pointing it to her head. My mom was terrified. But not for herself. Not for her life. For mine.

"Let her go!" I cry, but the other man grips my arms and holds me in place.

Every second that gun was pointed to her head was another second my fury grew. I hated how he shoved her onto the ground like she was nothing. I hated how he held a gun to her head.

Two more men, barge into the kitchen. This robbery was simple greed and malice. They took everything sentimental, everything they could find value in.

"I said let her go! Take everything. Spare her. Please, she's my mom!"

I turn to face the man who was gripping me, and with all my strength I kicked him where the sun don't shine.

I ran to my mom and fell to my knees hugging her, shielding her from the possible bullet.

Once the man recovered he angrily stomped over to me but stopped when someone screamed, "No! Leave him. He's a child."

I look up to see those words flowing out of the same man who held the gun to my mom's head.

"What the fuck are we even doing here? This wasn't the plan, and we all know it." I listen, to him say.

"Sean? Sean!" My mom whispers, earning my attention.

I look down and into her teary eyes.

"On my cue, you're going to run. You're going to run outside and you're going to get help."

"What about dad? What about Julianna, and Kordell?" I ask her, shaking in fear.

"They're not here. It's you and me."

Not here?

What the hell?

"I am not leaving you," I tell her firmly. Not like this. Not after what I said.

"You have no choice, Sean. I'll be right behind you. I promise," she smiles, a painful smile.

What are you going to do, Sean? Are you really going to take a chance, get help, and leave her with these men?

"Promise?"

What am I saying? I can't leave her. I won't.

She nods.

As if on cue, the man lowers his gun as he continues a back and forth bickering with the others.

"Now, Sean. Now!"

I get up and despite every gut feeling telling me to stay, I run. I run past the man who was gripping me, and out through the main entrance.

"No! We need to leave!" I hear the same man shout, stopping the men from running after me.

I run as fast as I could screaming for help, desperately crying out to the neighbours.

"Please! Someone! Help! We need help! My mom, she—"

BOOM!

I stop dead in my tracks.

Gunfire.

The neighbours start to gather outside, surrounding me, wondering what was going on. I push past everyone and run back towards my house with so much fear clouding my mind.

Stopping just out front, I wait. She's coming out, she has to. She promised.

I wait and I wait, and I drop to my knees.

"Mom!" I scream, to the top of my lungs. "Mom, you promised!"

Tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling all over my face. My heart is breaking and I can only feel pain. So much pain.

"I don't hate you. I didn't mean it," I whisper.

• • • • • •

Destiny

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Everything he's saying, it's—

"I sat there, frozen. I couldn't move. I sat there until I heard the faint sound of sirens. All I could think about was my mom's lifeless body laying on the kitchen floor. I sat there until my dad, my siblings, my Nonna, and the police showed up. I sat there until she was placed onto the stretcher and into the ambulance. They asked me questions but I didn't answer one. A year later, without my help, they were able to find out what happened. The others are still out there but they arrested the man who killed her. They identified him with his gun, and a tattoo on his wrist."

He didn't even get to say he loved her...

"She died thinking that I hated her. She did everything for me and for our family, and all I gave her in return was my stubbornness and—" He breathed out a shaky breath. "I didn't even get to tell her that I loved her."

Speechless.

I was speechless.

Once again, I had no words but I knew one thing. As crazy as it sounds, this was my fault. My heart was breaking for him.

He looks up, meeting my gaze. "I don't even know if you wanted to hear this or if you even care, but for once in my life, I wanted to get this off my chest. And you know what?" He stands up. "It felt good," he says as he begins to tear up. "I've avoided this for so long because putting it out there— to the universe? It made it real."

I mirror his actions and stand tall in front of him.

"It's real. It happened. I can see the pain and regret in your eyes, Sean. It's eating you alive, and for what? She knows you love her." I reach up and cup his face in my hands. "You're her son."

He holds me by my elbows and slowly lets my arms down, shaking his head in disagreement.

"I told her that I hated her and she died with those words. You didn't see the pain in her eyes, Alders. And the worst part is, I didn't care."

"You were thirteen."

He extends his arms and rests them on the back of his neck before looking up and letting out a frustrated sigh.

"Okay." I nod. "It's okay not to be okay. But it's not okay to stay that way. You want the honest truth? You can't avoid things and expect yourself to heal. You have to face the memory and that's what you did. That's why it felt good."

He lets my words sink in, replaying it over and over again in his mind. He then takes a seat on the cold tiled floor and rests his back onto the island. I sit next to him.

"I wish I could take it all back. I should've stayed. I never should've ran. It was my fault."

It was mine.

He covers his eyes with the base of his palms and he cries. I rest my head onto his shoulders to let him know that I'm here. I wasn't going anywhere.

"She was protecting you. You would've done the same."

For the rest of the night, I did as I said. I stayed. I let him pour his feelings out. He was five years overdue. I would stay for weeks if he needed me to.

• • • • • •

Thanks for reading!

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There you have it!!! Sean FINALLY opened up.

I'm so happy. He really needed this! Only his family left to go :))

How do you think they’ll react?