I groggily opened my eyes and noticed a tiled ceiling. Too white to be that of a school. School? “Allison!” I Jolted upright, causing a violent jab of pain in my stomach. I tried to move my arms, but upon kicking off the blankets, I realized I was cuffed.

I wiggled my hands and realized they’d been tightened haphazardly. Eventually I managed to slip my hand parlty out. But I got stuck at the joint of my thumbs. I forcibly pulled my hand out, it hurt like hell, but I got my hand free. Because I could hold the other cuff down, I managed to get my other hand out with minimal damage. My right hand was a little bloody, and my left more bruised than anything.

I looked at my arm, then ripped the IV out. it felt uncomfortable to do. Swinging my legs around, I stood up and walked towards the door of the dimly lit room. My footing was steady, but my stomach ached.

I headed out into the hall, I noticed most of the lights were off. I hadn’t faced the window so I hadn’t known it was night. I walked toward the reception desk when a timid voice called out from behind, “Excuse me. Um, you shouldn’t be walking around at night.” I turned around to find the source.

A nurse, maybe early twenties, headed toward me. “Come on, let’s get back to your room. She smiled nervously. Clearly they’d told her about what had happened. She looked at my hands and approached me quicker, all sense of self preservation had left her.

She took both hands into her own and examined them, “This looks painful… You must have been really desperate.” She looked into my eyes. I wore a cold expression, causing her to clear her throat and step back. “Let’s get you back to your room then. You won’t need the handcuffs tonight.” She tried a smile.

“Where is Allison?” I asked, my voice tinged with worry and irritation. When I didn’t get an answer, I repeated myself. “Where is she?”

The timid nurse glanced at the room next to us for a moment before quickly realizing her error. She put a gentle guiding hand on my arm in attempt to steer me away from the room.

I shook her off and peeked into the room. A girl was laying in the bed, her head partly covered in bandages, but it was impossible to miss that hair. “Allison.”

I started to head in, but the nurse grabbed my arm again, “As far as the authorities know, you may have been the one to do this to her. I can’t let you in there.’ She argued. I attempted to yank my arm away, but she wouldn’t let go.

“Didn’t any of those gossip addicted people in my class record what happened? Or, let me guess, they only captured the part after Byron attacked us. And Margaret, did she defend Byron?”

The nurse shook her head, “I wasn’t told much, it’s an open case after all. But if you really didn’t do this to her, once this is all cleared up, I’m sure you’ll be allowed to see her. But for now, please go back to your room.”

“What if she wakes up and I’m not here?” I snapped back, startling the nurse. “I don’t want her to wake up alone.”

SHe pondered this for a moment. “Even if I let you in now, You yourself received some head trauma and should be resting. I couldn’t allow you to stay with her. Please go get some more rest so you can heal up properly. I’m sure you’re still in pain.” She said, her grip on my arm loosening to a gentle suggestion.

“I don’t care about me. I don’t think I ever have. I just need her to be okay.” I told her.

Finally she let go completely, “Five minutes. Then you go back to your room and sleep, okay?”

I nodded and headed into the room. I pulled up a chair next to her and held her hand. Not saying anything, just watching over her, confirming her health.

After about eight minutes passed, the nurse spoke up, “Come on. Time’s up.”

Without a word, I got up and walked back to my room. The nurse trailing behind me.

Upon laying down in the hospital bed, the nurse changed out the needle and put the IV back into my arm before treating my hands, “Get some rest now.” She said before leaving the room.

Apparently I was more tired than I thought, because I fell asleep rather quickly after that.

The next time I woke up, Ms. Riken was sitting in the chair facing my bed. I attempted to raise my arms, but they were cuffed once more. Not like I hadn’t expected it though.

Ms. Riken looked up, “They came and restrained you again once I got here. Said you were potentially dangerous. They even went as far as to label you insane…”

I looked away, “I mean aren’t I? To be honest, I have no idea if Byron survived that. And I hope he didn’t. Actually, I hope he did and has to live with a caved skull.” I smiled menacingly.

“Alex,” Ms. Riken spoke in a solemn tone, “One can only bend so much before they break. I’ve talked with the police and according to them, one of the students managed to record the whole thing, starting with his hitting you..” She paused, “You won’t get in any trouble, you’ll just be asked to submit to therapy.. and potentially antipsychotics.”

I rolled my eyes, “I don’t need meds. I can control myself just fine. You only want me on meds so people will feel a little safer when around me.” I turned to face her and smiled, “Let me guess, these are the conditions for me to not be expelled from the school.”

She smiled, “You’ve always been bright. Saying it’s a shame that you had to grow up like that wouldn’t do you a service.”

I didn’t say anything, just looked out the window. My bandaged hands throbbing from my previous breakout, “If they know I only defended myself, then why am I tied down?” I asked, glaring at the handcuff on my left hand.

She sighed, “Think about it from their end. You may as well have gone psycho and almost killed your own father when all you had to do was knock him out. I understand. I do, but there’s a process for this kind of thing.”

I jerked my arms at the handcuffs and turned my head to face the door, “How’s Allison.. And does her mom hate me for dragging her into this?”

After a beat of silence that felt like an eternity, she responded, “Allison will live. Although, she may suffer from memory loss from the damage.” I bristled upon hearing that comment, but stayed quiet, “Her mother.. Doesn’t blame you. The video told us very clearly that you didn’t drag her into this. She stepped in of her own accord. Whatever happens next, it’s not your fault.”

Suddenly there was a knock on the door before it opened to reveal Margaret. I violently jerked at my restraints, “GET OUT!” I shouted. “I should see that you rot in prison like the rotten person you are.” I growled. She flinched back immediately, but didn’t leave the room. Her hands were behind her back, alongside a person. A cop? Good.

Her head swiveled to glance at the cop before proceeding toward my bed. I jerked at my restraints harder, probably drawing blood at this point, but I didn’t care. My blood was boiling. To the point that I thought if I was bleeding, I was sure that the blood would ignite the sheets.

Ms. Riken put a hand on my arm. Not to hold me down, but to try to calm me. I glared at her, but she didn’t flinch back. So reluctantly, I leaned back and stared at the ceiling instead of this witch that had the audacity to call herself a mother. No, she gave birth. But after that she was just a demon under the guise of a mother, playing the role poorly. I closed my eyes and waited.

“I-... I’m sorry.” she said finally, but there was an underlying tone of bitterness. She was just trying to reassure herself by quelling my rage so I don’t pose a threat to her life.

I shook my head, “No. You’re not. You will never be sorry, because both of you are narcissistic psychopaths who don’t feel anything. Except fear, and that’s just your self preservation. Leave.” I voiced, eyes still closed.

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But when nothing was said for a short while, I looked in her direction. Her face, she was scowling as if I started all this.

“I should have killed you when you were born. No, I should’ve aborted you.” She growled, showing her true ugliness that few people outside our household had ever seen.

I closed my eyes and looked at the ceiling once more, “It’s true that you should’ve. Then at least Allison would never have gotten injured. My only regret-” A wicked smile appeared on my face, “Is that I didn’t snap and kill you both while you slept. Call it a gas leak incident? Listen to your screams in the night as I listened from outside… Maybe. Or maybe I should’ve slit your throats whilst you slept so I could watch you wake up and struggle for your life. Watch the fear in your eyes. I always thought my life was in danger, but I never did anything about it because I had no reason to care. But now. Now I have Allison. And if she doesn’t remember me…” I turned to face her. “What happens when someone who never had anything once he finally becomes happy, only to have that happiness stolen out from under him? What happens to the person? Or better question, what happens to the ones doing the taking?”

Margaret’s face went from a hideous scowl to a look of pale dread, “T-Take me away from here.” She told the cop, who was equally disturbed.

“What? You’re scared of a child who is cuffed to a bed? That’s not embarrassing for you at all.” I jabbed.

Her back was facing me as she was already almost out the door when she turned her head slightly to respond, “You’re not a child. You’re some freak of nature.”

I laughed and shouted after her, “Well this freak of nature came from your womb! What does that say about you?”

I could visibly tell that a shiver went down her spine as she disappeared from sight. I took a breath and forced the smile away, closing my eyes again, “My head hurts.”

No sooner had I said that did a gentle hand fall to rest on my cheek. I opened my eyes again to see… Crying. Ms. Riken was crying.

I tried to sit up, but only got into an uncomfortable position due to the cuffs, “What’s wrong?” I asked with genuine concern, eliciting a sputtery laugh.

“I just-” she paused, taking a second to breathe, “I just feel bad. After seeing that exchange it was apparent that your homelife had been worse than I thought. And you’d been holding so much in. I wish you would’ve leaned on me more instead of driving yourself insane with all the pain.” She hugged me.

I froze. Emotion welling up inside me, but not like before. This was… different.

Suddenly my eyes burned as tears were streaming down my face. Before I knew it, I was sobbing. Not because of my physical pain, not because of my childhood. But because I was so scared of losing Allison. I couldn’t hug her back because of the restraints, so all I could do was lie there and cry in her arms.

It felt nice.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. A nurse opened it to reveal two redheaded women. One pushing another in a wheelchair. I bolted as upright as possible. “Mara, Allison!” I voiced.

Allison, tilted her head in confusion before looking at her mom, “Who’s that?

My heart sank. She doesn’t remember. I looked away and laid back down. I’d given up.

“So even seeing him, you don’t remember? Don’t feel anything?” I heard Mara ask.

There was a short, thoughtful, silence before she responded, “He seemed familiar when I first saw him. My heart throbbed and I was happy, but I don’t know why.”

Why did they have to have that conversation here? My heart ached. I looked back and she had rolled closer.

“Alex?” She asked, then she took my hand for a moment, “Is that your name?”

I looked at her mother, not wanting to get my hopes up, “Did you tell her?”

Mara shook her head, “I only told her that you were someone she cared for a lot.”

My heart started to race, “Is that all you remember?” I asked desperately, not wanting the memories we made to be lost forever to her mind.

Allison shook her head, “I feel like I’ve forgotten something really important when I look at you. Like it’s at the tip of my tongue.” She squeezed my hand gently.

I smiled, my eyes teary, “I really hope we can be friends. Even if you don’t remember all the details.”

She blushed and looked away smiling, “Something tells me we weren’t just friends.”

I laughed, “We did some cuddling and some making out, but that’s as far as that went before-.” I looked at the bandages on her head and winced.

She smiled, “I saw the video..” I took note of the pause, “Our class was clearly afraid, but even without my memories. Seeing you react like that. It didn’t scare me.” She laughed a little, “I’m a little disappointed in myself for feeling a little happy that you got so angry for my sake. But I definitely feel sad for you. Sad that you had to endure what you did for so long. Sad that you had to show that side of yourself to the class. The part of you that you always tried so hard to suppress.”

That last part caught my attention, “‘Always tried hard to suppress’, is that based on the video? Or your memory?” I asked hopefully.

Allison pondered for a second, “I don’t really remember, but going into detail like I did seemed to draw some memory out momentarily.” She smiled.

I nodded. Then sighed, “Ugh, I just want these cuffs off already. Laying on my back is a pain.”

To my surprise, Mara giggled from behind Allison, “I might be able to help with that soon.”

Confused, I tried to prop myself up once more, “What do you mean?” I asked.

“Well, along with the video. Ms. Riken and I will appeal to the police with what we know about you as a person. And best of all, I’ll be taking custody of you.” Mara dropped a bombshell.

“What! Really?” I asked excitedly, “I actually didn’t consider where I would stay after my parents were put away, assuming I wasn’t arrested or committed. But if I had to assume I would’ve thought Ms. Riken would have gotten me into a foster home or something.”

They both laughed, “You sell yourself short, Alex.” Mara said, “I’m sure if I couldn’t take you Ms. Riken would in a heartbeat.” Ms. Riken nodded in confirmation.

I looked at Allison, “What do you think about me staying with you guys?” I asked with hesitance.

She beamed, “I may not exactly remember everything we’ve done, but my feelings are still here. And just from this brief interaction, I’ve confirmed that I definitely want to get to know you better.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, “Clearly none of you are normal. You all saw the video, yet you’re still here. I couldn’t blame you for leaving.”

Ms. Riken smiled, “You’re sweet, smart, kind, considerate and much more. If we left, we’d be letting all that goodness be consumed by the trauma you’ve endured.”

I looked back up at the ceiling, “Would I be right in assuming that this is how it feels to be part of a family that’s actually healthy?” I laughed a little.

“What role do I play in this family?” Ms. Riken asked me teasingly, giving a playful grin.

I thought about it for a moment before pointing, or at least trying to, “Could you go stand next to Mara for a moment?” She did as requested and I returned her earlier playful grin, “I see both you and Mara as mother figures in my life.”

“Oh?” Mara giggled and took Ms. Riken’s hand, “Maybe we should give that a shot.”

Ms. Riken’s eyes went wide as she blushed, but she didn’t oppose the idea. They were near the same age and actually looked good together.

Mara swung the hand holding Ms. Riken’s back and forth, “What do you say? Would you like to go on a date after all this is settled?”

For a moment, Ms. Riken was a statue before regaining her composure and clearing her throat, “Do you swing that way Mara?”

Mara shrugged, “I’ve never tried it, but who knows. Maybe we’ll fall for one another.” She teased.

Ms. Riken smiled, “Only some of my students know this, but I am in fact into women. If you’d have me, going on a date with you sounds rather enjoyable.”

Mara smiled knowingly, “Then it’s settled, once we get Alex out of trouble.” She put a hand on Allison’s shoulder, “And this one here is all healed up, we’ll give this a shot. Ally, what do you think?”

Allison spun herself around to face them, “I think it’s a great idea.” She smiled brightly.

“Did I just shoot you both with love arrows or something?” I asked, a little surprised, but happy.

“Maybe so. But I’m not complaining.” Mara said as she put an arm around Ms. Riken’s waist, which resulted in more blushing, but not resisting it.

On the contrary, she was smiling.