UNCONDITIONALLY YOURS

Atkinson Family Secrets // 55

"What..." I spoke softly. My eyes began to tear up from emotional overload. Was my stepmother speaking the truth? Could my mother have been... No. I begged it couldn't be true. My heart filled with sadness and disgust. "Sorry, I can't do this." I murmured and swiftly glided outside.

"Riley..." Parker muttered, pausing momentarily before quickly following me out the door. 

I was about to leave the police station. It was cold and dark outside, but I just needed fresh air. I couldn't be in the station any longer. Parker caught my arm. Instead of speaking, he just tugged me back and into his chest as he hugged me tightly.

"Don't go." He whispered. "Not without me, at least." He continued. I nodded into his chest. I could feel my tears soaking onto his t-shirt.

"It's too much. I can't take it, Parker." I urged. "It's just one thing after another, and as soon as I see the light and the end of the tunnel, it disappears. I just want to be happy. Why can't I just be happy." He breathed deeply and hugged me tighter."

You will be happy." He said. "Let's get through this together. Bear with this whole thing. Life is taking you on a strange path to happiness. But I know when you get there, all that has happened will only make it better. A little bit more struggle, after that our happiness will be eternal." He promised and I faintly smile in his should as I look up to him."

Can we walk for a bit, please? I want fresh air right now." I asked.

"Of course." He smiled kindly. "Do you want to talk about it, or do you want me to distract you."

"Distract me." I replied with no hesitation.

It had been two hours. Parker and I had just wandered around the cold dark streets as he tried to cheer me up. He obviously made me feel better, as he always did, but then we the thoughts floated back into my mind, it was like a stab to the heart. I had hope she was lying, but deep down I just knew she spoke the truth. It lined up. I thought back to my childhood.

When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, I was broken. I remembered the day ever so clearly. My mother passed out when we were out together, she was taken in an ambulance to the hospital and I came with her. The hospital called my father to come, but he was too busy with work, as usual. 

The doctor came into the room with the lab results. My mother and I were hoping for the best, she told me she was going to be okay. But the doctor gave us the worst results we could have imagined. She had cancer. She wouldn't definitely die, there were still high chances she could survive. But she was going to pretty ill.

My father often complained about my mother. He hated her for not 'being a normal wife' as he put it. He wanted her to get involved in all the rich groups and circles, he wanted her to enjoy shopping and gossip, she wanted her to be the perfect little obedient wife. My mother was sweet and kind, but certainly not obedient. And she didn't enjoy the life she had been trapped in.

They couldn't get a divorce. Well, technically, yes they could, but my father didn't want that and he wouldn't allow it to happen. If he got a divorce, it would look bad for his reputation. They both wanted an escape from each other. My mother wanted freedom. My father wanted a wife that suited his lifestyle. But they were entrapped.

I was only young at the time, so I didn't think a lot of it. But looking back on the amount my father 'disappeared' and 'had places to be', I had no doubt he was having an affair. My mother didn't like my father, she probably hated him even though she would never say that, but she still would never have an affair.

It made sense in some ways. Why my father would want my mother's death. He wanted another wife without the negative publicity involved in a divorce. But death was extreme, and I couldn't comprehend the fact I had literally been living in a house with two murders. It made me want to roll up in a tiny ball and just vanish into thin air. 

So the question was not the motive that caused my father to do something so horrific and heartbreaking, it was how he did it. I thought my mother died of cancer. Yet, now I knew it was him that killed her, another memory I never thought much of reappeared in my mind.

I was young. It was during the time my mother had cancer. But it was also during the time it seemed her health was improving. The doctor predicted she would fully recover, and things were looking up. I was so happy because my mother meant everything to me, and I couldn't imagine living without her.

It was a sunny day, I had been playing in the garden when I came inside. My father was talking to a maid who had been helping my mother take care of herself. Due to her health improvement, she stayed at home at the time. I remembered the conversation I witnessed while neither one of them knew I was there.

"Isn't that very strong medication, Sir? Not to pry, I just thought..." The maid began to speak after my father passed her my mother's medication.

"The doctor prescribed it, it will help her condition improve." He replied quickly and sternly. "I know Sir, but I think because she took it on Thursday she only needs..." My father interrupted again. He wasn't polite to people he believed were below his class.

"I think I know when my wife took her medication, as well as how much she needs." The maid sheepishly nodded and walked away with the medication. That day, I didn't give a second thought to it. I skipped off again. It was a beautiful day, and I just wanted to play outside.

I began connecting more dots in my head as I thought back. It wasn't long after that day that my mother fell extremely ill again. Just when we thought she had been getting better. And a week after that she passed away. I snapped back into reality, I felt Parker's hand rubbing my back in comfort as I was standing idle and just thinking like a lunatic.

"You alright, Thunder?" He asked me.

"It's my father... My father overdosed my mother. That's what my stepmother was talking about. I am sure. It makes sense now."

ONE MORE EPISODE I'M GOING TO CRY WHATTTTTTT!!!!!

ahHHHhhhHHHhh

Okay... I need to calm myself :)

HOPE YOU ENJOYED :-D

- Rae