From the Life of Riley Black

Chapter One

Chapter One

Riley Black

She knocks on her mother's door twice and waits until she hears the faint 'come in' from inside. When she steps in, her mother appears slightly appalled. She stumbles a little upon taking her next step into the neatly furnished bedroom, but only because they yelled too loud. She knows she might not be successful. She knows the news might be too much to handle. Riley Black is aware of all the consequences and what this might lead to.

She knows she will be the one to end it.

You KILLED him, Riley! You are a MURDERER.

"Mom," she says. Her voice is weak. She has not spoken in a while. She is more familiar with her pen and paper. She wishes she had them with her. "Do you..." she wonders if she should go straight to the point. She wonders if it will be too much for her mother. "Do you remember Noah?"

Celeste stops in her tracks. She's not sure, but Riley is sure she's seen her blink back tears rapidly. Her mother turns to her, her expression that of cluelessness. Riley doesn't remember her mother being so good at hiding her true feelings. She knows she doesn't want her to remember, yet she has to if she is to go on with her plan.

"Noah?" She asks. "You know someone named Noah? Is he a friend?" She continues to organize her dresser. Riley notices her mother isn't looking her in the eye anymore.

"Mother," she walks up to her mother with the confidence she'd been mustering during her time in the asylum. "Do you remember Noah? You remember Noah, don't you?" she grabs her arms and turns her to face her. She doesn't mean for it to be forceful, but it is. She sees the fear in her mother's eyes. She wishes her heart would break, but it has become solid, only a few things can penetrate.

"Riley, please."

"I'm not going to hurt you, Mom. I might be crazy, but I am not a lunatic. I just need you to answer some questions for me." Her voice is soft and soothing. "How did Noah die, Mom? And I need to know some more things, too." She knows how he dies, of course, but she wants to take things slow. She leans in closer to her mother's ear and whispers. "I know you know what's wrong with me, Mom. I need you to tell me everything you know."

She always wonders why her mother is so paranoid. She's noticed her mother's anxiety had reached its peak whe she returned. She knows something, she thinks, but she's not sure what exactly she knows.

Her mother pushes her away, tears already streaming down her face. "That asylum clearly did nothing for you! Riley, go. I don't know what the hell you're going on about." She's searching frantically for her phone. Riley won't stop her, because she knows her mother will eventually give in.

"Mom," she sighs. "Tell me what is wrong with me. You know how Noah died, too. You know I'm only trying to end this." Riley says. She knows it would get her mother's attention.

"End this? There is no way to end it. How exactly do you plan on ending it?" Riley smiles as soon as her mother's smile drops. "No. I won't allow this." Celeste rushes to her. "You are my only daughter," she pulls her to her chest and buries her face in her neck, "my flesh and blood. I won't lose you like this."

"You know it's the only way for me to be at peace, Mom."

Celeste pulls away. "I know, I-I'm sorry, Riley. I didn't think it would be this bad for you, and this early. I didn't think it would come this fast and strong. Your father's condition only started shortly after I married him."

"My father? He had this thing, too?" Her mother gestures to her bed.

"Sit down, my child. I think it's time I explain everything to you."