Not Set In Stone

The intervention period was a tough one but all seemed to be going well. Since she was released from the hospital, your mother has kept her word and has gotten help with her alcoholism, slowly whittling down the number of bottles that she drinks. She kept her word to you, it wasn't just a lie, she was really trying to better herself after having such a near miss with death. It showed her just how fragile her life was and the two of you have been able to bond more.

It's strange really, for years you have grown up having to take care of the both of you: you were the one to cook the food, you were the one to do the washing, you were the one who made sure your mother was still breathing and draped a blanket over her when she passed out drunk. For years that was the case but now she was being a genuine mother to you, she hugged you, she said she loved you, she treated you as if you were actually her son and not a burden on her shoulders. It was a nice feeling to know that the one parent you had actually cared.

As well as the development in the relationship with your mother, you have also been working hard with your classes and building up a more positive reputation at school. Yes there were still the sceptics of your change of heart, yes there were those who didn't fully trust you but that didn't bother you. In fact, you've actually managed to make a few decent friends, people who didn't just use you like the people in J.C's gang. To have people who genuinely wanted to be around you, to have people who you could call friends was a nice luxury to have after being the person you used to be.

So much in your life has changed, so much was different now, so much was better for you now and you had one person to thank for it all. Lizzie had stuck by you for so long, she never gave up on you even as you tried to push her away; you tried to make her give up on you, you tried to convince her that you weren't worth the trouble. And yet she still stood by and helped you find a new way, she taught you to live each day like it was your last.

That was why you were sitting in the living room waiting for her. After a long day of classes and a shift at your job before visiting your mother to check on her, it was nice to see Lizzie's face. Seeing her walk through the front door again is a nice way to settle at home for the day so you greeted her as she walked in and she smiled before joining you in the living room. The two of you had picked up the habit of just cuddling up to each other on the sofa, a blanket draped over the two of you so as Lizzie sat by your side she tugged the cover over your lap and asked how your visit to your mother's place went.

You explained how she was making a lot of progress with her alcoholism. "She's cut down to only four bottles a day, it was so much worse before but she's done incredible to reach this far, she's actually made it so I'm proud to call her my mum" you said and Lizzie smiled as she hugged you, kissing your cheek before pecking your lips as she put on some music.

"Huh, figures this is the one playing" you chuckled softly as My Escape played. "I would have never knew how much a song could be relevant before all this, you helped my find a new way, you taught me to live each day like it's my last, you were my escape from a life I would have hated, just like how the song goes" you said as Lizzie smiled up at you. She leaned up and kissed you again, saying how she would stay with you to the very end at the same time the same line was sung which you both laughed at.

These gentle moments are certainly ones to live for, you've come to appreciate that fact greatly thanks to Lizzie. You've come to find a life that was worth living rather than one that was ultimately wasted.

"Seriously though, I owe you so much, had it not been for you then I could be in prison for a long time right now, had it not been for you then I wouldn't have the relationship I do with my mum, you never gave up on me and helped me find a new way, I don't think I'll ever be able to repay that" you said as she held a hand to your cheek, caressing your face as she smiled at you. There was so much love in that smile as you looked at her face before she leaned forward and kissed you, it was short but sweet.

As the kiss parted back, Lizzie finally spoke again to say that you just proved her point along. Contrary to how things may have been before, you were a good person at heart, you were just dealt a rough hand at life and made poor decisions. But that didn't matter now. You were better now.

That was the lesson you had come to learn; the person you were before doesn't define who you could be now. You were once a delinquent who got in trouble all the time, you sought validation from the wrong place, you were on a terrible path in life but it is different now. Now you were an outwardly good person, you had people who genuinely cared about you and who supported you, you were now on a better path all because someone took a chance and stuck with you even as you tried to push them away.

It just goes to show that how you live your life is not set in stone.

A/n and that's the last chapter for the main story of this book. However, for those who remember my old account with the oneshot book I had, there was a chapter was basically the inspiration for this one, a chapter with a fast forward in the future with Lizzie being pregnant. Should I rewrite that oneshot as an epilogue chapter for this book? Or should I just leave it at this? Let me know what you think. Anyway hope y'all enjoyed and as always till next time peace out.