(UNDERGOING REWRITE) Crime & Chaos [ ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ ]

Chapter 11: Cravings

A/N: I'm sorry for the late upload, I've been focusing on my other story. But I hope this satisfies hungry readers!

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Crime & Chaos

" CRAVINGS "

by alwaysgeia

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Julie sat on the edge of the couch, her camera resting on her lap, its familiar weight a small comfort in the otherwise tense atmosphere of the house. She glanced at the clock on the wall, the seconds ticking by slowly. Her mother was due to be discharged from the hospital any minute now.

The attack had left deep physical and emotional wounds on a woman already burdened by grief and resentment. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. She stood up quickly, her heart racing as her mother walked in, her movements slow and deliberate. She looked pale and tired, a contrast to her usual composed self.

"Mum?" She rushed over to help her with her bags. "Are you okay?"

Her mother waved her hand dismissively, her expression a mixture of exhaustion and irritation. "I'm fine, Julie. Nothing long-lasting."

Julie bit her lip, unsure of what to say. The tension between them was palpable, a silent reminder of their strained relationship. Ever since her father had died, things had never been the same. Her mother's subtle resentment had only grown stronger, and she could feel it in every interaction.

"Do you need anything?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. "I can make you some tea, or—"

"No, thank you," her mother interrupted, her tone sharp. "I just want to rest."

She nodded, stepping aside as her mother made her way to the living room. She watched as her mother sat down heavily in the armchair, closing her eyes for a moment before looking around the room.

"Where's your sister?" she asked, her voice tinged with bitterness. "Why isn't she here?"

Julie sighed, a familiar pang of sadness hitting her. "You know she lives in another city, Mum. She couldn't make it back in time."

Her mother scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "Of course. Always too busy for her own family."

There was no point in arguing. She knew her mother's resentment wasn't just about her sister's absence—it was about the fact that her father was gone and Julie was still here. Her sister had blamed their mum for the way dad's life ended. That because of their mum kicking him out of the house, he had been driven to take his own life, the final nail in the coffin of rejection. The unspoken truth hung heavily between them, a constant source of pain.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Julie asked softly.

Her mother shook her head. "Just leave me alone, Julie."

She stood there for a moment, feeling the sting of rejection. "Okay," she said quietly. "I'll be in my room if you need anything."

As she entered her room, she sat down on her bed, her camera still in her hands. She glanced at the photos she had taken earlier, trying to find some solace in the familiar activity. But her thoughts kept drifting back to her mother, and the chasm between them seemed impossible to bridge. She missed her father terribly. He had always been the one to bring a sense of warmth and stability to their family. Without him, everything felt off balance. Her mother's resentment only made it worse—a constant reminder that Julie could never fill the void left by his absence.