♰ᕈᒪᗩﬡTᓰﬡᘐ ᔕᙓᙓᖙᔕ

Midnight Prayers

{Mother's POV}
I had woken up in the middle of the the night. I felt extremely dizzy and my vision was blurry. How long have I been sleeping? Why was I sleeping? I can't even remember anything that had happened today. I rubbed my eyes and shook my head. But I felt so sick to my stomach. I suddenly got an unpleasant urge in my stomach. I quickly got up and ran to the bathroom. I had thrown up and I felt so horrible. I sighed and returned to the couch and rested my body. Gosh why do I feel so terrible? Then I noticed the three empty alcohol bottles on the table in front of me. Oh now I remember. I was drinking earlier. I completely forgot.
My stomach started to hurt again. And so I had vomited once again. I think I got some kind of alcohol poisoning. I needed something to tone it down. So I went to the kitchen and got some medicine. And as I was searching the cupboard, I had seen something unexpected sitting on the counter. A pot of flowers. A pot of beautiful purple flowers which I had no idea where they came from. I looked at them confusedly. But I walked up the pot and observed the flowers. I felt the soft, dark pigmented petals. I smelled the fresh scent of the soil. I recognized these flowers. Iris. I know a lot of the specific names of different flowers. I'm a big fan of them. Especially during the springtime. I smiled at them and I noticed a white piece of paper was stuck between two stems. I took it out and before I threw it away, I noticed it had writing written on it.
It had said: "I thought you would like these flowers to brighten up your day. Do you remember when dad and I brought you flowers at the hospital when Hayes was born? I will always remember your beautiful smile when you received them. And how happy you were~Love Adrian"
I was totally shocked by what I just read. It was true. I really do have a passion for flowers. And many other things. But I guess I became distant with those passions. Why is she always writing me these kind of messages? I just don't understand. There's obviously something that's bothering her. Have I been taking my drinking problem too far? Yes it must be. I know I haven't been very focused lately. I can understand why she would be so upset with me. And too be honest I'm not seeing any progress with it either. I can see what she's trying to do. She's trying to get me to stop all of this. Trying to get me to stop drinking, being distant from her and Hayes, being irresponsible. In my heart I feel that I haven't been that bad towards them. I just have discipline. I don't mean to hurt them. Ah I don't know. I'm just so confused with everything right now. I'm just going to rest my head a little longer.

{Hayes's POV}
I was standing on my tiptoes on a little stool. I leaned over the bathroom sink as I thoroughly brushed my teeth. I made sure to scrub each tooth to make them strong and healthy. Adrian always makes sure I'm keeping up with my hygiene. She has a strict rule with me taking a bath everyday, brushing my teeth twice a day, and washing the dirt off my face. Yeah it's really annoying but I'm used to it by now. She's just trying to be a good sister. I'm actually glad she's looking after me. Almost like a mother. Why doesn't mother ever have concerns with my healthiness? I counted to 30 and spit it out. I smiled at the mirror to see my progress. Ah I did a good job. They seriously sparkled!

I flicked off the light and jumped in my bed.
"Adrian! Come kiss me goodnight!" I called for her.
"Coming!" I heard her footsteps echo in the hallway. I quickly hid under the covers and tried to keep myself from giving myself away. I heard her walk through my doorway. Then a moment of silence.
"Hmm geez I have no idea where Hayes could be hiding," she whined.
Her footsteps got closer.
"Well that's an odd lump coming from under the bed. Could it be a raccoon? A little cub perhaps?" She asked worriedly. Then I felt repeated poking at my back.
"Ya! Are you a raccoon? Get out of here you stinky raccoon!" She started to shove me. I couldn't help from laughing. I let out a muffled chuckle and I was caught.
"Aha! I found you," she exclaimed as she threw back the covers.
I jumped up and pouted at her.
"Dangit, I tried so hard to stay quiet for at least 15 seconds," I said as I crossed my arms in frustration.
She laughed and said, "Don't pout, I really did think there was a wild animal in the room," she told me wide eyed. I had a feeling she was kidding though.
"I know you're lying," I said and stuck out my tongue.
"Me? Lie? I would never!...okay fine I lied," she said as she lowered her head.
"Ha, I knew it! I could just see it in your eyes."
She started to giggle and said, "Alright get to bed little one, we have school tomorrow."
So I leaned back in bed and she laid the covers over me. She hugged me tightly and kissed my cheek.
"Goodnight baby have a sweet dream," she smiled as she started to walk away. But something was missing.
"Wait Adrian, what about the goodnight prayer?" I asked.
She slowly turned back around and gave me a thoughtful look.
"Oh um of course. Would you like to start it off for us?" She said bending next to me.
"Can I! Okay hmm give me a second to think," I said as I rubbed my head thinking of a way to start it. Then I came up with something.
"Dear Jesus," I began.
"I want you to know how thankful I am to have such a pure and loving sister. She helps me get through the day without worries. She takes good care of me and makes sure I'm safe. Thank you for giving me my own guardian angel. But don't you think there's another woman in my life that's also special to me? My mother. I love my mother. But I think a piece of her is missing. She is not the same as she used to be. Well at least how she was in all of the incredible stories Adrian tells me about her. She treats both Adrian and me in such a poorly way. The other day, she said a prayer to me before I slept. That was the first time in a long time that she's been kind to me. Please Jesus, just help my mother become complete and devoted again. Tell her to stop sleeping all day. Tell her to stop drinking those large bottles full of--well I don't know what they are full of. And also to help my father to stop being afraid of mother. And let him be at home more often and show love to the family. Please help us to find the missing pieces. And then will I be the most happiest boy on Earth. Amen."

I looked down at Adrian, and saw her face buried in her knees, her body shaking, and heard the sound of her faint cries.

{Adrian's POV}
I don't mean to be crying so much lately. But I just lost it when Hayes started to pray to Jesus, asking for him to glue the family back together once again. I've never heard him speak like that before. He sounded so mature and passionate. As he said it, I heard his voice start to shake. And considering Hayes has never actually seen mother happy before, it truly breaks my heart. I can tell that that is all he's asking for right now. Just a happy and peaceful family. It has been a dream of mine for a long time now. And I know he's going to need a little help with getting his prayers answered.
"That was beautiful Hayes. Jesus is surly to make things better soon. Goodnight honey," I said with a sincere smile and gave him one last kiss before I left the room.

I quietly walk towards my bedroom and laid in bed completely exhausted.

I closed my eyes and tried to go to sleep. But I couldn't sleep with the repeated voices of Hayes in my head.

Please Jesus. Tell her to stop. I'll become the happiest boy on Earth. Show love to the family. A piece of her is missing.

I tossed and turned on my bed. I laid on my stomach, and covered my ears with the pillow. But the voices got louder and louder.

Please help us to find the missing pieces.

"Ugh I can't take it." I said as I sat back up, frustrated.

I knew a way to help get rid of the voices however. I pulled out the first holy communion box from under my bed. I take out my crucifix, and a photo I found of me and the whole family on that day.

I walked down the staircase and I noticed it was completely quiet throughout the house so I made sure to be careful where I stepped.
I pass by the den and I saw my father sleeping soundly on the couch. I decided to close his door so I wouldn't wake him.

I enter into the dining room and laid out the crucifix and photo on the family table, in which we hardly ever eat together as a family anymore.
It was pretty dark in the room so I turned on a nearby nightlight. It wasn't too bright but just enough to see around the room.

I wanted to place the crucifix somewhere where I can look up at it, like you would a normal crucifix.
So I took down a decoration from the wall and replaced it with the crucifix.
I had no intentions of what I was about to do, but it just sort of happened.

I knelt down on the large dining room rug. I was holding the family photo quite tightly in my hands and looked up at the cross. And tears just started to well up in my eyes.
"Please dear Lord, answer my brother's prayer. He needs his mom and I need her too. We are in desperate need of your help. And the help of Blessed Mary to pray for my family," I said out loud.

I started to say a couple words from Hayes's prayer out loud. As I repeated his prayer, I heard tapping of tears drop on the photo still in my hands. Half an hour went by, and I slowly started to drift into a deep sleep.

I laid over on my side and the depressing voices of Hayes, were replaced with peace and quiet.