Wicked Obsession

18.

Friday, July 19th

"I grew up in this city with my mom, my dad was never around and she didn't have any other family. I asked my mom about my father once and all she said is that it was for the best. I could tell she didn't like talking about it so that was the last I brought it up."

I swallow hard and take a deep breath, trying to keep my emotions in check before I continue.

"I was 10 when it happened, we were just driving home from school like we normally do. I remember we were signing along to some old eighties song and then all of a sudden, the car was sliding out of control. I remember hearing her scream my name and the freight in her eyes as the car flipped. The angle that it was at when we hit the ground again shattered the front windshield and caused her neck to jerk to the side.

"When the car finally came to a stop, there was this buzzing in my ears and my head was cloudy from being hit so many times. It was quiet and calm as if time had paused to take a breath, waiting for my reaction. After my head cleared, I cried for my mom to turn around but she wouldn't. I struggled against my seatbelt and finally managed to work my way into the front seat."

I pause and let out a shaky breath and roughly wipe a tear from my eye.

"Her neck was thrown to the side and a shard of glass was stuck in the middle of her throat. Her eyes were wide with that same fear I had seen before, her mouth slack as if she was cut off mid- scream. I shook her over and over but she would respond to me. It wasn't long before sirens split open the air and the shrill of them matched my own screams.

"I remember I kept calling out to her over and over as the paramedics took me away. I clawed and thrashed against them and as they strapped me to a bed they sedated me. Next thing I knew, I was in a hospital bed. I asked the nurse where my mom was but she wouldn't answer me. That's when I knew I was an orphan.

"A case worker came to see me the next day and explained that I would have to live in the city orphanage until someone adopted me. A few days later she took me to my old house and I packed my things. They put my mothers belongings into a storage unit and gave me the key once I turned 18 but haven't used it...

"As I got older no one ever adopted me and I started asking questions about what happened that day. Anyone I asked told me the same thing: that it was an accident and the car that hit us drove away. Me being me, I didn't accept that so I started digging. At that age I never found out anything and when I got older everything about it had been buried or forgotten. I never figured out what really happened that day but I did learn to protect myself from the cruelty of the Seattle streets both mentally and physically. I also promised myself that I'd always fight for the truth while it still matters and that is what lead me to wanting to be a reporter. So..." I shrug, finally meeting his eyes. "Yeah, here I am now I guess."

Harry studies me and looking for what, I have no idea but I do my best to remain as guarded as possible.

"You never stop surprising me. I'm not particularly fond of surprises." Her murmurs, running a hand through his hair as he pull his brow together falling into deep though about something.

We remain silent until a waiter comes out and serves our entree. My mouth is watering and I forget about the uneasy tension and quickly scoop some of the food into my mouth. My eyes roll back into my head as the heavenly food satisfies every taste bud.

Harry chuckles and shakes his head as he takes a bite of his own food. "So human." I think I hear him say but I can't be sure so I choose to ignore it and continue on with my next question.