Charlie Rose

five

The ambulance came in and out, police were talking to me, I wasn't listening. I was in shock. I didn't cry I hadn't moved since I called. She died. Loss of blood and it was my fault. If I hadn't left then she would be alive and we would all be a happy family again. I just want everything to be back to normal.

"Charlie, are you ok?" A man asked, he was an ambulance guy and he seem okay. He had the calmest voice and it soothed me. I spoke back.

"I don't know." I wasn't sarcastic.

"I feel guilt and that is it."

It was true, I am guilty.

"That's ok. After time the guilt will go away. It wasn't your fault. If you hadn't of left, then maybe it could have been you."

He left. A police officer came over and he looked a lot meaner, he had an arched eyebrow and probably a bleached arsehole.

"Did you do it?" He said in a mean, angry voice.

"Are you fucking serious, do you think I am capable of killing my mother?!" I said it so angrily.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?"

"I'll take over." It was another man, he gave the first officer a death stare and me a smile.

"I'm sergeant Due. Would you like to answer some questions?" He had a familiar voice. He looked familiar too. Where have I seen him at?

"Sure."
"Can you tell me what you found when you came in?"

He asked me routine questions then he told me this.

"You are very brave, my daughter Brandie would probably panic a lot seeing as she is bipolar.
Brandie. Bipolar?

"Um yeah I go to school with Brandie."
"Are you her friend? She has trouble making friends because of her bipolar."
"Yeah you could say that."

He smiled and left. Why didn't she tell me?

*****

I slept alone last night. No mum so I was alone. Social services said that now I was 16, I am able to take care of myself. I don't want to take care of myself, I want my mum. I still hadn't cried. I wasn't going to school tomorrow, I don't feel like a hundred questions from everyone and those 'OMG her mum died' looks.

I woke to a knock at the door. It was Cindy, mums lawyer. She was mums lawyer when she got divorced. She is also a very good friend of ours.

"Hi Charlie."

"Um, hi"

"I'm here to organise your mothers will and I was wondering if you needed a hand with the funeral? I can help pay and organize things if you like?"

I hadn't even thought about that yet. I gave off a puzzled look.

"Can I come in?"
I let her in. We sit and I put the jug on and make her a cuppa. (Tea in Australia)

"On this statement, you mother has given everything to you, everything she owned is now legally yours. You can do whatever you want with it."