Redeemed

| Chapter 5- Caleb |

| 12-25-17 |

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope y'all had/have a blessed day! 

I'm back with a new chapter of Redeemed so I hope y'all enjoy it ^.^

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| Chapter 5- Caleb |

"I think a talk with Dr. Brynes is in order," my mother coos softly as she brushes a lock of hair from my face before placing a cup of steaming 'rise like a star' tea. It was a homemade concoction she made from her teenage years that helped relieve fatigue. She would always make it for me when I was younger and even to this day I hate the taste.

"I don't think so. I'm handling it," I respond as I take a sip of the horrid tea. I probably sound like a picky child but one cannot help the taste they don't like.

"Just look at yourself Caleb! How are you handling yourself? You've lost a lot of weight, haven't had a decent sleep in four years, and you live holed up like a badger," she exasperates with her hands raised upwards. "So no, you're not handling yourself."

I keep quiet and continue sipping my tea. I know my mother means well. She always does. If there was one person who was hit as hard as me in my sudden loss, it was her. She loved Kaleigha like her own flesh and blood. She welcomed her with opened arms and treated her as her own. She was beyond excited when she found out she was to be a grandma. Everything was set. And then the accident happened.

My grip on the teacup tightened and I found myself spiraling back into darkness. Kaleigha's screams, doctors pushing me out, me trying to come back in all flood my thoughts. Her frantic look as she cries for me and our baby, Adeline. Doctors promising false lies that the two of them would be okay. Me broken when the news comes that they were unsuccessful.

"Caleb!" my mother shouts just as the hot tea I had in my grasp spilled all over my lap. I hiss and stand up while my mother runs with a damp towel in my direction. She pats my pants down with her lips pressed in a thin line.

"I'll go make an appointment tomorrow," I whisper in a thick voice. My mother looks up and I find tears swimming in her own eyes. She pulls me into a tight hug and I let my tears flow quietly into her shoulders. My body is shaking with the sobs and her hold on me tightens.

"You will be okay eventually my son. You will crash right into someone else who will take your mind off the pain," she whispers and I groan and shake my head before pulling back.

"No one can or will replace Kaleigha," I snap with angry tears swimming in my eyes. She gives a sad and teary-eyed smile while shaking her head.

"No. No one can replace her but you will find love again," she corrects before drying her eyes with the ends of her apron and turning her back to me. 

I can't help but disagree with her. No one in this town would want to mess with me. They know my story. They've seen the scars. Why would they want to mess with something nonredeemable?

Because they aren't fools, inner me whispers and I agree with it yet again. 

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I gotta admit. Sometimes I find myself tearing up when I work on this story. Especially Caleb's perspective. Anywho, vote, comment, and let me know what you think! Thanks and Merry Christmas once again!