Oreo

Chapter 33: Vulnerable

Just wanted to share with all of those who arent even reading this book that I JUST GRADUATED THE OTHER DAY WOOHOOOOOOOO!!!

I meant to post this on the 8th right afterwards but my aunts and uncles threw a fun afterparty for me so I guess I just got caught up in that ;P

Also, small trigger warning.  Sorry, I suck at those
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Romeo's POV~

"Excuse me, but- what?" Emotion finally struck me as I couldn't believe the words that came out of her mouth. The soft moment ended abruptly once she leaked the additional, and quite frankly unexpected, news.  If her heart condition wasn't enough to worry about, then a one way ticket to stressville had been bought and sold to lead me on another unforseen adventure.  I rubbed my face with my hands, turning away so I could try to calm my angsting nerves.  Don't lose your temper, dumbass, or she might have another heart attack; try to stay calm; this outcome was kind of a given.

Avra sighed, hugging Angelos close to her as he played with her hair.  "I'm sorry, hun.  It's my fault for everything.  I should never have left your aparment that late at night, I shouldn't have let him..." Her words became soffocated as she tried to not let them quake from the incoming tears which were already breaching her eyes.

I wanted to comfort her.  I wanted to yell at her.  So many rallying thoughts were warring through my head that it caused my skull to pound with a manifesting migraine.  I couldn't yell at her because that wouldn't solve anything.  I couldn't comfort her because a part of me felt wrong to do so since I agreed.  It was her fault.  She let him stand on his own.  She hadn't even been holding his hand or trying to even make an effort to ensure he at least stayed by her side.  A small part of my mind wanted to blame myself for also not paying attention, but it was still her responsibility.  Her child.  Her baby.

Managing to (temporarily) round up my inner feelings, I released a tightly held breath and forced my shoulders to relax.  "... We'll figure this out, mom.  Just don't stress too much, please..."

My eyes finally found her again, seeing that Orion was sitting in the chair again, rubbing her shoulder in attempt to soothe her.  His expression was blank, eyeing her then watching the baby who was starting to nod off.

"It's so hard not to..." Mom went to argue, at which I just sighed.

"It won't do you any good at all to have a meltdown about it, or you'll have another heart attack.  Angelos doesn't deserve that, so we just have to be strong."

She finally bobbed her head in defeat, sniffling as she rocked her baby boy in the warmth of her arms.  There was a high likeliness that CPS would take him away so the anxiety for everyone in the room was smothering.  She didn't want to lose another son and I didn't want to lose another sibling.  Orion probably just felt sympathy for us both.

Another fuck up.  I told you so.

But the situation didn't help, watching my mother and brother was still like watching two strangers.  I felt the ties of being family, but for some strange reason it also seemed as if we weren't related at all.  Like we didn't know each other.  Of course.  I feel so alienated because of all the secrets that she has been withholding.  Heart conditions.  Children.  Boyfriends.  Family that went unmentioned for almost 20 years now.  What else is there that she won't tell me?  It isn't like I'll even bother asking, seeing as she won't care to tell even in a vulnerable moment such as this.  I'm just her failed expirement.  The son she gave up trying to raise, dropping contact and not even bothering to call days after the incident with dad.  Not bothering to return calls I'd sent while I was stuck with the bastard.  Whose to say she ever cared.  All she wants is to ensure her new son won't end up like me.  But now whose to say that won't happen.