Not All Skin And Bones

"And They're Telling Me That They Like What I Do Now."

"Nate, sweetie, how was your time with daddy?" I spoke after a lingering silence. It was the only topic I could think of, and I knew that, as a good mother and the bigger person, I should ask about it.

Nate didn't look back at me as his eyes followed the blurring objects through the car window. "Fine." He forced out.

He was hiding some thing; a mother knows.

I asked again. "You didn't do anything special?" I pressed.

Nate shook his head and continued to look away. Out into the world, with troubled, distant eyes, he stared off. I looked back and forth between him and the road in front of me; hoping to play my cards right and get a confession.

Nate was usually so talkative about his dad when given the "ok."

I reached my free hand over to Nate's knee and rubbed my thumb in soft circles. "Nate- honey- what's wrong?" I glanced over to him. The shadows fell across his face as his head hung in despair, he was holding onto something, something wrong.

"Macky came." He spoke just above a whisper.

My breath hitched in my throat."Wha-"

Nate whimpered and forced out words above the knot in his throat. "He's back mom."

Vulnerably matching my gaze, with tears streaming fast and freely down his cheeks, he continued to swallow and breath heavily. He knew too well that the sight of Macky was not the sight of his father getting better. "Mom they're gonna take him away again, mom. Mom they're gonna- they're gonna-" He began to hyperventilate, I immediately pulled over to the side of the road, worried for my son's mental health. He was nearly recovered until now.

I breathed alongside him.

I regained myself before speaking to my son, who was already beginning to fall apart. Unbuckling my seat belt, I set my hands on his shoulders and adjusted his entire body towards me to grasp his full attention. "Nate," I spoke with stern reassurance, "it's gonna be alright..."

"Tell me everything."

*** Nate's POV ***

"I'll take an ice water, please."

The lady nodded and, rather cheerfully, pranced her fingers along the register buttons, creating somewhat of a rhythm in doing so. "Alright!" She chirped, "and can I get your name?"

"Na-" Shit. "Jack."

She smiled uneasily. A hooded man who can't remember his name and only came for ice water- good god- I could only imagine the fear running through her. That is, of course, if she's clever enough to relate it to something as drastic as that, which I doubt.

Sometimes I forget that the rest if the world isn't as negative.

She doodled my name in stereotypical, girly handwriting across the cup. Her long ponytail swung behind her as she bobbed her head up and down, as if horribly imitating the action of coloring in a children's play.

I wriggled my fingers inside my sweater pockets as I waited. Tapping my foot to the irritating harmony of yet another one-hit pop-wonder on the radio.

The chattering of coworkers bickered and bounced off the walls. The rustling of aspiring screenplays and writers battled each other in an attempt to flood the room with their commotion. It gave me a headache.

"Here you go," She paused, "Jack." and winked.

I grimaced and raised my cup to her. She was much to young for me to even remotely find that flattering. "Thanks."

Disturbed, I placed the straw between my middle and ring finger of my right hand while firmly taking hold of the cup from the lid. Then, I took a sip, and made my way out the door.

Surprisingly, I made it through a Coffee shop without any troubles- wow- that's a first.

What do you expect though, there's adults here, they don't know a thing about fun. (No pun intended)

I sat down on a nearby bench; probably getting a little too arrogant with my cover up. It's only a hoodie after all.

"Are you Nate Ruess," a voice stammered. "or an insane look-alike?"

I lightened my attitude for whom was obviously a fan. "Evil twin." I teased.

The girl smiled. She had pointed shoes and short, pitch-black hair. She had the pixie hairdo, and the pixie look. "I'm Samantha." She grinned even wider. "I love your band. Can I take a quick video of you saying hi to my little brother? He loves you more."

I scratched the back of my head. "Um."

"Please." She moved closer. "He cares for you so dearly, and I don't think he'll make it through the night and-"

I smiled and stopped her. "Don't worry. I was gonna say yes."

Her face lit up as she rapidly fumbled for her iPhone in the inner of her jacket pocket. "His name's Connor."

"Connor." I repeated. "Alright, cool. Tell me when."

I grabbed the phone which had already started recording. "Oh! Hi Connor. It's Nate, from fun." My smile grew wider and more genuine with each passing phrase. "I just wanted to say that your sister here asked me to wish you the best and..." I looked up and swallowed at the sight of this young girl, with her hands pressed to her face, fighting back tears of unconditional joy. "... and I really hope you get well soon."

I should say more. Donate money. Tell him I have a gift. Do a private concert.

But then I pressed end and handed her the phone.

"Thank you so much Nate," I shrugged; disappointed in myself. "Oh- he's gonna love this. Thank you, thank you."

I didn't deserve the "thanks", so I reacted as if she had never even said such words. I changed the topic. "You said he wouldn't make it through the night? Why?"

She stared back at me and shook her head. "I'm not compatible. His kidney's are failing."

"Isn't there-"

"He also has a heart condition." she continued, already knowing my next choice of words. "The surgery would be 'so, very, risky,' at least, that's how they put it. Every option you could think of I've already looked into. There just isn't a way."

I could hear the resentment in her voice. "It isn't fair. It's like- it's almost like... " she paused and bit her lip before finishing. "It's like he's meant to die."

Her eyes were cloudy. "What kind of a life is that for a child? What kind if a god would grant a fate like that?"

I thought about consoling her but I didn't have any words of wisdom so i rested my hand on her shoulder and transferred what little strength I had left into her. It was enough. She smiled.

"Thank you, Nate. Because of you, it doesn't matter when he dies, because of you: he has lived."

...

Sorry for not updating in 5ever- I've been so so busy and have had no time to really edit this so sorry if it's absolutely horrid /.\ kind of a sad chapter. But don't worry- it gets better !!! (Hehe :p no fun reference intended) love you all! Vote- comment- all that good stuff n_n peace!

~ thegreenofyoureyes