Bass Lessons ~ {Twiggy Ramirez}

Prologue.

Athena 

The drive home from my father's funeral was filled with  denial. Denial that he was actually gone, he couldn't actually be gone.  

Hearing my mothers voice in the car seemed so foreign to me. Since my dad died 2 and a half weeks ago, she has gone mute. I was already not close with my mom,  but, me being the only child, it was like I lost my mother too. 

It was a free for all. She cared little before, but all her cares went out with every sip of liquor she took. 

Although, I couldn't blame her, I have raised a bottle to my lips to try and cope with my problems, unfortunately, it just seems to make them worse. You see, alcohol makes my head fuzzy,  I can never think straight when I am drunk, and I always seem to do stupid things... 

Besides, I was 17, I didn't need to jeopardize my life like that, one wrong move and I could mess up everything. My grades, any chance of scholarship, and my entire life. 

Of course I didn't like my mother's alcohol abuse, and I'm not trying to justify it, but I really couldn't be too mad at her. 

It's not the way I would deal with things, but I do have to remember, we all grieve and we all cope differently, some try more stupid ways than others.  

I lean my head up against the window and stare out, watching the clouds go by, it was a dark and rainy day, how fitting for a funeral. 

The faint hum of the radio drowns out reality and I am submerged deep into my thoughts.

I think back to the funeral, watching my fathers chestnut coffin being lowered into the ground was like a slap to the face. Each time it was lowered another inch, was like another insult.  I felt so guilty.

Another mean comment, telling me this should have been me that died that night and not him. This man really didn't deserve anything he got. 

* * *  

He was robbed and shot on his way home at night by some thug.  I don't know exactly how everything went down, because I wasn't there, but I do remember somethings.

All that I remember, is, he was shot so close to home, that I heard the faint booms when I was getting ready for bed. 

I feel so guilty, though, because I didn't think anything of it. I didn't think those three gun shots that I heard were buried in my fathers chest. 

Considering it was so close to the Fourth of July, I just assumed that it was some kids setting off bottle rockets. 

I was home alone anyways, so I just slipped into bed. 

About half an hour later, there was a call on the family house phone. The ringing echoed though the halls and waked me from my sleep that I just slipped into. 

I stumble down the dark hall, and pick up the phone.

And I remember the conversation vividly 

"Hello?" I ask 

"Athena!" The voice sounded startled.

I then felt an uneasy feeling in my stomach, something had to be wrong. 

"Mom?" I ask scratching my head

It was late, and both my parents worked night shifts here and there for extra cash, I did find it odd that my father wasn't home yet, but I just assumed that he just stayed a little extra. 

"Baby, I need you to get in your car and meet me at the hospital.." She pauses "Can you do that honey?"

I sit there, taking in what she said. Was I hearing this right? The hospital? Surely I was dreaming