Crystal's Saviour

16

I groaned and pulled the covers over my head when someone knocked on the door. "Aiden!" Mom yelled.

I pulled the covers closer to my face and tried to block the voice out. I heard the door creak open and footsteps approaching me.

"Aiden Jenson, I've been knocking on this door for 10 minutes now." Mom sighed and sat down beside me on the bed. I pushed the sheet off of me and looked at her.

My eyebrows creased when I saw her pale and tired face.

"Where were you,mom?" I sat on the bed, resting my back against the headboard and looking at her.

"I was with a friend." She fiddled with her fingers.

"Really, mom? You really thing I'll buy this lie?" I crooked my neck and looked at her.

"What lie? I was with a friend." She tried to play it off cool with a fake smile but she knew she couldn't lie to me.

"Mom." I held both of her hands and made her look at me. She was continuously avoiding eye contact and I knew something was off.

"What wrong, mom?" My heart was beating wildly in my chest. I knew something was wrong.

"Aiden, it's nothi-" she started to say another lie but I stopped her.

"Mom, please. I know it's not the truth. Tell me what's going on. Are you okay?" I looked at her and she nodded slowly. "I'm fine, honey."

"Mom, stop it please. Tell me what's going on." I scooted closer to her and held her hand tightly.

"Aiden, I..." She couldn't speak. Tears started to fall down her eyes and my breath hitched. "Mom." I gasped and pulled her in a hug.

"Mom, what's going on? Why are you crying?" I asked as she sobbed in my arms.

After a while she pulled away and wipped her tears away. "I went to the doctor."

"And?" I asked. "And.. I'm not okay." She looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"What? What do you mean?" My heart was going wild in my chest and it felt like it's going to jump out any minute now.

"I've been not well lately because of..your dad. I worry alot and.. stuff. That all is messing with my head and it can be dangerous for me. The doctors gave me some medicines to.. relax my brain cells and told me not to worry buy it's.. impossible not to worry when I'm living with your dad." Hearing this left me speechless. I didnt know what to say.

Seeing mom in so much pain broke me. I knew she was hurting but I couldn't do anything. I hated myself for being useless and not helping and protecting mom.

"Mom, that's it." I wipped the tears away that rolled down my cheek. "What?" She asked, wipping away her own tears with the sleeves of her sweater.

"You're not living with him anymore." I said and she started to protest but I cut her off immediately.

"No. I'm not hearing anything anymore. You're not living with him. We're not living with him. It's not okay for you to stay around him." I said angrily.

"Aiden, that's not how things work, honey." She cupped my face in her hands.

"I don't care how things work! That man is toxic for you. Can't you see that?" I yelled.

"He's eating you up alive. Just look at yourself, mom. Look what he has done to you. He made you sick!" I breathed heavily as I tried to control my tears.

"Aiden, calm down." She rubbed my arm but that wasn't helping.

"No, mom. I've made my decision. We're not staying here anymore. I'll talk to my friend tomorrow, his dad is a state agent and he can help us rent a house." I said and started to get off the bed but mom held my hand.

"Aiden, sit down and listen to me."

"Mom, I don't know why you're not ready to leave him, there must me a reason but it's okay if you want to keep it to yourself but I can not let you suffer anymore! I won't let you suffer anymore. I've promised myself to protect you and stop being useless."

"Aiden! You're not useless. Don't ever think like that again and listen to me!" She raised her voice, trying to shut me up.

"Oky." I sighed and shut my eyes. Mom held my hand and said. "It's not easy to just go away, Aiden. Your dad...he means so much to me and I just can't leave like this, alright?"

"But he's toxic for you." I whispered.

"I know but we'll make things work. He knows about my condition and maybe he'll think about it and stop giving me all those troubles."

"I don't think he cares, mom. I don't think he ever will." I sighed.

"Aiden, just leave it to me okay? Stop worrying about it. Things will be better soon."

"How can you still love him after everything he has done to you?" My voice broke.

"Everything will me okay. Just trust me, aright?" she said and I nodded my head slowly.

Suddenly my phone beeped. I looked over to the night stand and told hold of my phone.

"How are things between you two?" Mom asked when I opened Crystal's message.

Hey!
Can you pick me up for school tomorrow? Only if it's okay.

"Yeah, mom. We're good friends." I told mom, writing a reply to Crystal.

Sure, I'll pick you up around 7.30.

"So, when are you making a move?" Mom smiled and looked at me.

"Not this soon." I chuckled and shook my head.

"It's not soon, Aiden. You should ask her out. See if she likes you back."

"Sure, mom." I rolled my eyes and she laughed.

"I'm so proud of you, Aiden. I know you will take care of this girl. I'm so glad you didn't turn out like him." She smiled.

"I will never be as heartless as him. I promise you."

"I'll leave you two alone now. I love you." She kissed my head and walked out of my room.

"I love you too, mom."