(Orion Ligh)
He looks peaceful, asleep, no one can tell that he is carrying so much weight. If it were any other day and I woke up nestled in his chest, I would have savoured this time and engraved it into my mind, but I can't. A storm is coming, I can feel it. As much as I want to stop myself from waking him up from whatever sleep he is in. I can't do that, we have to leave for the city to ensure his sister's safety.
I know how it feels to have siblings, I would do the same for them, even though they are too damn nosy, I love them. It pains me to wake him up from his sweet dream. He can't stop smiling. Whatever that dream is, he sure is enjoying himself more than one way. I have to wake him up from his sleep.
"Colt?" Shaking him awake, "You need to wake up."
His eyes flutter open, he stares at me, and pulls me closer to him.
"Are you really in my arms with me?"
He asks, his voice groggy.
"You should brush your teeth."
I half-heartedly joke, hoping it will lighten up the mood before reality finally sets in.
"We have to leave? Don't we?" I don't need to answer him. He moves swiftly to the bathroom to get ready. Time seems to be moving faster, and we're already approaching the city. The drive back is quiet, not filled with the banter we had when we were leaving to do our job. No music plays on the car ride.
We reach the hospital and immediately dash from the car to the hospital doors. Colton calls his parents to know where they are. The hospital still has that smell, it seems like the smell is stuck to it. People are moving each different ways, nurses and doctors hurrying to treat patients.
Twice, I've been here twice but the memory of the first time here makes a chilling shiver run down my spine. I'm safe, I tell myself. I don't register Colton dragging me to a private section of the hospital. All I know is that I'm in front of a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Colton. Her smile is warm, she extends her hand, and I grip it. At this point, my body is just moving on its own. I don't want to appear weird in front of her.
"Where is Quincy?"
Colton's question breaks the trance that I had entered into.
"She's in there with your dad. It's horrible, Colton. You should see her, she would want to see you."
Colton looks at me as if asking if I would be okay without him with his mother. Together, alone with her. I don't know the look I give him, but he chuckles before entering the room, leaving me with his mother. Well, isn't this nice?
This is awkward. We just kissed yesterday, and now I'm meeting the parents, smooth, real smooth. So what does one do in this scenario? Well, here goes nothing, pray, I hope I make a good impression. Should I check up on her? Ask her how she's holding up? Fuck what's the best question or something someone says in these situations? Fuck you, Colton, for leaving me here alone with your mother. What am I supposed to do now?
"Do you want to sit down somewhere? I know you don't know me, but you seem like you need it."
I know my voice comes out a bit nervous, but I hope my sincerity is conveyed in my voice.
She smiles at me and lets out a shaky breath.
"I saw a garden on our way here. I could use the scenery."
I follow right behind her, my palms sweaty. This is hard and not even called to the principal, kinda hard. This is too much, I don't know how to act.
As we are walking to the hospital garden, I notice a familiar small framed silhouette with black curly hair walking on the other end of the hallway, but it vanishes inside a room. Weird, maybe I'm just imagining things.
"I never got your name?"
Colton's mother asks. My name, why am I scared to tell her my name?
"It's Orion Ligh. Like the constellations."
Did I say the right thing? Fuck, I shouldn't have added the constellation part. Of course, she knows it's a constellation.
"Your name is beautiful. Did you know the constellation is named after a Greek god? Poseidon's son." She looks at me, and I'm bewildered at how she knows so much.
Scratch that, it seems like I have earned a point with his mother, I hope.
"I didn't know that, ma'am. I always thought it meant hunter."
"Oh, please, you can call me mum."
I stop on my track, digesting what she has just said. That was first. I thought she would insist on my referring to her name in a formal way. If only she knew what that word meant to me. Mum. I forgot what it is like to call someone like that.
"Okay, mum."
"Is something wrong?"
I don't dare to open my mouth. I'm afraid my voice might betray me. The only thing I can do is to nod my head and smile.
We make it to the gardens, and she ushers me to take a seat next to her. She studies me before offering a warm smile. Only a mother gives to their children. One I know too well, especially when your child is happy.
"I've never seen him so happy before, Colton, not even he could elicit such a demeanor from him." She takes my hand and places it on hers, "I like you, for my son."
I don't know why that makes me feel all soft and warm on the inside. I think I'm blushing from her comment. Do people do that? I want to cry, only tears of something else, not sadness, but something my inner child longed to hear for a very long time, and finally, they get to.
"Thank you."
I reply, pride evident in my voice. That's when I see my father, Richard. But what is he doing here? And where is she?
Colton's mother follows my line of sight and spots Richard. She turns back to me.
"Someone you know?"
"Yeah, my father, can you excuse me while I check up on him?"
She chuckles slightly. I can tell it's from my face, which shows anything but a serious look.
"Sure, go ahead, son, something tells me he is in trouble."
Ooh, he is in a lot of trouble, alright. I keep looking around for a small frame, but I can't see it anywhere. Did something happen to her? Is she sick? Why didn't he tell me anything? I would have gotten a notification if something had happened, though.