I'm still at the hospital, specifically beside Riele's hospital room door. I haven't left this place since I was sent out of the room by the nurse and how could I? I haven't felt this much guilt in a while and now that I do feel it, I don't know what to do

Snapping my head at the direction of the door, I was greeted by the doctor who came to take care of Riele. "Is everything ok Doc?" I asked in fear watching as the nurses left the room to other places.

"Please, no more news or information. Her body can't take it anymore. I'm afraid any more shocking news she receives again might cause her to die" he was cut off as I gasped, terrified

"Death?" I asked in disbelief to which he nodded

Hot salty tears began rolling down my cheeks in an uncontrollable manner. 'It's all my fault' I hiccuped feeling as the doctor rubbed my back comfortingly.

I never really had a genuine reason for telling her that. I was just being selfish; yes, I was selfish. I thought of myself first instead of considering others. Grandpa wouldn't have had me do that even if it did cost his life. He always said to put Jesus first, myself last and others in between, as the word *JOY* implies

"You ready?" I asked Shelby as she applied more lip gloss to her lips making it glossier than before. She nodded her head before walking out and with that I locked the gates to the company, pocketing the keys.

I stopped a taxi before ushering Shelby in and immediately, I entered with her. "Remind me again why we're going to the hospital?" Shelby asked, annoyance dripping from her tone

I frowned "We're going to the hospital to check up on Riele and the kids" but she pouted

"Why must we?" she whined throwing her head back against the seat catching the attention of the driver.

Muttering a quick sorry at the man, I glared at Shelby making her shrug. "She is my friend and as a GOOD friend it is my duty to visit her at her most vulnerable state" I said watching as her body reacted contrary to what I said

Hearing her mutter the word "OK", I looked out the window watching as various houses and cars passed by. Just then I saw some kids playing outside with their parents, screaming and running around making a smile etch unto my face

But something happened. I came across a small child painting with his fingers and showing his parents what he drew to which they smiled. Almost instantly, different memories flew to me and I wish they never did

"Hey mommy! Mommy. Come look at this. Look I painted this myself. It was all me. See" seven year old Jace ran full speed into his mom's room to find her counting a huge amount of money in her hands.

"What?! Can't you see I'm busy?" his mother snapped but as a little and innocent boy he didn't seem to realise or take notice of his mother's extreme hatred for him

"See this! Doesn't it look good? This is me, you and daddy with our pet Rufus. A happy family" he smiled goofily, looking down at his painting in adoration.

"Boy, when will you learn that your dad is never coming back. He left us both to fend and take care of ourselves. You can never get the happy family you desire" she snared at the poor boy causing tears to accumulate in the boy's eyes

"Now get that hideous thing out of my sight" she dismissed the boy. Immediately, the boy ran to his room with tears rolling down his cheeks at an uncontrollable pace.

"And done!" the thirteen year old boy smiled at his masterpiece. To be honest he had no idea what he drew but he didn't care. Painting, to him, is a way he could escape from the cruelty of the world.

"Jace! I need you to take out... What the hell is that?" his mother yet again barged into his room glaring at the picture on his painting stand with so much hatred.

"I don't know. Seems like a cat or so" he stroke his chin, tilting his head slightly to study the mysterious painting on his drawing paper

"What did we say about painting?" his mother came behind him before grabbing his ear, twisting it so hard it turned red. The boy sighed yet again not surprised by his mother's attitude to which he was very much used to

"WE didn't say anything. All I heard was you barking out words" he rolled his eyes as his mom let go of his tomato red ear.

"How dare you. I am here working myself out to take care of you ever since your god forsaken father left us for jail and you have no respect for me your mother" she said pointing her wrinkled fingers towards herself

"Work? Don't make me laugh dear MOTHER" he snickered

"You son of a... You can never get anywhere with this. I mean look at that thing, you call that painting?" she pointed at the weird looking cat

"As a matter of fact I do. Can you do yourself some good and leave the room please?" he ignored her before grabbing his painting. Flipping it over, he grabbed his pen before signing on it.

Sighing in relief at his achievement, he flipped the painting back before smiling at it and that was when he got interrupted "Jace Lee Norman. If you don't throw that thing out, I'll do it myself but I'll not only throw it out but I'll throw you out with it" his mother threatened

Frowning, he looked down at his painting then back at his mother. With tears in his eyes, he ran out of the room and of the building he used to call his home but is now merely a house. Running over to the dump behind his house, he placed his painting right beside the dumpster.

He wiped the tears from his cheeks "I hope you end up with someone good. I promise to find my way back to you, no matter where" as a young boy he didn't really know what what he said meant but eventually he did find his way back to it

Twenty seven year old Jace left work early to pick Riele at her place of work. Entering her office, he found her focused on the papers in front of her. "Hey Jace" she said looking up at him

A smile fluttered on his face "Hey baby".

"What are you doing here? You should be at work" she asked confused

"I know but I want to take you out" he said.

"Really?" she squealed as he nodded.

"Let's go" she got up excitedly when his eyes caught something in the room

"What's that?" he pointed at the painting on the wall of her office.

"Oh just a painting I bought. Why are you asking?" she asked. Walking over to it, he pulled it off the wall and flipped to the back and surprisingly found his signature on it.

"This is my painting" he whispered in disbelief

"Yours?" she asked walking over to him

"Yes, I used to paint when I was young but then my mom said I couldn't get any where with it so I stopped. This was the painting I was working on that day, when she said it I went to dump it somewhere. I can't remember where. But why did you buy it?" he asked looking at her

"I don't know it was like a force of attraction" she said and he couldn't love any woman more than he loved her right now. He dropped the painting before pulling her by the waist closer to himself, kissing her passionately.

He put all his emotion in the kiss as he felt her kiss back, she pulled away breathless after a while. He could see her blushing as she buried her face in his chest. He chuckled "Let's go" he kissed her forehead as she nodded

Gasping, I held my head in pain "Are you ok Jace?" I heard someone ask. Taking in several breaths, I calmed down before looking up at the person in front of me. "Are you alright? You began shaking while in the taxi I was afraid something bad happened" Shelby replied

Nodding, I shrugged it off before following her into the hospital as we were already in front of it. 'Riele and I did have something intimate between us and it seemed we loved each other dearly as the kiss we shared signified but the problem is I don't love her' I sighed

"A step at a time Jace" I muttered to myself.

"What was that?" Shelby asked pausing from the conversation she was having with the familiar nurse at the reception

"Nothing" I shook my head to which she offered a smile for.

Hope y'all liked it