Why did I have to start crying?

Why did he have to bring up my family?

Why did my past have to be so tragic?

Nick would never understand why I'm the way I am.

Nobody does.

"Hazel where the hell have you been!" My sister whisper yells at me as I enter the kitchen.

"I'm sorry Opal, I got caught up and then it started raining so Nick offered to give me a ride"

"Wait. Nick Knight? Your hot boss, gave you a ride home?"

I nod my head as I grab the Cheerios from atop the fridge.

"And?" She presses.

"And what? That's it"

"Wow. You didn't make a move? That guy is a nice drink of water."

"Opal he's an ass. No matter how hot he is. His personality is shit."

Opal shrugs and gets the milk out of the fridge as I pull a bowl from the counter.

"Where's Ollie?" I ask my sister as I pour my Cheerios.

"He's in his room. I put him down to sleep but he can't go to bed without mommas song"

A small smile appears on my face at the thought of my son. Despite the horrible circumstances he came to be in this earth. I love him. He's my world.

"I'll be up to sing to him in a bit, I just need to get a little me time with my Cheerios."

Opal chuckles at me before turning to go to Ollie's room.

I grab a spoon out of the drawer and pour the milk into my bowl before putting it back in the fridge.

Just as I'm about to take a bite I hear my sons footsteps thundering down the hallway.

"Momma!" He shouts running into my arms.

"Hi baby!" I say to him wrapping my arms around him tight.

"I missed you" he says into my shoulder.

"I missed you too baby. Did you have fun with aunt Opal?"

He nods his head and wraps his arms tighter around my neck.

I put him on the ground and his sits at the table.

"What did you do today?" I ask taking a seat next to him.

"Ummm we went to the park and then we went to McDonald's." He says twiddling his thumbs.

"That's it?" I ask with a mouth full of Cheerios.

Ollie nods his head and watches me with his big blue eyes. The only feature he got from his father. Thank god.

The mouse brown hair and the small button nose is all mine.

"Mommy how come you weren't home for dinner?"

"Mommy had to do some extra work for her boss today."

Ollie stares at me with his navy blue eyes and cocks his head to the side slightly.

"Mommy?"

"Yes baby?"

"I missed you today."

My heart melted. I stand up from my seat and walk over to my son before kneeling to his level and wrapping my arms around him.

"I missed you too baby. So much."

Ollie squeezes me back.

When I pull away from him, he rubs his eyes and lets out a wide mouthed yawn.

"You tired baby?"

Ollie nods his head.

"Go to bed and I'll be in to sing your song in a little bit okay?"

Ollie slides out of the chair and slowly walks into his bedroom.

Opal takes the seat he was previously sitting in and crosses her arms.

"Have you heard anything about Patrick?" She asks in a careful tone.

I freeze up at the mention of his name.

"N-no, I'm supposed to be getting something in the mail by the end of the week saying if he got parole or not"

Opal reaches across the table and grabs my hand.

"You know I'm here for you, and no matter what, I will support you one hundred percent"

I show a weak smile to my sister and she squeezes my hand in reassurance.

"I should go sing to Ollie. He's going to have a long week."

Opal smiles at me and picks up my bowl before putting it in the sink.

I hastily make my way to my sons bedroom and slowly push the door open.

Ollie is already under the covers and wrapped up with his teddy bear.

I take a seat on his bed and begin stroking his hair as I sing him his song.

'I see trees of green and red roses too

I'll watch them bloom for me and you

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world'

He lets out another yawn before his eyes slowly flutter closed.

I watch as his chest rises and falls in perfect rhythm.

Tears spring to my eyes.

If Patrick gets parole, our lives are over.

I can't let that happen.

I need to protect Ollie from that monster, no matter the cost. He is the most important thing in my life and I will not let him get taken away from me.

I lean down and kiss Ollie on the head and whisper,

"I love you Ollie, always remember that"

I wipe the tears that are falling down my cheeks as I make my way out of his room.

After silently shutting the door I lean against the cold wood and slide to the floor. Silent sobs rake my body as I shakily cover my mouth.

Opal comes around the corner and stops in front of me. She slides down next to me and wraps her arms around me.

"I'm sorry Hazel. You didn't deserve this to happen"

I sob into my sisters shoulder as she rubs my back and tries her hardest to comfort me.

Opal knew what happened, but she didn't quite understand. She was to young when it all happened. She was only ten when our lives changed.

I had to raise her after our mom died. I was sixteen, I didn't know what I was doing. But looking at her now, I must have done something right.

She's the strongest, bravest, most sincere woman I have ever met. And I hope she never has to go through what I did to get her where she is.

Ollie and Opal are my priorities. I will do everything in my power to protect them and keep them safe.

Even if it kills me.

Patrick won't come anywhere near them.

They won't ever have to deal with him.

They'll always be free.

Free from him.

Free from pain.

Free from everything.

I promised my mom I would take care of her and I'm going to keep that promise. Even if it means I lose out on the way.

Nobody deserves happiness more than Opal.

And I'm determined to make sure she gets it.