Chapter 3

I didn't know what to think. This man...Well, I say man, but he couldn't be much older than me, was being so sweet and kind and treating me like a normal person, and not some lowlife from across the tracks. But why? My mind couldn't wrap itself around it. 

"Why are you being so nice to me?" I blurted out with a little more attitude than I planned. 

He just smirked, "Why shouldn't I be? You've done nothing wrong to me; you've given me no reason not to be nice, and you're gorgeous. I would love to get to know you. And like I said, everyone needs someone sometimes."

I had no response. Nothing. I had too much going on right now to try to figure this man out. "Look, I appreciate it, but you really don't have to stay. Don't you have school? I wouldn't want you in trouble because of me." 

He scoffed, shaking his head lightly, "No, I graduated last year, and even if I hadn't, I still would stay with you." 

Realizing I wouldn't be able to change his mind, I gave him the best smile I could before climbing out of the car and rushing through the hospital doors. 

"I'm looking for my mother," I told the older woman sitting at the counter, "She was brought in by ambulance." 

I felt a little embarrassed as the older woman looked me up and down, assessing me. Of course, my worn-out second-hand clothes don't reach her standards, but I wasn't here for her; I was here for my mother. She scrunched her nose in disgust before turning back to her computer, "Name?"

Her attitude shouldn't have surprised me, but it did, and it was making me mad: "Her name is Bailey Graves, and I'm her daughter, Justice." 

The woman typed away on her computer, "No one by that name in the system..."

"She was brought in the ambulance; she wasn't conscious, so they may not have her name in the computer." 

My patience was running thin quickly. I just needed to see my mother or talk to the doctor or something. I needed to know that she was alive. 

"Overdose?" the woman sneered as she glared at me, "No name...it has to be her?" I wasn't sure if it was a question or a statement. 

"It doesn't matter why she's here. Find her and lead us to her," his deep voice held no room for argument. I turned to find him standing directly behind me, his eyes trained on the older woman, and no kindness anywhere to be seen. 

"Yes, sir," she replied as she stood and led us down the hallway to a waiting room, "I'll let the doctor know you are here."

With that, she walked away, leaving me sitting there with Niko and the silence that filled the room. "Thank you," I told him finally. Realizing that had he not been there, the old hag may not have ever brought me to my mother. "For what?" he looked at me, his face serious, but his eyes holding that kindness that had disappeared just moments ago. 

"For stepping in just a moment ago," I told him truthfully, "I don't know if I would have been brought to the waiting room without you." I scoffed as I thought about how most of the town treated us so differently just because of where we lived. 

"Does that happen often?" he asked, getting comfortable next to me. "What? The judgement? Yeah, it never stops." 

I took a minute to actually look at him. He was dressed in what I could only assume were costly clothes; I knew his car alone was more than I could ever come close to being able to afford, his hair shaggy but well-kept. Everything about him screamed money. 

"Justice Graves?" 

I jumped up, rushing to the doctor, "That's me. How's my mother?" 

My heart was racing as I waited for his response. 

He cleared his throat, "We are doing everything we can to save her."

My world seemed to slow as I processed his words. They were still trying to save her, so all hope wasn't lost...yet.

"What does that mean? Is she going to be okay? Whose trying to save her because you are out here with me." My mind was spinning.

"We have a team of doctors, not just me, and they are doing everything they can to save her. I'm just here to let you know what is currently happening, and as soon as something changes, I'll let you know." 

He didn't wait for me to say anything else before turning and heading into the back once more. They are still trying to save her. Is that normal when someone overdoes? Should it take this long? What are they even doing to try to save her? Are they just flushing her system, or is there something else going on? I should have asked more questions. I should have demanded to know precisely what they were doing to help her.

"Hey," I turned, facing Niko, his hand warm and steady on my arm, "Best thing you can do is sit down and wait. Do you want something to eat or drink? I can have something delivered." 

His hand raised, cupping my cheek as he gently wiped away tears I hadn't realized were even falling. I stood staring at him, feeling safe next to him, and I wasn't sure why. I didn't even know him. "No, I don't think I can eat anything right now." 

He led me to a chair before pulling his phone out and sitting next to me. "What's your favorite coffee?"

"Anything, I'm not picky." 

We sat in silence, me thinking about my mom and every what-if, and Niko typing away on his phone. 

The coffee he had delivered smelled delicious, though I couldn't enjoy it. My stomach was in knots, but the warmth in my hands seemed to help ease the chill in the air. 

"So," he said, breaking the silence and gaining my attention, "Tell me about yourself." 

I stared at him blankly, "What?"

"Well, you need to give your brain a rest with all that thinking you're doing," he brushed my hair away from my face, "So tell me about yourself. How old are you?" 

I looked down, "I'm seventeen. Tomorrow is my birthday. You know what side of town I live on and the type of mother I have. There isn't much else to say." 

The sliding doors opened, and I quickly stood, meeting the doctor halfway. 

"Justice, we should sit," the man told me, waving his hand at the closet chair.

Slowly, I sat down. "How is she?" I questioned, my heart racing.

"I'm so sorry, but she didn't make it." his words seemed to hit me like a train. She didn't make it. She is no longer here.  I'm alone. I have no one.