PROTECT

Backstory pt 3

I wake up with the same bright lights in my face. I'm already knowing where im at. I try to sit up but im stopped by a stifling pain in my head. I rest my head back down and just waits for my mom to come to me but she didn't .

"Where were you?" I ask my mom as she walks in. She's quiet and she doesn't look at me. She quickly signs the discharge papers from the doctor, grabbed my stuff and pulled me out the bed.
"Come on" was all she muttered.

We're now in the car and she still hasn't said a full sentence to me.

"Ma im sorry. I just needed you that night and you wasn't there so I had to turn to you know".

"Whatever"

With my heart hurt, I turn to look out the window. I couldn't have expected more. I was in the wrong. Noticing that we'd passed our house, I started to panic. She taking me back.

"Ma were we going?"

She stared straight and didn't answer.

My heart began to pump 3 times harder than it was to bring with that i started to lose consciousness.

Not fighting it, i laid my head against the seat and blacked out.

"Autumn. Get up" my mom shook me.

Opening my eyes, I observed the scene. We were at a gas station that I know isn't in our city.

"Ma where are we?"

"Quiktrip" she says sarcastically pointing at the store.

"No ma. Where ? This isn't Illinois"

"Welcome to Tennessee"

My mouth and heart dropped.

"Ma why are we here?"

"To get gas and use the bathroom"

"No ma. Why are we in Tennessee?"

She ignored me.

"MA" I screamed out in the middle of the store.

She snapped her head towards me. Her eyes were filled with an anger ive never seen before. If I knew better, I'd stop here but I don't wanna have to go all the way across the world to get treatment.

"MA ARE YOU TAKING ME TO A FACILITY HERE?"

With every step she took, i knew she was livid.

"MA?!!!"

She pushed me in the bathroom and shut the door behind us.

"Yes Autumn. Yes" she stated through gritted teeth and walked out of the bathroom.

My heart sank.

"Ma why in Tennessee? I won't drink ever again"

"You said that last time" she said quietly

"I'll be too far from you."

She ignored me and kept walking.

I stopped following her and went outside for some air.

I can't believe this shit. That's too far. I'll run away. To were Autumn. We not from here.

I sat on the curb and waited til my mom came out.

Here. She threw my favorite chips in my lap. I grabbed the purple Doritos and followed her to the car. Instead of getting in the front, i got in the back.

"Get in the front Autumn"

I did as said and rode in the front uncomfortably waiting to see where we went to.

"Autumn" my mom said shaking me out of my sleep.

I cursed myself getting out for falling asleep because i wanted to stay up to see.

I observed the place we were at. A light blue vinyl house stood infront of me. It looked empty. I know we not a crack house.

Ma started to make her way to the house.

"Ma what's this? This where you taking me?"

"This is where we are staying" she stated opening the door.

Inside was a small amount of cardboard boxes. I noticed some of moms chairs that sit in her room.

"Ma we moving?"

"We moved"

"So im not going to a facility?"

"No you're going. Just to one in North Carolina"

"North Carolina?"

"Yes"

"I thought we was in Tennessee"

"We're in North Carolina. Charlotte"

"Why here?"

"You need to be surrounded by love and your family. I never knew that's what you needed but now you'll have it. I was a horrible mom not noticing that you was acting the way you did because I was barely around but im here now. I promise"

"It's not your fault ma. I really apologize for putting you through all of that. It was very selfish of me. And it all started out of fun but then it actually became an addiction and I couldn't leave it alone. You're the perfect mom and I took that for granted. And I know you might think I'm just saying this buddy to say it but mom I really really mean it when I say I'm sorry. I promise I'll do better". I said sincerely.

Her eyes filled with tears, she pulled me into a hug.

"So when's the stuff being delivered?"

"What stuff?"

"From Arizona?"

"It's not. We're starting over!" She exclaimed.

"Ma all of my stuff?"

"You got your phone. You'll get more clothes but you gotta work for it first".

"Work how?" I asked following her up the stairs.

"First you'll start off by meeting your family. Then you're going to AA meetings"

She trailed off explaining things to me.

My room was a nice size. I had space to do whatever so I did a flip.