Distant Mirage || 13 Reasons Why [ 0 ]

Prologue

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Prologue

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The Matthews twins sat on the lounge room floor, Jeff Atkins with them playing quietly. The three eight year olds had been doing so nicely since early that morning, not a complaint coming from them. Bailey cheered as Tony Padilla raced into the room, his younger sister toddling behind him before his older brothers bowled in; yelling and screaming.

'Drew Bailey,' Maria Matthews called from the backyard; 'Bailey Drew.'

'Coming, Mama,' Drew called back in reply as he stood.

Bailey ran after him quickly, meeting their mother in the backyard; finding her on a chair with a joint between her lips, though they didn't know what it was. 

'Yes, mama?' The little girl asked as she stood beside her twin. 

'Are the Padilla's here yet?' Maria asked. 

'Yeh.'

'With all the kids?'

'Yeh.'

'Ok, tell Mr and Mrs Padilla, I'll be there soon.'

'Ok, mama,' Drew nodded before bounding back inside. 

Bailey went to do the same, reaching the door before she paused; turning back to the mother, approaching her slowly. 

'Hey, mama?' She queried. 

'Yes, baby,' The woman replied as she blew the smoke through her lips. 

'Why- Why is my name Drewy's middle name?'

Maria smiled, patting the space on the chair between her legs; motioning for her child to come over. Bailey did so easily, sitting between her mother's legs as she ran her hand through the dirty blonde locks. 

'Because, baby,' Maria stated with a soft smile; 'If heaven forbid, you and Drew are ever apart, whether it's because of fighting or distance, you'll always have a part of each other with you to remind you that the other will always be there. No matter what.'

'But, mama, Drewy and I never fight,' The girl shook her head. 

'I know, baby girl, and I hope you never loose each other.'

'We won't, mama.'

'Good girl. Now, head inside. I'm sure Kalani's waiting for you.'

'Ok. I love you, mama.'

'I love you, too, Bailey.'

The little girl slipped off the chair and ran inside, the sound of laughter and yelling meeting Maria's ears as she took yet another breath from her joint; smiling sadly to herself.