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“I didn’t say any of that to take away froo, and if not that, then De It wasn’t fair how they went about it, and I’m sorry you found out how you did”

I nod, sighing into the line

“Now, tell me the truth, how much of an asshole were you?”

I laugh and she follows

“Talk to the, they are, too That sucks for everyone”

“Thanks, Krista”

I hang up, take a deep breath and drive home

I head straight for the shohen I get inside, butto her room

Concern pulls at ut when I find her on the floor, surrounded by papers, a loopy smile on her face

I drop beside her “Ma?”

“Nikoli,” she rasps, her pal up to slide down my cheek “You’re home”

“What is all this, Ma?”

Her hand falls, and she looks to the mess “He’s promised to take care of us”

I pull back, slowly pushing to my feet “What’d you do, Ma?”

“Your father He ca ready for me, wasn’t that nice of him?”

“No”

Tears fill her eyes and she s us coain”

“Please, no” I run et back on ive hi without me here?”

She tilts her head “You know he only coone”

“Fuck!” I start pacing the room “He screwed you, I know it”

“No, no he loves me, Nico He’ll take care of us”

I shakecare of us, Ma? He steals from you, and keeps you so doped up you don’t even realize it”

She looks to the wedding ring she refuses to take off “He’s good to me, makes sure I have the medicine I need”

“You aren’t sick!” I yell “Not in the way he’s ently “Ma, you lost your husband, and it broke you You’re sad, depressed, and that’s okay I get it, I swear I tried to find someone to help you, remember? But you only wanted him, and he used that to control you”

“You’re wrong He cares He pays our bills”

“With your ave hi”

“It’ll all be okay, son,” she whispers, her eyes growing tired, whatever fucking cocktail he cooked up for her when he was here obviously kicking in “He promised me”