Goodbye

- "Some people come and go, others stay and leave footprints in our hearts and we are never the same" -

~ Anonymous

By the time he looked up, the figure was gone, Emma was running and his wrists and child-making organ were on fire. He was wet and cold and he was all alone.

"Dammit," he said under his breath.

It was all for the sake of keeping them safe but Emma couldn't give a dime about that. She didn't understand regardless so could he blame her really? A turmoil of thoughts filled the depths of his mind. What if he was overthinking it? It probably was just a regular guy after all. Perhaps the man at the café was a regular guy too. Perhaps they never really were going to be killed and it was just a lie his father told. He lived this long, right? It was probably a lie; but then he couldn't let go of the fact that the reality was, regardless of whether or not it was a lie, there was a probability that it could be true and he could be dead today or tomorrow.

"Lad, get yo a** off the floor. Why you kids ain't goin' in yere house!" Liam felt a hard blow strike his behind and he immediately flew off the stony ground with a yelp.

He met eyes with an old man with eyes that were constantly smiling. A cigar hung from his dry lips and he focused the bulk of his weight on the cane for support. He sent the cane swinging at the poor boy again, stomping his feet and hollering.

"Geddap! Geddap from the floor! You miserable kids. Think I wasn't watching yere naughty miserable kids! You and that missy!"

Damn... it was just an old man watching them the whole while. Liam's face grew all red at the man's words, even when he hadn't been doing anything particularly vulgar.

"Damn you, Emma," he said under his breath and quickly got on his feet when the old man threatened to strike with his cane again.

He was too cold and tired to walk home and his wrists were slowly growing bigger and bigger. He decided to get a taxi to get home seeing that Emma's sponsor of lunch was helping him save a lot of money. He did so too since the thought of an ambush bothered him greatly. It was a pity he couldn't forget about his problems all the time, like he had whilst they were going for a 'swim' or like the time when they were at school. It brought back to his mind the fact that he was currently at rank 4. Could that still save his family just a little bit? He improved, didn't he?

"I'm home," Liam chimed after he had managed to squirm into a taxi and got home.

Jenna had been already seated at the doorstep, waiting for him for what seemed like hours.

"Am I in trouble...?" he enquired, half curious and half frightened and was answered with just a bittersweet smile.

"Let's go inside dear," Jenna replied and made it sound so sweet as if their family was fine and everything was alright.

Once they were inside and the door closed behind them both, however, it was clear to him what all her waiting was really about. Reality punched him in the stomach and made him sick. He felt his stomach twist and ache.

Suitcases and old bags littered the awkward spaces of the kitchen and the somewhat-hallway. He was frozen in his position for a while and silence lingered longer than it probably was intended to. At a not-so-far corner, Derek was seated in his power wheelchair, staring at the both of them with glassy eyes and the temperature of the room quickly dropped to several degrees. The air became charged with tension.

"So... have you made up your mind?"

Liam bit down on his lower lip and lowered his head. His hands curled into fists and his chest hurt to hold back the tears.

"How could you, mom? How could you after all the memories?" he sobbed.

Taken aback, she felt a pang of guilt stab her heart and gazed at the boy in disbelief. She too was hurting but she couldn't afford to show it, not when she had a once in a lifetime opportunity in the palm of her hands.

"Have you, boy?"

A cold chill ran down his spine and he lifted his head and gave Derek a vacuous stare. Then, gradually, he made a doleful smile and turned to look at his mother.

"I'm not leaving dad behind, mom. Not ever."

Her temporary reply was a casual stare as she clutched her shirt in a tight fist.

"Are you sure that that's your final decision?"

He couldn't think of what was best to answer that question. To think that his mother truly wanted his father to remain in the house by himself in his crazy state was outrageous.

"Well, at least I tried," she sighed, "It wasn't easy finding you at the café but I did and I stared and I was certain you thought it was one of his men."

Liam's face contorted into an emotion he wasn't quite sure he was feeling and kept cold eyes on the woman he was calling 'mother'.

"I picked out a few dollars from the rent money to pay someone to spy on you today but- clearly that didn't work either. Regardless, I knew you'd say that."

"What are you? Working along with him? What the hell?" Liam furrowed his eyebrows.

"I was only trying, Liam, trying to get you on my side, to come with me but I guess you won't budge," she croaked, "You rather die trying to save Seb and that's okay. At least, he'll have someone."

"Why act like you care now, mom?" Liam yelled in a frenzy of rage.

"I always have, Liam. I've always. It's just that it comes a time in your life where you might have to make hard decisions that might end up hurting someone else but is for the greater good."

"Are you therefore justifying murder?"

"I never said that," Jenna said, lowering and averting her gaze to the old piano, "The piano has always been my company during my hard times. It has listened to countless of my stories."

Liam couldn't care to listen to rest that she had to say but forced himself, considering that she was still his 'mother'.

"It's been my loyal companion. Find yourself one of those, Liam, someone who can actually help rid the bad feelings, someone who understands, someone who doesn't leave like me..."

Derek was so close to tears but he couldn't cry, not when he promised his mother that he'd be strong for the both of them. Jenna, as if out of things to say, pulled a coat out of the nearby closet and wrapped it around herself. She gazed at Liam, walked towards him and unsure of whether she should but then finally deciding, cupped his face and smiled at him. Her hands suddenly felt foreign, unusually rough, cold and were trembling like a leaf. She was clearly scared. She was risking leaving. He wanted to scream at her, run away and tell her how much he hated her but he stayed. He remained there staring at her angelic yet traitor of a face, gazing at the crystal streams that flowed down her face and the blissful smile that emitted pure genuineness. He felt numb.

"Liam, I need you to know that I have always loved you. I may not be here but I am in spirit. I'll always be with you in spirit."

She held his head tightly at her shoulder and bathed his pale face with her tears.

"I love you, Liam," she cried.

Liam remained still whilst she sobbed and cried her eyes out. He felt like his younger self in her arms with holograms of memories orbiting them and protruding warmth like their family had years back. His mother felt like a crying skeleton or some sort of widow crying over a grave, who wished that she could have done the world of things to get her husband back.

"Mom-" Liam spoke into her shoulder, " I made it to 4th rank at school."

Jenna stopped crying for a while and held his face in her palms to meet her gaze. She smiled wearily and lowered her gaze.

"I wish it could have been different. I really do but- do what you can, Liam. Keep climbing and do what you can. Find a way to."

Then, she glanced at the clock on the wall and quickly dried her face. She pulled the jacket around her tightly and sauntered towards the suitcases. The look on Derek's face told him that it was about that time and the sudden heavy feeling of loneliness began to dawn on him.

"Well..." Jenna muttered, with her hands on the suitcase's handle, "You made up your mind and you made it clear that you want to stay. I guess this is goodbye."

The sound of a car horn penetrated the walls of the room and resonated throughout the hallway. The twinkle in Derek's eyes vanished. He couldn't say much since the mucus in his throat accumulated after all the crying earlier that day but all he could do is try to reach out for the end of Liam's shirt. Liam felt his heart grow heavier, looking at the boy's face. He stooped to his level and gave him the best of a hug he could give him without hurting him.

"We have to go now," Jenna exclaimed, dragging suitcases behind her.

She held a wooden expression as if she had just put on the best act and was now avoiding paparazzi. A knock disrupted the brief silence and the door opened to reveal a tall gentleman, dressed in black with shades which made him look suspicious.

"Good evening, ma'am. The car is awaiting you."

Jenna's eyes lingered on his face before she looked back at Liam shortly.

"I cooked you your favorite meal and left it on the counter, Liam. You'll find a way to get your father to eat."

Liam stared at her and Derek blankly.

"Please, don't forget Derek and I. I'll miss you so so much. I love you, Liam. Goodbye."