Christian, Forever: The Forever Prequel: Part 1 by Rachel Jordan

Author:Rachel Jordan [Jordan, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-15T04:00:00+00:00

MIA

The walk to the restaurant was the longest walk Mia had ever taken in her life. It took only ten minutes to get there on foot but today it took her nearly twenty. Her feet felt like they were weighted down with bricks of stone. Her heart felt like it would burst out of her chest. A panic attack threatened to grip her and seize her in place. But she kept moving. She had to get to her mother.

Upon reaching the plain, one-story brick building with the flashing ‘Lionel’s’ sign out front, Mia stood outside the door for minutes, gripping the metal handle so hard she was surprised it didn’t fall off. She was scared shitless of what she’d find once she went inside. How bad did her mom look? Would it be as bad as last time?

Exhaling slowly, Mia pulled the heavy glass door open and went inside. She looked around the restaurant in search of her mother. It was an unusually slow day for the diner. Normally by this time, the place would be crawling with rambunctious teens and business people who’d just gotten off work. There were a few people peppered throughout, but the activity was low. She was grateful for that. Despite being an addict, her mother was a proud woman and wouldn’t take too kindly to being a sideshow for patrons.

Mia walked through the restaurant, her eyes narrowed scrupulously as she tried to locate her Mom and Lionel. She spotted Sandy, one of the long-time employees and waved her over.

“Hi beautiful, how are you today?” Sandy greeted her with a friendly smile.

“I’m good Sandy,” Mia said in a distracted tone. “I was looking for my mom. Lionel said she was here. Do you know where they are?”

Sandy gave her a sympathetic look and nodded. She pointed towards the back of the diner, to the section that was mostly reserved for birthday parties and corporate gatherings. And that’s when Mia finally saw her. She and Lionel were tucked away in the corner one of the walls booths, nearly hidden from sight. Despair and horror squeezed her chest at the fresh, grotesque bruises on her mother’s face. She blinked several times and inwardly winced as tears stung her eyes. Lionel was hovering over her mother, speaking softly to her. Mia could tell her mother was zooted. The distinctive heroin nod made her neck appear to be slouching forward and she had a blank gaze in her eyes.

“I’m sorry honey,” Sandy said, rubbing her arm. “I know it’s difficult for you to see her like this. She got here about half an hour ago. Lionel’s been taking good care of her.”

Mia gave her a kind smile and nodded before squeezing Sandy’s hand and walking off. Apprehension cloaked her bones as she walked into the semi-large room and cautiously approached Lionel and her mother. Noticing her, Lionel’s hazel eyes dimmed with sadness and his lips pursed in a helpless thin line.

“I’m sorry you have to see her like this Mia,” he sadly said as he looked down at her mother.

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