One I open this door I would see her. Her dead, cold, body on the bed. And I just didn’t want to open it. Because if I did everything would… have happened. She would be dead. My father would have succeeded and she would have lost her long battle. And that would mean I had lost my mother. I would have lost my mother. My mother… I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and I opened the door. When I opened my eyes I saw her. She was pale and looked like a ghost with dark circles under her eyes. Her hair was the only thing that actually looked okay. Shining like always. But she wasn’t. My mother who always, even in a coma, didn’t shine anymore. She was gone, and when I realised that I let out a sob and the tears I had suppressed finally came.
I heard a knock on the door and in came Carol and Cory. They looked at me with sad eyes and I just cried. Everything was so surreal and… I just didn’t want to accept it.
”I called Oscar and told him that you wouldn’t come back, and that the rest of the dates was cancelled” Cory said. I nodded and gave him a weak smile.
”I just… I think you should call Austin, he told me that you two had a thing going on and… Austin doesn’t know, and he thinks it’s best if you call him” Cory said and looked a bit awkward. Shit… I just left. Austin must think that it’s because he kissed me. Shit. I picked up my phone and I had a text from him.

From: Austin
I’m really sorry if I scared you off. I really wish I could make it undone because I don’t want things to be awkward between us. I mean it Essie. If I could I would, and I’m really sorry that I made you uncomfortable.

I just stared at his text and I bit my lip.

From: Essie
Austin, don’t regret it. I didn’t leave because of you.

From: Austin
Then why did you leave?

I could hear his skeptical voice in my head as I read his text. I teared up and looked at my mother and then I looked at my phone.

From: Essie
My mother passed away.

From: Austin
I wish I could say something that would cheer you up, or something else than ”WHAT?!”… But I can’t find any good words.

From: Essie
It’s okay, I know you mean well.

From: Austin
I’m sorry for your loss though, and you know that you have me.

From: Essie
I know Austin, I know.

- - -

Austin’s POV

I had seen Essie been through hell and back. They locked her inside a basement and I thought I would never seen her worse than that. I guess I was wrong. Because tour was over and I had just gotten off the plane together with the others. We had collected our luggage and to my surprise she had been there. Essie was standing just a few meters away, staring into space with black circles under her eyes. Her hair was dull and lifeless, and don’t even talk about her eyes. I had never seen them so lifeless. A very loud crash from someone who dropped their bag made her jump and look so scared, and she looked around like she was looking for someone. Then she saw me and she just stared. I gave her a small smile and her smile was weak but there.
"Hi" I said and held out my arm for her, and she wrapped her arms around my waist, and pressed her face into my chest.
"Didn’t expect to see you here" I said and stroked her back.
"I wasn’t planning on it, but I happened to be in town and thought… why not?" she said and looked into my eyes.
"How did you know that we would come with this plane?" I asked.
"I didn’t" she confessed and now I understood the black circles.
"You kept yourself her all night?" I asked and sighed.
"I couldn’t sleep… So many thoughts" she whispered and rubbed her eyes. I looked at her and I could understand her. I smiled and gave her one more hug, and then I heard Alan and Tino behind us.
"Essie?" Alan asked. She gave them a small smile as well.
"You look… tired" Tino said and gave her a light hug.
"Bad dreams" she said and shrugged. I watched her and I could see that it was more than just bad dreams. There was something more.

- - -

A few days earlier

After the funeral I took the next flight down to L.A and I took a cab over to that place. He wasn’t expecting me but when he sat down on the other side of the glass a small smirk appeared on his lips.
"Well look who grew up" he said over the phone.
"I fucking hate you, and you…" he began but eh interrupted me.
"That bitch died, didn’t she?" he asked. I didn’t answer him and he chuckled.
"You wouldn’t be here if she didn’t Princess" he said.
"Don’t you dare say my name" I spat.
"Why not? You’re my daughter" he grinned.
"You’re not my father, Cory is. You’re just a stranger" I said.
"Well luckily for you I’m getting out in a few days, then we can get to know each other again" he said and got a huge grin on his lips. I stared at him. Shocked. He was what?
"You didn’t know? Well I’ve been my years and days in prison, and next week i’m getting out again" he whispered and I just stared. Then he got up, put the phone back and started to walk away.

My father was getting out? Already?
But mom just died… Shouldn’t that add some more years?

Shit