Dreams swirled around Alex's mind, each one darker than the last. In the beginning, he saw his parents drop him off at school, their smiles bright and warm. He waved goodbye, oblivious to the world that lay ahead. The scene shifted abruptly. He stood alone while a police officer explained to him that there had been an accident and, unfortunately, his parents didn't make it. The officer's voice echoed hollowly as the vibrant colors of the scene faded, leaving Alex feeling small and lost.
The dream blurred again. Now he was being welcomed into his grandmother's home—a dimly lit apartment owned by a woman named Agatha, who quickly made her presence known with her cold demeanor. In the ensuing months, Alex's life turned turbulent. His grandmother passed away, leaving him with nothing but memories and a final arrangement. Agatha offered him a roof over his head in exchange for services, but it came with strings attached—harsh expectations and a lack of kindness.
As the memories whirled through his mind, the anguish of bullying surfaced next: the taunts, the beatings, the isolation. It felt like endless torture. Then, in the midst of it all, the swirling darkness began to lighten. Echoes of voices broke through the chaos, fading in and out like distant thunder.
"Alex, Is waking up. Hey Alex, how are you feeling?"
A groggy mumble came from him, "Where am I?"
As his eyes adjusted, he focused on the familiar faces nearby. Mia was standing to his right, gripping his hand tightly, while Harrold loomed nearby, along with a nurse and a police officer to his left.
"Alex, you're in the hospital. You were attacked. Don't you remember?" Mia's voice trembled with worry.
A flicker of anger crossed Alex's features as he pulled memories from the haze. "Logan..."
"Yeah..." Mia said, her eyes glassy with tears. "They arrested him. Don't worry, he won't hurt you ever again but..."
"But what?" Alex prompted, prompting her to elaborate.
"It's best to let the officer talk to Alex, Mia," Harrold interjected, maintaining a calm demeanor amidst the tension.
"Talk to me about what?" Alex asked, his voice growing firm.
Harrold glanced at him, attempting to maintain a soothing tone. "We can discuss this later. For now, it's best for you to get some rest."
"No! I need to know what's going on!" Alex insisted, his frustration bubbling to the surface.
The police officer approached, her demeanor calm yet serious. "Hello, Alex. Do you remember me?"
"Yeah... Officer Shelly, right?" he replied, recognition flickering.
"Good memory. I need to ask you a few questions, if that's okay," she said, looking directly into his eyes.
"Yeah, what's going on?" Alex asked, a hint of urgency in his tone.
"Well, I can't find any contacts for you. Where are you staying? The last entry I have is your grandmother's address, but it shows her as deceased in our system."
Sadness washed over Alex as he looked down, processing the reality of his situation.
"It's okay. You're not in trouble. I just need to find out what's going on, Alex. It's important," Officer Shelly assured him.
He took a deep breath, stuttering slightly. "I... I was staying at the apartments where my grandma lived after she died, but I couldn't take staying there any longer. After I got the reward from Harrold and had enough money, I was staying at the motel down the road from the apartment."
Officer Shelly studied him closely. "O... I see. Well, can you give me a moment? I'll be back in a bit. Try to get some rest."
"Okay," he replied, laying back down and turning away, feeling an overwhelming sense of shame as Officer Shelly walked out of the room. Harrold followed behind her, leaving Mia alone with Alex.
"Mia," he said, feeling the weight of the moment.
She grabbed his hand gently, and her tone softened. "Alex, everything's going to be—"
"Okay? Nothing's okay! My whole life's been fucked up! One thing after another, like a big cosmic joke! And every time I think something's going my way... it just—"
"Alex," Mia said softly, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, I know it feels like that right now, but I'm here for you. So is my grandpa. I truly believe it will get better."
Alex looked at her, the vulnerability apparent in his eyes. "I hope so," he replied, a lone tear rolling down his face.
Just then, Officer Shelly and Harrold returned to the room. The officer's expression was serious as she approached Alex's bed. "So, Alex, we have a slight problem."
He tensed, fear evident in his eyes. "What's wrong?"
"You're underage and don't have a guardian."
"Guardian? What's that?"
The officer sighed, choosing her words carefully. "Anyone under 18 needs to have a parent or guardian looking after them until they reach adulthood."
"Am I in trouble?" Alex asked, panic rising.
"Not at all. Normally, children without parents or guardians would need to be placed in state custody. This means staying in a group home or foster care," Officer Shelly explained.
Worry creased Alex's brow, but before he could respond, she continued, "Mr. Harrold Williams here has offered to take you in and be your guardian if you're okay with that. I'll need to inform Child Services, you should be able to stay with him. What do you think?"
Alex wiped away tears, considering the implications carefully. Would he finally find happiness with a family who cared for him? He turned to Harrold. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure," Harrold chuckled gently. "We wouldn't have offered if we didn't want to help you."
Officer Shelly smiled, her expression softening. "Well, it's settled then. I'll give Child Services a call, and they should be able to arrange everything. Just hang tight."
"Thank you," Alex said quietly, a hint of hope creeping into his expression.
"Take care of yourself, Alex," Officer Shelly added before exiting the room. Harrold followed after her, leaving Mia alone with Alex again.
"It's time to go, Alex. You need to get some rest," Mia said, her reluctance evident as she began to stand up.
"Okay," Alex replied, fatigue edging into his voice.
Mia leaned down, holding his hand tightly. "Get some rest. I'll see you real soon."
As they said their goodbyes, Alex watched her walk away and turned back to the ceiling. Moments later, the exhaustion claimed him, and he drifted back into sleep, the shadows of his past still swirling in his mind, slowly beginning to untangle.