First off? 56 reads?! Guys you are so amazing! It may seem like a small number but just knowing that people are reading and enjoying what lil ole me is writing is amazing!! Thank you!! 

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Flashback: Alexander got into a fight with an adult in a market place, the man punched him in the nose, knocked him out, and dumped him and an alleyway. Alexander made his way towards home, sand arrived at sunset.

(All talking between Alexander and Rachel is in French. That's their native language, and although Alexander is fluent in English, Rachel is not as fluent as her son. )

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"Alexander, where have you been?" The boy heard his mother call from the kitchen. He took a deep breath. There was no avoiding what was about to happen, as he walked into the kitchen he burst into tears.

"Mama. I'm so sorry." He whispered.

His mother, though she appeared angry, wrapped him into her arms, and held him tightly as he calmed down. When he'd finally calmed down, she pulled him towards their small fridge and freezer, and pressed a frozen bag to Alexander's nose and cheek.

"Your nose is definitely broken. What did you get into my Alexander?" Rachel looked at the boy sternly. 

Her son. 

Her baby.

 The child that was forced to stand in as an adult because she couldn't care for him on her own. Guilt overtook Rachel at that moment. She wasn't a proper parent. She couldn't pay for her own son; her son was paying for her. She did things she hated, and she couldn't even provide for him. She couldn't protect him, she couldn't prevent him from getting into situations like the one he was in.

"Mama?" Alexander asked hesitantly. He didn't want the man at the market to be right. He didn't want to know what his mom did, but he had to. He knew that the moment she confirmed what she did, he wouldn't be able to look at his mother the same way. He believed her to be a saint. He didn't know if he could anymore.

"Yes Alexander?" His mother whispered, matching his quiet tone with one of her own.

"What do you do when you leave at night? After I go to sleep?" He mustered up the strength to ask, and when he did, his voice sounded more secure than he felt. At that moment, he would've given anything to not hear the words that came next. 

He knew, no matter what the words were, everything was about to change. 

This moment was the eye of the storm, the calm before everything he knew, or thought he knew, was destroyed.

"Alexander, baby, it doesn't matter." She whispered, tearing up. 

He knew. He knew, and now she wouldn't be able to stand in front of her son anymore. She was used to tilting her head to the ground and staying quiet while she was in town, but now she had to hide herself from her own son. She didn't want her son to think of her as a bad person. She wasn't a bad person.

"Yes it does!" Alexander was yelling now, tears running down his face. "Do you hear what they call you Mama? Do you? Are they lying? Please tell me they're lying. It can't be true mom. You can't be a...a. Please Mama, tell me it isn't true." The boy's voice progressively got quieter as he accused his mother. He had to know.

Rachel put a hand over her mouth and let her tears flow freely, not saying a word to Alexander. She didn't deny it. She didn't want Alexander to know, but she couldn't lie to her boy.

"No. No, this can't be. Mama. Please say something! Tell me it isn't true. I know you can. Please, mama. Please."

"I can't." Rachel said, sobbing now. "I can't lie to you, Alexander."

"No!" Alexander yelled, running out the door.

"Alexander!" Rachel called after her child, who was running down the street. He turned back to look at her for a second, then turned again and continued to run. Rachel knew his stubbornness would get the best of him, and he wouldn't let her explain until he had worked it out himself. 

She turned back into the house and shut the door, sinking to the floor, tears running down her face. She had never felt like such a failure in her entire life. She felt completely useless. 

She didn't go to work that night. She sat at the kitchen table with her head in her hands, waiting restlessly for Alexander to return. 

Ok guys! That was another chapter! Let me know when you thought! I love to hear from you guys! That's also the reason why I am starting a QOTD. I wanna hear from you guys! So here goes nothin! 

QOTD: What are your top 3 favorite songs on the Hamilton album? 

My answer: Hurricane, Non-Stop and Satisfied. 

Stay Fiery guys, 

aaron_burrn