"I'm so glad you're awake! I thought I'd lost you!"

Paris smiles weakly at his mom, sobbing gently next to him. Apparently she hasn't left his side, but Paris doesn't really believe her. Even he knows that she wouldn't just leave work, especially not for him. Maybe for Jesse, his younger sister, but definitely not for him.

"Don't ever leave my sight again, do you hear me?"

Paris wasn't listening. He had an excuse not to answer, anyways. He had hurt his throat pretty bad, apparently, and on doctor's orders, he wasn't to use his vocal cords for a few days, just in case of damage.

"Oh honey, I'm so sorry I wasn't there. I wish I could've done something... Anything..."

His mom crying over him wasn't a surprise, but her fawning over him was. His family life wasn't the best, but him and his mom never fought often.

Then Paris remembers.