Steph’s mother had a million words to say to the people of ga Academy and to the public. She and her husband had not even slept once since they saw their daughter’s corpse and what was done to her—and when ga Academy announced that they would have their annual trip early, they decided to make several signs and sit in front of the gates.
His husband was even close to the road, planning to stop the buses from leaving until they gave them a sufficient answer. Their respective families urged them not to do this, but they didn’t listen to any of them at all.
They weren’t going to continue their lives knowing that their daughter’s killer was still out there, no matter the price they would have to pay.
They prepared a lot of things... her husband even brought a gun.
This was their chance, after all. Their chance to be heard.
But now, the long and raw speech that she had prepared to tell to the world was stuck in her throat as a boy seemingly even younger than their daughter stood right in front of her, with the barricade between them the only thing keeping them apart.
She stared at this little boy in front of her for a few seconds, waiting for him to say sothing. It didn’t help that his face was completely covered and that it was impossible to tell what he was thinking, or where he was actually looking at.
But she was sure he wasn’t looking at her, however.
Was it... the sign? Was he looking at the sign?
"What are you—"
"You are Stephanie’s mother?"
And right when she was about to say sothing, Riley said sothing at the sa ti while pointing at the sign she was holding above her head. She was a little hesitant to talk to him at first, but when he kept his finger at the sign, she slowly lowered it and leaned closer to Riley, almost pushing the barricade in front of her.
"Yes," she said, "Did... you know my daughter?"
"I have only t her four tis, Stephanie’s mother." Riley let out a small but very deep sigh as he looked at the tears trailing down her face, as well as her eyes that were already incredibly red from crying.
But at the sa ti, they looked dry—as if they had already released all the tears they could, and yet more still forced themselves to co out.
"I am truly sorry that you are sad, Stephanie’s mother. I do not think anyone deserves the emotional pain of losing a child."
Stephanie’s mother was completely taken aback by Riley’s words. She thought he was only going to ask her about Steph’s death, never did she expect soone who seed this young to try and comfort her.
"How... old are you?" She asked.
"I am twelve years old, Stephanie’s mother," Riley shook his head.
"And... you’re a student?" She asked since Riley was not wearing the sa uniform that every other student was wearing.
"Yes."
"You’re... so young..." Stephanie’s mother felt a sudden chill run down her skin as she realized that Riley was different, "Are they... truly teaching what’s best for you in the Academy? You... You said you’ve t my daughter a couple of tis. Were you her classmate?"
"No. I only approached you to say how sorry I am about what happened to your daughter, Stephanie’s mother," Riley shook his head, "No one deserves to die like that. In pain, screaming. Begging. But at least, she was not alone."
"You... know about the details of my daughter’s death?" Her breath started to stutter as she heard Riley’s words.
"Of course, Stephanie’s mother," Riley nodded, "It is all over the internet and anyone could access her photos if they want to. There are even s about it."
"W-what...?"
"Yes," Riley once again sighed, "Perhaps the best thing to do now is to let her rest ntally too, no? Your daughter was killed in the most brutal way, and now people are posting all sorts of inappropriate things about her. The police are doing their job, and I can say they are doing a good job too as they visited ga Academy just a few days ago, right after your daughter died, and started asking so questions—I would like it if they started asking their questions elsewhere. Let your daughter rest."
’All this attention so close to is not good. The detectives have already done their jobs here, why are you trying to get ga Academy to investigate your daughter’s death, Stephanie’s mother?
The ga Academy getting involved in the investigation ans one thing—Whiteking gets involved. And if Father gets involved, then it would only take a couple of seconds for him to know that it was all .
So, I would appreciate it if you stop, Stephanie’s mother. I—Hm? What is this now?
Riley’s entire thought process instantly stopped as Stephanie’s mother suddenly let go of the sign and chose to embrace him instead out of nowhere. It was very fortunate that just two days ago, soone also touched him without permission—if not, then he would have surely lost control again and done sothing that Hannah would surely not like at all.
Riley slowly glanced back to where Hannah and the others were, and as soon as Hannah saw him looking at her, she gasped and quickly rushed and finally started to move from her spot.
But of course, it was already too late.
"You... you’re so young," Stephanie’s mother buried her face on Riley’s shoulder, her tears quickly damping his clothes from how fast they fell, "Why... why did my daughter have to die?! Why... why do children have to die?!"
Hannah was about to pull Riley away, but Riley raised his hand and motioned to her that it was alright. He let Stephanie’s mother cry on her shoulder for a few seconds more before slowly and gently returning her embrace.
"Because sothing is wrong," he said, "It is not necessarily anyone’s fault—but sothing is wrong. Because your daughter was not killed out of malice, nor was it perverse. Your daughter died because the universe itself built sothing wrong—a mistake. I told you earlier, that your daughter did not deserve to die... and she will not be the last, Stephanie’s mother. Mourn, grieve. You have that right, but let her rest."
Yes. So that the detectives will not co back to the Academy.
Everyone that was surrounding them all held their breaths from this young boy’s words—confused as to how soone so young could sound so mature and innocent at the sa ti.
Unbeknownst to everyone there, however, the only thing that lets them keep thinking he looked innocent was his mask—because without that, they would see just how wide his lips were curled. His smile was almost reaching from ear to ear.
"You should not be going after the people who are already doing sothing, Stephanie’s mother." Riley pulled himself away from her. And then, to Hannah and everyone’s surprise, he suddenly took off his sunglasses and showed his face to everyone there, "You should not even go after the one who killed your daughter—doing so would put you in grave peril. Instead, keep your remaining child safe. Safe from those who want to hurt him, from those who are capable of hurting him, from... ."
"You..." Stephanie’s mother gasped as she looked at Riley. She slowly shook her head, her lips trembling as they tried their best to smile, "...You’re not hurting anyone."
"Then just imagine."
"What...?" Stephanie’s mother almost lost herself from her own reflection in Riley’s clear eyes.
"Pretend that you know that I am the one who killed your daughter, Stephanie’s mother," Riley said without blinking, "What do you want to say to ?"
"But you’re... I won’t do that to you. Where—"
"I’m really sorry!"
Hannah couldn’t take it anymore and intervened, pulling Riley away from Stephanie and the rest of the crowd and the dia who had been snapping photos and videos of them since the start.
"He’s... special," Hannah whispered, "Please don’t take anything he says to heart, Ma’am."
"No, it’s..." Stephanie’s mother blinked a couple of tis, not really knowing how to react to that. It wasn’t until she glanced at Riley again.
"Thank you. Seriously, thank you..." She said, forcing out a smile as she nodded to him, "...You don’t know just how much your words ant to ."
"I hope it ant enough that you would stop pursuing your daughter’s killer, Stephanie’s mother."
"What’s... your na?"
"My na..." Riley glanced at her before putting back his sunglasses and saying, "...is Sweet Snowy Little Baby Boy."
And with those words, his mask returned to cover his face. He didn’t say anything else after that, only turning around to leave and finally heading to the bus with everyone else.
He left, not knowing just how much impact he had left on everyone there—-as well as to everyone that wasn’t there.
Reviews
All reviews (0)