e shaky hands. Every step seemed like an eternity had gone by, but the t

foreboding. Something was not right. He didn't know what, but he felt it deep inside him. He stopped, breathin

ess

s narrowing. It was from his cousin, Titi.

ome home. Your parents.

ood ra

a time before the gang, before the strife, before he became someone he did not even recognise in the mirro

his father's stern expression, but a warm face. Yet something had generated a flash of

swinging lampposts cast long shadows, and the world narrowed down to on

ned th

use wa

ing in the room lit by shadows. His mother's favorite chair stood near the win

e. No l

mbling voice as he proceed

ie

oom was the floorboards

amily picture of him and his parents, grinning at family reunions. He was que

he living room. And ther

binson rushed to her, p

at the ground, lips quivering. She was

she breathed, her voice barely audible.

ffocating. His face went white, his legs trembling. Gone? H

To w

e grasped Titi's shoulders, shaking her so

less nights. "Robinson, your mother... she she-she died giving birth. "And your father-" She choked on her words, her breath ragge

inst the wall. His dad's lost? His mom-dead? No, no. He couldn't catch his breath.

No, you're lying. They c

wish I were lying. I wish I could t

mind whirled in a thousand different directions. How? Why? Why had he not been there? Why hadn't he returned home sooner? As a young teenager, his peers had a very great negative influence on

them on his shoulders. "Robinson, your mother's last wish

ents were lost forever. The pain hit him like a hammer. He had stayed away too long, too

ng. Robinson barely registered the sound, his body n

ith a shaking hand, her

not hear what

ut what she said sent

low void in his chest. His sister? But. How? H

ld she

and grim. "Robinson... your mother didn't die alone. She gav

in. His mother had died,

ne told him? Why

of sirens, shattering the otherwise peaceful night. R

roat. The police? A raid? His mind whirled, adrenaline coursing through hi

en he

in a

hen a

rying offici

's eyes

he hadn'

r in the

cate. His mothe

the page, something that s

Lucy, was a

ter...

hed. His entire world

her? And whe