Double Standards

64

James

Jonah came to me a few hours ago to tell me that Patrick's cancer was indeed getting worse, it was spreading in multiple parts of his body but each at a different speed making it a little bit harder to figure out how long Patrick had left. Jonah said it could be months or even years or it could be a matter of days but no one knew the right answer if there even is one

I had no updates or reports of Riley either, the things Maisie must of told them clearly haven't been looked into since I've had no phone calls informing me that there was a potential lead. I don't want to bash the police force but it just feels like nothing is really being done and it's getting more and more frustrating

I wish I had been told the same information but instead all I got was it's 30 minutes away and I have looked up the what's around but there's nowhere that's screaming out to me
I'm just as lost as I was at the very beginning of all of this and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't feeling numb, my body is on autopilot and it's felt that way for quite some time now

I want nothing more then for things to go back to normal.. just me and Riley living in our own bubble where no one was sick or hurt.. back when things were so simple

I was making my way back to Patrick's room from the hospital cafe when I bumped into a very panicked Jonah, something that was unusual in its self
"Wow Jonah are you okay?" I ask
"Have you heard?" Jonah pants while trying to catch his breath
"Heard what? Is Patrick okay?" I question feeling my heart sink

"No not Patrick.. Riley's been found" Jonah explains
"Is she alive?!" I blurt out causing Jonah to nod his head making me sigh with relief
"Where is she?" I ask
"She's here in the hospital, she's about 2/3 wards down from Patrick. I can take you to her now but I want to warn you she is injured" Jonah explains worry covering his face
"Take me to her now" I reply

Jonah grabs hold of my hand and drags me through the hospital and the corridors felt longer and longer the more we walked them
I lost track of where we had gone with every turn we made, this place felt like a maze. We got to the front desk of the ward Riley is in and I let Jonah do the talking since he got there first

After a few exchanges of words Jonah looked back at me before nodding letting me know we were able to go to Riley's room, I let out a deep sigh and follow behind him bracing myself to see Riley the way she is
I knew she was getting beaten but you just don't know to what extent is it too

We get to room 402 and Jonah stops himself from going in
"Everything okay?" I question causing Jonah to sigh
"There's something you need to know" Jonah replies softly "Riley was beaten quite hard with what we think a metal pole, we're unsure on whether or not the twins are okay.. if somethings wrong we need to go into theatre in the next day or two to have them" Jonah continues

"So we could be having the babies early?" I ask
"Yeah normally you do have twins early anyway but not this early, it's usually within 2 weeks of the due date and you're just under 4 weeks" Jonah softly explains causing me to nod my head

I had nothing else to say..
I knew the twins would be early but not this early.. not when Riley's not even recovered from this.. not when Patrick is in hospital fighting cancer..

This was supposed to be a new beginning and lately it's just one hurdle after another
I just want to catch a break.. I don't know what else I can take..

I brace myself once more before opening the door to Riley's room myself and to see the once happy hour lucky woman I knew wasn't there at all, not even a little bit
Riley was just a hollow shell.. a dull shell that's lost its sparkle
A shell that had taken too much shit from everyone and couldn't hide how they truly feel anymore

Riley was covered head to toe with bruises and stitches, she looked a lot worse now then when she got kidnapped the time before
I reach Riley's bed and grab her hand whilst taking a seat planting a small kiss on the back of her pale frail hand I let the tears filling my eyes go and I couldn't figure out a way to stop crying

All these weeks, every hurdle, every emotion, every fear I've had I didn't let myself cry but now I can't seem to hold back any longer