Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Wellness Check

Chapter 43:

Wellness Check

I found them easily enough. Messaging Yuriko, she informed me of where they were. Sitting in the cafeteria, Alana sat eating a salad and some pizza. Yuriko rested her head in her hands as she watched Alana eat. They seemed to be getting along, and Alana looked to be cheered up a bit.

"Alana..." I called out, causing her to look up.

"Oh, Uncle!" She exclaimed, eyes wide as she bit into her slice of pizza, cheese oozing slightly as she quickly ate and swallowed it, "Are you done with your talk?"

"...For now," As I stood before her, I found the subject suddenly hard to breach, "Can I...ask you some questions?"

"About mom?" She seemed to deflate as she looked down at her plate.

"Sort of," Pulling up a chair, I sat down next to her, "It's about...Well, I don't really know how to ask."

"...Is it Derek?" Alana was a smart girl, but it was still shocking to have her hit the nail on the head.

"Yes," My hands clenched into fists over my knees, "Your mother...she went back with him?"

"Mhm," She nodded ever so slightly, her eyes slightly unfocused, "For a couple months now."

I found it hard to breath, my throat seizing on itself. "I should have checked in sooner...damn it." Berating myself, I did my best to breathe. Having to swallow hard and force myself to.

"And..." I found the next words difficult to ask, my nails digging into my palms, "Did he touch you?"

Alana's eyes were distant at first, then her gaze shifted to my hands. Setting her food down, she wiped her hands on her napkin before placing them over mine. They were so small and frail. If anything, she was perhaps a bit malnourished. They tightened around mine, feeling slightly cold but holding a warmth.

"Uncle..." She called my attention to her, "I've been safe, don't worry."

Gazing into her deep blue eyes, they were tender. She smiled to reassure me, but I couldn't escape the feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"Whenever he came over, I would hide...or leave," She gave me a confident smile, "I'm fourteen now, you know. Almost an adult."

She was trying to joke as she said it. That bravado some kids had. I could only laugh dryly.

"...I suppose you are," I smiled sadly, finding myself wrapping her in a big hug as I pulled her too me, "I just...want you to be safe."

She tensed up at the suddenness of my movement, but relaxed as she returned the hug. Patting me on the back as she whispered into my ear.

"I know, uncle...Thank you," She seemed to almost fall into my embrace, "Did you really mean what you said before?"

"About what?" I whispered, trying to recall what I said.

"...About taking me in," She seemed to be almost pleading with me, "Did you really mean that? Uncle George is too strict, and I don't really like John the Second. He's a brat..."

"Really now?" I chuckled softly, "He's your cousin, you know. Shouldn't be too harsh on him."

"Well, it's true!" She exclaimed, laughing lightly before calming down again, "And...I don't want to burden Grandma and Grandpa. So..."

Looking over towards Yuriko, her face like a still pool. Her eyes keen, her smile calm. Moving my gaze over to Julius and Cecelia, my wife motioned towards me.

"What do you wish to do, love?" She asked me simply, "Whatever you decide."

Smiling warmly, I nodded. Turning my attention back towards Alana, I already knew my answer. There was no doubt in my mind.

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"...Of course, I meant it," I told her, hugging her tighter, "You'll come with us, alright?"

"Yeah!" Alana smiled, pushing herself up from me, tears in her eyes.

This time, however, they seemed to be tears of relief as she came in for a hug herself this time. Despite her small frame, her hug was strong. As I held her, my gaze hardened over her shoulder. Passing it over Yuriko, Julius, and falling upon Cecelia.

"Make sure she survives," I told them, speaking of my sister, "Whatever it takes. Let's return to everyone after Alana finishes her food. I have questions for my brother...."

"Of course, my love," Cecelia responded subserviently, hand to her chest as she bowed her head slightly, "Julius, check on her condition."

"Thank you, Julius," I told him before he walked away, a slight pink to his cheeks as he simply nodded.

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Alana reassured me several times she was truly alright. My anxiety just wouldn't let me off the hook. Alana was a good kid, and something just felt off about everything. I felt like she may be hiding it out of shame or fear, but that wasn't the case.

"Uncle...please," She pleaded with me, exasperated, "I really am fine..."

"Sorry, I just..." Rubbing the back of my head, I felt guilty for being so pushy, "I can't shake the feeling something's wrong..."

Alana shifted next to Yuriko; her eyes cast to the side as she seemed to think about something.

"It's...I had a fight with mom," She finally told me, "Before she went missing, but she often would go missing for days on end. It wasn't anything out of the normal..."

I understood that well. Dolores had a way of just disappearing for a few days, then coming back cracked out of her mind or drunk. Sometimes just completely out of it. It was always a miracle she was ever able to keep Alana.

"So that's why..." I spoke quietly, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Alana..."

Her hand fell over mine as she smiled sadly, nodding.

"If I had known this would happen, I-" Before she could finish her sentence, Yuriko placed a finger over her lips.

"You cannot blame yourself," Yuriko's languid voice washed over us.

"Yuriko's right, Alana," I followed up, "You had no way of knowing, but...I understand. There are times I get into fights with my family. I still love them, but I often come to regret it."

"But this time..." Alana began to lose focus, staring off into nothing.

"Alana," Squeezing her shoulder reassuringly, I brought her attention back to me, "We'll do everything we can to save her. So, when she comes to...just talk it out, alright?"

The sad smile across her face tore at my heart. An anger rose in me, something that I quickly suppressed. I was angry at Dolores, but I was angrier at those who did this to her. Alana didn't deserve to go through all this heartbreak. "She better pull through...For Alana's sake."

It was, perhaps, a selfish and heartless thought, but when it came to my niece, I felt a strong kinship. A fondness that I had for no one else in my family. If I had to choose anyone in my family, it would be my niece. She went through so much that it was unfair.

I often complained about my own life, but it was nothing compared to what Alana went through in the short amount of time she has been alive. Her mother near neglected her. Her mother's exes were abusive, and some raised a hand to Alana. The only good thing Dolores did was redirect that abuse to herself.

A morbid thought, but at least Dolores loves Alana. I could confirm that at least. She didn't do it well, but she did. I sat through Alana's nightmares when she was a child. Waking up screaming in the night while Dolores was passed out drunk.

She'd climb into my bed, calling for me with a sleepy, scared voice. I would sit there, my games paused as I made sure she fell back asleep. There was nothing in this world I'd not do for her.

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