CHAPTER 15: Rights and power

　　I remember the day Lionel overdosed. I came with Zion to visit, just like we had initially made plans for only to find him unconscious on the floor with a needle plunged into his arm. 　　I called the emergency line immediately to come over to the house. I didn't let Zion in, and neither did I let him see Lionel when the medic came to take him away because I feared that would leave a bad mark on him. 　　We were, fortunately, able to stabilise him and the doctors told him he had injected more dose of heroine than his system could carry. I told them he was clean, but they told me he might have stumbled back into abusing and felt too ashamed to tell me. The doctor told me if I had gotten to him later than the time I had, he wouldn't have made it. 　　Lionel pulled out of the state of unconsciousness a few weeks later. I came with Zion over to the hospital to visit and there I met with Betty, Tatiana and Owen for the first time in almost two years. I would not forget the look Betty gave me and Zion that day, and all she said was, "Who's the unfortunate fellow that knocked you up?" 　　I was furious, and I wanted to respond with something equally nasty because, for someone whose son almost lost his life to an overdose, she had all the venom in the world anyone could think of. She didn't deserve respect, and I didn't want to give it to her. Then I realised that Zion, my son and the only one I cared about, was with me. He didn't deserve to see that throw down and also Lionel would not have wanted that either. 　　I saw Owens and Tatiana at the hospital and I caught Owen staring once in a while at me. I ignored every of their attempts to rile me up and kept visiting until Lionel regained consciousness. He checked himself into rehab the same month he left the hospital and had been there ever since. We kept close contact on his progress and health and he promised to get better. I hadn't seen any of my family in the past six month nor did I contact them. They weren't worth it five years ago and neither were they worth it then. 　　Godiya told me a few months ago she had run into Owens at the store with his arms around another woman, and all she did was chuckle as she walked past them. She told me to rejoice that I dodged a bullet and I do every day. I want to feel sad for Tatiana, but that was the same thing she did to me when she thought I was the one with the problem. Hopefully, someday she realises who she married. 　　Lionel got discharged two weeks ago and Zion and I had gone to visit. Zion expressed sadness that he had missed his father's day event at the school. Lionel apologised and promised he would never miss it again. Zion believed him, but he remained moody. Hearing he was getting better made me happy. 　　"There is a notice in his bag and he has a little homework as well. Please ensure he does it." Loretta informed me with a friendly tone. 　　"I will supervise his homework today, I promise," I said, grabbing his lunch box from beside him as I took him into my arms. 　　"See you tomorrow then, Ms Adams." 　　Zion waved at her as we exited the classroom and I brought him into the car and strapped him in. 　　"Can we get ice cream, mommy?" he asked, his eyes lighting up along with his question. 　　"We can, but you have to promise you will eat the vegetable I'll add to your meal tomorrow." 　　He nodded, "I promise." 　　"Then it's a deal." 　　I drove us to domino restaurant a few miles away from where we lived and once parked; I helped him out of the car. 　　He hopped in excitement as we approached the entry point of the restaurant. We stepped in and I approached the young man at the ice cream counters flashing him a quick smile. "Can I get two medium cups of ice cream please, chocolate flavour and strawberry?" 　　Zion always fancied the vanilla flavour ever since we started coming here two years ago, but three months back, that changed and he switched to the chocolate flavour. Wawi had given him chocolate flavour at his place and he loved it and had since made that his favourite. 　　"Alright, Ma'am." He said and turned to the freezer behind him to grab the order from inside while we waited patiently. 　　Once I paid, I handed the medium cup to Zion without fear that he would make a mess because the boy might be just four, but he already knew how not to make a mess of himself whenever he ate. That was self-taught. 　　He mumbled a cheerful thank you and I smiled at him in response. 　　His smile always made my day and warmed my heart. 　　My smile faded when my eyes flew across the road and they landed on none other than the man I left in the past five years ago. 　　Aaron Hart. 　　My face paled up and the smile I had on disappeared. 　　He stood across the road in a white long sleeve shirt tucked into a pair of trousers. Unlike four years ago, he no longer had beard on his face and his hair was longer. He had a grimace on and that wasn't a look I was quite familiar with. My heart double in its beat and my brain immediately shut down for the next minutes that passed. Many thoughts flew through my head at what his sudden appearance would mean. Yet I couldn't think of the next move to make. 　　I felt a tug on my hand and looking down; I met with the worried eyes of Zion. 　　"Are you okay, mommy?" he asked with a concerned look in his eyes. 　　My eyes travelled back across the road from where I had seen Aaron a moment ago, but I did not find him there. I glanced around, trying to find where he might have gone, but I couldn't find him. 　　My attention returned to Zion, who still had a concerned look on his face. My hands tightened around his and I led him towards the car. I opened and strapped him in before entering and driving away from the restaurant. 　　All the while I drove home, I wondered if I had seen Aaron across the road or if my mind had made him up to mess with me. It couldn't have been him. If it was, he wouldn't have disappeared so fast. 　　I couldn't afford to have him back in my life, and the silly jokes my mind was playing on me weren't funny. It's been five long years and I've moved on and built my life. The last thing I wanted was for him to bring himself into the mist and ruin everything. I knew the first thing he would want to know would be the paternity of Zion and once he finds out my son is his, he would want to take him away. 　　He could do that. He had all the power to and it would be within his rights as a father. 　　I didn't want to share my son with anyone, not even Aaron.