"But why!" I cry out to the guard.
"N-no dont! He hasn't done anything!" I punch the guard's leg.
"Let him go!"
"How can you work for such a corrupted Empire?" The cries make it hard for me to swallow or talk.
I drop to the ground. And bash my hands into the ground.
"Shut up lady" The guard opens the cell.
Nixon!
I reach over to him and hug him.
"I haven't done anything. Let me go!" Oswald screams out.
"It's okay, It's okay." I assure Nixon.
The dust goes into our eyes.
"I'm sorry son."
He gasps as he cries.
"I am so sorry."
"Dad!" Nixon puts his hands out and screams.
"I love you!"
"I love you darling!"
A smirk flies across his face. "You two get out of here unless you want to be next."
We start walking away as they drag him off.
"It's okay, don't worry." I put my hand over his shoulder, and wipe away my tears.
It's almost sunset and people are gathering to watch the executions.
There are more people than usual out today.
Nixon hugs me tight and I drop to my knees to hug him.
"Mom, why would they do that?" He digs his face on my shoulder.
"B-because they don't know how good of a man your father was." My eyes start to water again.
He sniffs in between. And hugs me tighter.
"Whats c-corruption?"
My eyes widen in confusion.
"What?"
"I heard you say it when they were taking dad away."
"It's bad, it's something that ruins a lot of lives."
I run my hands through his hair and kiss him on the forehead.
""""What!""""
People around us start screaming.
I grab his hands and stand up.
I notice Oswald on the execution stage.
I hear someone talking near us.
"Who is this? I thought the prince was going to get executed." A man near us shouts.
"Yea! Didn't he kill a guy at the bar for beating him in a game?" Another answers
The prince?
Killing someone?
And they let him go j-just because he's a prince?
Disgusting M-! I tightly grip my clothes.
Monsters!
"To hell!" A man screams and throws a tomato at one of the guards.
"""Yeah!"""
In no time everyone is throwing things, not at Oswald, but to the guards.
"Whats he doing?" I try to scream out.
The guard rages and without any warning cut his head off.
Vomit fills my mouth.
"M-m-mom!" I hear Nixon crying next to me.
I force myself to swallow it and comfort him.
We cry on each other's shoulders.
He hugs me as tight as he possibly can. And doesn't lift his head up.
After a while we both run out of tears and begin walking away.
Nothing but the moon lights up the street, since everyone is at the execution they haven't lit up the lamps.
"Everything is going to be alright." I look away trying to hold the tears back.
"I promise, okay?" I look down at him and smile.
"Okay." He wipes away his tears and forces a smile.
We go back to our usual sleeping spot and lay down. The ground feels comfortable, a relief compared to today's nightmare.
We hug and throw the blanket over us.
"Goodnight mom." He gets closer to me.
"Goodnight, I love you." I say and I kiss his forehead.
He falls asleep after a few minutes.
The night feels empty without Oswald. I want to cry but I hold back so as to not wake Nixon.
What if we all went to clean up instead of sending him to get us food? My first tightens.
What if he never got fired?
What if I got a job to help us instead?
What if we left the kingdom and restarted instead of sticking around?
What if–
A loud sigh from Nixon snaps me back into reality.
I run my hands through my hair.
I-I have to be strong.
For Nixon, I have to.
Even if it hurts.
I have to do what's best for him.
Before I knew it it was the next day.
Nixon wakes up a little bit after me.
"G-good morning." He yawns.
"Get up, we have a busy day today." A lot of things to do today.
"Like what?"
"Just important things." I brush it off.
The day is cloudy, as if rain could start pouring down any second.
He stands up, and brushes off the dirt on his clothes.
"Where do I put this?" Waving the blanket around.
"Just fold it."
"Come on, let's go."
We walk through the streets, all the vendors getting set up.
They don't put everything out because of the cloudy weather.
After a few minutes of walking we arrive at the first stop.
I make Nixon wait for me in the waiting room.
"Ahh!" He drags his feet as we walk to the next place.
"How many stops do we have to make mom?"
My eyes ward off in his direction. "Only one more."
I playfully grab his cheek and give him a calm smile.
I find my eyes getting watery, and I hold back the tears.
I wipe them before he notices.
"Want to go eat something?" He shoots me a quick smile and a stare.
"Really?" His hand squeezes mine.
"Yup." I can't help but smile.
"What do you say we eat here?" I point to the inn sign.
"Sure, yes, Let's go mom." He rushes inside almost falling.
"Thank so much mom." He says with a mouth full.
I laugh. "Eat before you speak."
I wipe the bits of food around his mouth.
Then pay using the last few coins I had saved up for an emergency.
"That food was so good. Thank you!"
"Its okay son, I'm glad you enjoyed it." My hand grabs his as we walk towards the entrance of a building.
The wind feels like blades against my skin.
The smell of rain is comforting.
"Ahh!"
"Mom, it hurts my hand."
I was squeezing his hand too hard without noticing.
"I'm sorry!" I quickly let go, and start rubbing it.
Before I noticed it we were at the door.
Tears start to fill my eyes as I begin to knock.
The gravel presses on my knees.
"Look Nixon." I grab his small hands.
"I will always love you. No matter what happens or how long."
"Mom? What's happening?" His eyes start to water.
"Nixon, I had to make a difficult decision, but it's what's best.. best for you." I wipe the tears from his eyes with my thumb.
"Y-you are going to stay here for a bit, until a family adopts you." My vision becomes too blurry for me to see.
"W-what?" Tears roll down his face, and he grips my hand.
"This is the only way I can make sure you live a good life, okay?"
He rushes and gives me a hug.
The door opens and 2 women stand over us.
"No! As long as we are together I'll be happy. Don't leave me mom, please!"
My hand brings his head closer.
"I know, I know, but it's what's best for you."
"This doesn't mean I don't love you, or that I'm abandoning you. I'll always think about you. And in the future we can meet up, and even live together if you want."
"I must do what's best for you son. I'm sorry. But remember, when you are all grown up we will meet up and eat good meals together everyday, okay?"
I give him a kiss on the cheek and stand up.
"Please take care of him for me."
"N-no mom!" One of the women hold him back from running to me.
"I love you son." I wipe the tears as I step back.
"I love you mom." He barely manages to say through the crying.
"I-I promise I'll make sure to stop corruption. Then we can eat all we want, I promise mom!"
I don't answer him and walk away.
E-even though I'm not his real mother, I love him as if he were my son.
Goodbye son, I'll see you again someday.
I love you.