We all celebrated New Years and Craig's birthday together. Craig is officially 22 but he still acts like he's 12. I bought him memory foam for his bed. He tried to make me return it, but I refused.

I had a feeling that this year wouldn't be so bad because Michael wasn't here. I was right until February 18th.

Craig and his friend Jay were walking and some guy hit them and drove off. Craig flew forty feet while Jay flew fifty-five. Jay was hurt the worst but in all honesty, I worried about Craig more.

I had to take Raymond with me to work because Craig was in the hospital and I didn't want to drop him off there for two reasons: 1.) Craig should be resting and 2.) I don't want Raymond to run around and give the nurses and doctors trouble. Of course this meant giving my coworkers and I trouble instead.

"Mommy!" Raymond whined, "I wanna go see Craig!"

I noticed the costumers looking over and I sighed, "Baby, I told you I'd take you after work."

He was about to cry but I said, "Raymond Edward Lee, don't."

He stopped and stared at me angrily. I sighed and looked at Rachel, my favorite coworker. She was just about to leave because her shift ended not too long ago.

"You know," She said, "I can take him to the park. You have about an hour left right?"

I looked at the clock and saw that she was right. I looked back at her and said, "Rachel, you don't have to-"

"I love kids!" She said, "I'd be glad to."

I looked at Raymond one more time and he looked at me with hope.

I sighed, "Just until I get off work."

She nodded and she grabbed Raymond's hand and they walked out together.

"...terrible mother...needs to get a babysitter..." I heard a customer talking to the other man next to him.

"Don't listen to him." Marie whispered to me.

"He's right though." I mumbled, "I need to be a better mom but I can't do it by myself. All these single moms with like three kids can do it, but I can't and I have one amazing kid that listens to me most the time."

"That means you're doing it right." Marie said, "Everybody has a reason to do something and yours is your kid. Everything you do is for him." She paused and I looked up at her then she continued, "People just can't see that because they don't know you."

She walked away and I stood there thinking about it. All the people in this diner have a reason to be here, even if it's for themselves.

I blinked myself out of my thoughts and started to clean the dishes. I didn't realize how fast the time went by until Marie told me my shift was over.

I breathed in and dried my hands. I grabbed my coat, said my goodbyes to everyone and left. There was a park a few blocks up the street, so I went there to retrieve my son.

People walked by me and I continued my thoughts on what Marie said. All the people I passed were thinking of someone or something and they may not realize it, but that's their reason why they're out right now.

Old man walking his dog may be honking of his little puppy.

Two teenage boys holding hands are probably thinking of each other.

Young women jogging is most likely thinking of herself and how she can improve.

That's when I thought about me. I was more worried about Craig and Raymond that I never really sat down and asked myself what makes me happy. What can I do to make myself better for everyone around me?

I shook all the thoughts out of my head when Raymond came running to me. He jumped and I caught him, hugging him close. I thanked Rachel and Raymond and I headed to the hospital.

We took an uber there. The lady was nice and talkative which was great for Raymond. I payed her when we got to the hospital. We went in, talked to the receptionist, and soon headed to Craig's room.

We walked down the long hallways and I read the room numbers to myself.

"234...235...236." I stopped in front of the room, "Raymond, you go first."

I didn't have to tell him twice. He busted through the door and yelled, "Craig!"

"Raymond!" I heard Craig yell back.

I smiled and walked in, closing the door behind me. I turned to the boys and saw Raymond telling Craig everything that happened to him in the past week. I turned the chair from the corner to Craig and listened to Raymond, adding in my side of the story here and there. Raymond crawled into the bed with Craig and snuggled against his side. He fell asleep while finishing up his final story.

"Is he hurting you?" I asked, about to get up, but Craig motioned me to sit back down.

"He's fine." Craig chuckled, "He's actually a lot more comfortable than these pillows."

I laughed and asked, "How you've been?"

He looked at me and said, "In pain. I swear these nurses and doctors are trying to kill me with all this physical therapy."

I laughed, "I think they're trying to toughen you up."

He laughed. He stopped and looked at me, "You have something on your mind?"

I looked at him and said, "Don't try and make this visit about me, Craig."

He smiled and said, "I ain't got anything cool happening here so I might as well listen to someone I care about."

I smiled and shook my head. I wasn't going to do this all night because I actually do want to talk about this and I know I can trust Craig. "Well, Raymond was throwing a fit at the diner and I heard a guy say I was a terrible mother. Marie said that Raymond was my reason to even be here. And...I don't know..."

I looked away and didn't look back till I felt his rough, dry, but warm hand, touched mine. The white sheets made his hazel eyes seem blue, somehow, but they still had that sprinkle-his charm, if you will.

"What'd she say?" He asked, his voice smooth like silk.

"She said everyone has a reason to do something and ever since she said that, I've just been thinking about how I always do everything for someone else and not me." I answered, cringing at the response, "I know that sounds selfish bu-"

"Thinking of yourself isn't selfish if you think about the right way." Craig said.

"What?" I asked.

He sat up a bit and said, "Thinking of how to improve yourself for others is called being aware. Thinking of how to improve yourself to be better than others is selfish."

I blocked a few times, processing what he said. I sighed and smiled lightly, "Thanks Craig."

He gripped my hand tighter, "No problem."

I looked up at him and realized that he didn't have his glasses on. I smiled from ear to ear, "Can you even see me?"

"A little." He answered which made me laugh.

I looked at his features again. Due to not being able to shave, he had some stubble on his neck and chin. His hair was a mess and he had a small bruise on the side of his face. However, he still looked ready. His eyes just had that lets-get-going spirit.

He raised an eyebrow and said, "Do you like what you see."

I laughed really loud and covered my mouth, still laughing. "I'm sorry." I said in between laughs.

He started laughing too. When we calmed down, we talked about how his parents couldn't come down to see him because of the flight delays and their schedules. We talked about Jay and Craig also cried but he kept repeating to himself that he'll be fine.

The nurse came in and told me that Raymond and I have to leave. I didn't realize Craig and I were still holding hands until I had to let go to pick up Raymond.

I said my goodbyes to Craig and left.

~

February 21 was when Craig could finally come home. It was also the day I met Evan and Tom.

I got an uber and helped Craig into it. Raymond would not leave him alone though. He was constantly asking him if he was okay or if he was actually staying home for good.

When we got to the apartment, that was the tricky part. Craig had a walker and that was it. He groaned in pain constant pain, but refused to stop at the lobby. The elevator has never been that slow either. We got to our floor and Craig cussed with every step he took. It was so awkward because I didn't know what to do. I just kind of had my hands out in case he fell and walked by his side.

I quickly unlocked the door and led Craig to his bed. He laid down, closed his eyes and sharply breathed in. He gripped the sheets till his knuckles were white and then opened his eyes, just to do it again.

"What's wrong?" I asked

"My back." He groaned. I used on hand to lift him up and the other to adjust his pillows. He laid back down and sighed with happiness, "That's better."

"You need anything else?" I asked, "I can make you food if you want."

He looked at me and smiled, "I'm good." He looked at Raymond who laid on the other side of the bed a quickly fell asleep.

"Is he bugging you?" I asked.

He looked back at me and said, "Of course not! Little man doesn't even move."

I laughed, "Are you sure you don't want anything."

He shook his head. After glancing at the time he said, "A few of my friends are coming over because they want to make sure I'm okay and everything. Don't be scared of them, they're really nice and I feel like you'd like them a lot."

I chuckled nervously, "I don't know Craig, human interaction isn't really my fancy."

He laughed and said, "They can smell fear so I wouldn't be all shy if I were you."

I smiled but on the inside I was screaming. Craig and I aren't dating and I have a child. They're going to think that I'm just here for the house, the money, and the babysitting. They're going to think I'm a terrible person and I can't take care of myself.

"I told them about you living here and the constant working and the fact that you were scared to even step into the house when you first got here." Craig said, pretty much reading my mind, "Don't think they're going to think of you as a bad person."

I sighed and smiled, "How the hell do you read my mind?"

He laughed and shrugged, "Because I know this is all weird and new for you so I don't want you to think that they think of you that way."

I went to the other side of the bed and grabbed Raymond, "Do you still have that love sac in your office."

He nodded, "Didn't take away my little buddy!"

I smiled, "He's asleep now, I don't you and your friends to wake him up."

"We're not that loud." He protested as I walked to his office and opened the door.

His monitors were off and his sound proof pads were leaning against the wall. He chair was in the same position as it was the day he left. Right behind it was the giant bean bag covered in fur. I put Raymond on it and took the blanket it came with and covered him up.

I stood up straight and heard the front door open and then footsteps to Craig's room. I took a few deep breath and walked out of the room and joined Craig and his friends in his.

There were two of them and neither of them noticed me until Craig said, "Guys, this is Y/n. Y/n, this is Tom and Evan."

Tom had short spiky, brown hair and some facial hair. He had dark drown eyes that seemed bright and happy. He had quite pale skin with peach lips that formed to a smile. "Hello." He said in a high voice and light British accent.

Evan had raven black hair and dark brown eyes too. He eyes were shy, but also relieved and happy. He was Asian easily making Craig and Tom look even paler. He had thin lips that were curved to form a small smile. "Hey." He nearly whispered.

"Hi." I said.