There's no more stars to find
And I'm too far behind
And I'd love to let you go
I'd love to let you go
You're all that's on my mind
I called a thousand times
And I have to let you go
But I love you more and more than you could know
- -
Tyson Joshua Davis' POV:
- -
"Hey, can I help you?" A voice spoke up. My head turned slightly as I saw the girl from just a few days ago.
Her words echo in my mind as I stare at her, completely aware of what hell both her and her family were forced to face.
"Are you Raven's Mom?" The words slip from my mouth before I have the chance to hesitate. I see her dark eyes light up at the mention of her daughters name.
She eyes me carefully, "Rochelle Jensen, but call me Rocky."
I already knew that, but I nodded my head anyway. "My name's Tyson but my friends call me TJ."
"TJ?" She questions, raising an eyebrow. "Tyson Jordan? Tyson Jacob?"
"Joshua." I correct simply, a half smile forming on my face.
"How can I help you today then, Tyson?" She asks, a soft and welcoming grin on her face. Her hazel eyes fitted her small face perfectly, and I knew almost instantly that she was the girl in my mother's photograph.
"I saw your speech at the United Center the other day and I recognised you from somewhere." I explain, "I figured out what it was."
"Oh?" Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "Please share." She leans back on the mantelpiece, studying me.
"You were in a photograph that my mother gave me of my father. I think you were friends with him when you were younger." I continue quietly, lowering my gaze to the ground.
The photograph flashed once again in my mind and I realised that my fathers tanned yet white skin would affect her response to my explanation, especially as I had skin as black as my mothers.
"The police ran a background check on my blood when I was younger and the results gave me his name." I bite my lip, catching her curious stare. "He's called Alexander, Alexander Rossi."
If my words shock her, she doesn't show it physically. Yet her tone shown that of confusion and shock. "That can't be."
"It is. I have a photograph from when he was 16, with you and another boy with ginger hair in it. My Moms told me he went to Juvie at 17. She met one of his brothers once and her names Kaliyah Davis." I knew my eyes showed my desperation but for that moment, no part of me cared. I'd spent 22 years desperate to find my father and my family. This was my last chance. "I know it sounds crazy, Mrs Jensen, but I know it's true. I got my file at 18 and it told me his name and his address from 9 years ago."
"Your file?" She picks up, the question clear in her voice. "From what?"
"I was put in Foster Care when my Moms got ill. It said in the file that my social worker decided against contacting my Pops 'cause it was a protection risk for me. I don't know what that meant and I still don't. I just want to speak to him, please." I swallow visabally.
"Even if you what you're saying is true....You can't speak to him." Her face scrunches up in pain, and I know I should've stopped talking then but I couldn't.
I've waited too long to give up now.
"Look, I get he might have a family and other kids and that's fine. They don't have to know about me, I'll stay away. Just please, one minute with him is all I want." I beg, thanking the Lord that neither my Mom or my friends could see me now.
" No, that's not what I meant." She shook her head, her eyes watering slightly. "Alexander....Alec died. He passed away around 4 years ago."
No mental preparation could've taught me how to react.
My heart aches, my chest tightening.
My Dad, the guy I've spent years searching for, is dead?
"Oh." I release almost inaudibly. Every ounce of confidence that my body held disappeared in an instant.
"How?" I breathe out, tearing my gaze away from her.
"He had some issues when we were kids, things didn't get any easier and them demons came back to haunt him." She explains, shifting uncomfortably. "Give me a sec."
She pulls out a phone and dials a number, putting it on speaker.
The guy she calls answers the phone, "Yo?"
"It's Rocky." Rochelle speaks into the phone, rolling her eyes at the greeting.
"What did she do this time?"
"No, it's me, dumbass." She shakes her head disapprovingly, "God, you really need to start looking at the caller ID"
"Oh, I'm sorry Princess." The sarcasm basically leaks from the phone, "What did you do this time?"
"Why do you automatically assume I've done something?" She scoffs.
"Maybe because you never phone me. If something happens, you turn up at my house with a bottle of vodka and Taco Bell."
"True." She hums, biting her lip. "I need to ask you something, Ivi."
"Oh?"
"Do you know someone called Kaliyah Davis?" She asks, diverting her eyes away from mine.
"Kali? Yeah...Al dated her back before he went to Juvie." He says, the amusement draining from his tone quite suddenly. "Why?"
"I have her son here, with me." She swallows, "He says he has DNA test results, and they show that he's Alec's and Kali's son."
"What?" The man replies, obviously confused. "That can't be..It was years ago."
"He looks younger than Raven by a year or two. It's possible, Ivan." She informs him, breathing out deeply.
"I'm gonna speak to Sky and Jesse. If he's up for it, I want to meet him in a couple of days. I'll..um..I'll speak to you soon, Sis."
"Live long and prosper, Bro."
We stand in silence for a moment.
"That was Ivan, Alec's younger brother. Jesse is his boyfriend and Sky is the youngest brother." She explains. "How do you know my daughter?"
"I met her at my girlfriend's party and she invited us to go see your speech." I answer, "It's amazing what you do, you know. Running that kids home with your husband, doing speeches and raising awareness about things that need to be spoken about. I would've killed for something like that when I was younger."
"So would I." Them three words sound so forgein when contrasted with the usual power in her tone, she sounds vulnerable. "Alec would've never forgiven himself if he found out his kid was in care, never."
------
"Your dad would be so proud of you, kiddo." Rock smiles, hugging me close to her. "Kenzie and I made a promise to each other. We're your family now, Tyse."
"You don't have to do any of this, honestly. You don't owe it to my Pops, he didn't even know me."
"If I would've died, instead of Alec, he would've taken care of Raven, Beau and Brae like they were his own." Her eyes flicker, "I wish he was here to see what a great man you grew to be. He wouldn't have gone if he knew."
"You mean he wouldn't have done that to himself?"
"He died in rehab, you know? I took him there myself, begging him to get better so he could see the twins grow up. But it got the best of him. I don't judge him for the choices he made, T. I really don't. I'm still pissed though. I don't know if Raven told you but I had quite a dark episode after he died, going into self destruct mode. I was so scared, so fucking scared that I'd lose everyone else and I fell into this abyss. The drinking made me feel things, and that was better than nothing. So yeah, I'm pissed at him for making that choice to die. But I get it as well. You can't force people to live in a place where they don't belong. "
"What got you out of that?"
"Kenzie." She breathes out without hesitating, "It's always him that soothes that damage in me. I know it's fucked up that it wasn't my kids, but Kenzie's just...he's everything and he understands. We've been through things that I'd never let my kids ever experience or feel. We did everything for our kids but I already know Alec would've done a hundred times more for you. He was such a good person, he didn't deserve the cards he got dealt."
"Neither did you."
------
A/N
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When I started writing, the first piece of advice I was given is to know absolutely everything about your characters. Their secrets; their desires, flaws, parts of themselves that they don't even know exist.
This was Alec's.
And this is officially the end. No more spin-off stories or bonus chapters.
For the last and final time....
Goodbye Simply Purgatory. Rocky and Kenzie, Kane and Kace, Keegan and Kade, Sky and Alec, Ivan and Jesse, Bodhi and Reagan, Lana and Zach. TJ. Layton. And all the people who showed up along the way.
You were my first truly successful story. The characters that I fell in love with, those that I cried and laughed with, and I will forever remember what this book has taught me about life and society and myself.
Forever and evermore.
Thank you.