#ft. trix

While River was the type of person who could be found almost anywhere, there were certain places they did not go. Hallowed ground was avoided unless it was absolutely necessary, usually making a point to block the spirit world from their minds eye. However, there were occasions that they faced their hesitation and ventured onto consecrated earth if the need was strong enough. This was one of those times. They followed the map they were given by the groundskeeper to their destination. Once the name 'Bridges' was spotted, River folded up the paper to shove in the back pocket of their black ripped up skinny jeans. They crouched down in front of the stone and took in it's entirety with dark eyes. Lips parted to let out a slow exhale while they searched for a good place to start.

"You don't know me." River cleared their throat of the frog mimicking their voice. "My name is River and I came here because I, uh," they sighed and glanced around before focusing again. "Thank you for your contribution in the creation of your child. But, you should have done better to try and raise them. You should have done more. I fell in love with both Kai and Trix, but no one else gets to know Kai and that's your fault." Their lips shrugged and they swallowed a lump forming in their throat. It was not a name they ever spoke out loud, despite knowing it as well as their own. The pieces of that strong, resilient child that held so much of Trix's fear, wonder, and innocence was never hidden from River. There were many things about the other half of their soul that they held close and never told anyone about. Not because they didn’t want the entire world to know just how amazing the love of their life is or how incredibly powerful they are, but because it is not their story to tell. They knew each other inside and out, the ugliest and darkest thing they thought would send the other running for the hills only proved to bring them impossibly closer together.

"I want you to know that despite what you did, and did not do, your child thrived. They went on to find who they were instead of learning it from you. Trix is beautiful, successful, loving, brilliant, and talented. They surmounted to so many things and not a single one can be attributed back to you. See, you could have gone with them on that journey but instead you caused them so much pain they erased any trace of your existence and your name is nothing now." River leaned in to whisper, as if the next words were too harsh to say in a normal tone. "Your name died with you and will never be spoken again. I will help them make sure of that." They sniffed and took a centered breath. "What really fucking sucks, is I can never introduce them to my parents. I couldn't bring them back to New Orleans after we met or flew either of mine to Seattle to introduce them to the person I would be with for the rest of my life and I could have met you. We could have shook hands and you could have given me the third degree while I tried to impress you so you would find me worthy of being their life partner. I don’t understand that and it bewilders me, man. How can anyone be that shitty to something so beautiful? What could compel anyone to look at their beautiful creation and choose anything but love and adoration?" They licked their lips and their fists balled up next to them then released the tension that built with their train of thought. "You don't deserve your children. They deserved your love and praise and care and got nothing instead. Addiction is not an excuse. I am an addict and I love both of your children so, so much. I love Trix with everything I can possibly offer and I will always keep trying to give them more. I will give them everything you did not and I will make sure every disgusting thing you put them through fades into the abyss. You will never hurt them again."