NEVER STRANGERS

PROLOUGE

I woke up to the ringing siren in my ear that reaches my head. I felt my world spin as the painful sensation swallowed my system whole. 

"aaarrrrggghhh"

I can feel the ripping pain to my head down to my spine as I enveloped myself to contain myself from screaming on the top of my lungs due to the pain that I was feeling at the moment

I held my head with both hands like my life depends on it as I try gasping for air. 

"fuuuck" I scream under my breath.

the dim room was filled with the sound of my panting and silent cry for help as I hold myself together.

breath in breath out I mentally trying to calm myself down and breathing slowly.

eyes shut, cold sweats and rigid breathing was evident in my existence as I felt the air surrounding me became thin upon the ringing pain in my head. 

minutes had passed as I try to calm myself down and I can now feel the pain slowly waring off my system.

still gasping for air and dragged with sweat, I laid back one hand holding my temple and slowly breathing the air in me.

In the middle of me calming myself down from the pain, I heard my phone rang as a sign of someone calling me.

gathering all the strength that has left my body, I tried reaching out for my phone and answer it without even minding looking at the caller's ID

"A.Lim speaking" I spoke to the person on the other side of the line.

"Good day Ms.Lim, This is Mrs.Lim, Can I speak to my daughter who happens to not minding to save her own mother's number in her contacts?" I heard my mother's sarcastic voice 

I slowly open my eyes and look at the caller's ID that says 'Mother', I close my eyes again and answer 

"well, Mrs.Lim, you just woke your daughter from her slumber by your call, so she did not mind looking at her phone to know who's calling and just answered the call  right away" I slowly explain 

"you're still sleeping at this hour?"  I can hear the shocked tone and disappointment in her voice 

"Good God Amberledine, it's already past 1 pm and you're still sleeping? have you forgotten that we have an early dinner later and you have to look your best since our friends and their families are going to be there as well?" 

I let out a heavy sigh and massage my temple as I replied "I am fully aware of our engagement mother. The dinner starts at 6 and it's just 1 pm. I don't see any reason for me to be in a hurry when I have more than enough time for me to be fully  prepared for tonight's event"

"as you should dear. Your father is expecting you to be there in time so he could introduce you to some of our acquaintances" my mother replied 

"Will Greggy and Sidney coming to?" I ask my mom to change the subject

"I invited them over as well" she replied 

"oh I see" I paused for a moment before speaking again " mom, I have to go now. I also have another appointment for today.I'll see at the dinner tonight" I said calmly 

"Alright my dear, see you and remember, me and your father are expecting more from you, unlike your two siblings. So be the lovely daughter you always are and don't disappoint us, alright?" 

As the phone call ended with my mom, I  stare at the empty space thinking about her last remarks before ending the call. I can't help but give out a bitter smile because of that.

"bullshit" I cursed remembering the reason why I never had a good relationship with my two older siblings. Even if I wanted to, and I always try things just to clear up the air for us but it just doesn't work that way for us. So I just gave up and let them be. Besides, I can't blame them, our parents have been cruel to them, always comparing them to me and always mark as a disappointment to the family.

While I get all the phrases from them. But little did they know. everything comes with a price. And that caused my awful relationship with my siblings, not to mention all the expectations and pressure that I have been carrying on my shoulders for all these years.

I wake up from my thoughts and slowly stand on my feet to open the curtains from my room. behind the big curtains lies a sliding glass door towards the balcony of my condo unit. I went out of the area and close my eyes as I inhaled the city morning air.

You can clearly see people walking from the busy streets and cars rushing to their destination from where I was standing. 

I stayed there for a moment observing people before I decided to get inside and get ready. 

after I took a shower, I wore a loose mom jeans and a plain white crop tank top and partner it with a black coat. I wore my white shoes, put my long hair in a bun and put my shades on before getting my things and headed out of my condo unit.

As I was walking on my way to the parking lot, I felt the ringing in my head again making me fumble while walking

"miss are you alright" a female voice ask me as I held my temple and breath

I faced a middle-age woman carrying a shopping bag who looks very concerned about my condition

"I'm alright" I gave her a small smile

"Are you sure? do you want me to call someone for help?" the act of concern is very evident in her tone and eyes

"don't worry I can manage, thank you so much" I thank her before reaching for my car keys in my bag. I held my eyes shut as I sat on the driver sit calming my nerves before fastening my seatbelt and went to my appointment.

THE drive to the hospital was not eventful, good thing I manage to drive safely even if I can still feel my world swirling while I was driving.

"Ms. Amber Lim, you may come in now"

the nurse called for my name as a signal for my turn.

I walk inside a room full of medical equipment and posters and in the middle of the room there sitted a middle-aged woman  probably in her 30s wearing a doctors coat, with a full smile on her face, she invited me to sit in front of her and introduces herself

"Hello Ms.Lim, I'm Doctor Hudson so what do we have here"

"I've been experiencing headaches for the past couple of months and lately it's getting worst" I explained further describing the things I have been experiencing lately 

after explaining things to her, she made me run through a bunch of laboratory tests including CT scans and things like that.

"you can get your results and reading in 30 to an hour today, are you willing to wait?" ask the nurse from the lab

"yes" I replied as I waited for my results. after less than 30 minutes, the nurse calls me in again inside where I saw Dr.Hudson once again. She gave me her warm smile again but it wasn't as big as the one she gave me earlier

"hhmm, For how long have you been experiencing headaches again Ms.Lim?" she asked looking me straight in the eye

"a few months back? maybe 10 or 8?" I replayed 

she gave out a heavy sigh before speaking "and why haven't you gone to the doctor earlier?" from that moment, I know something was wrong.

"I always have headaches because of lack of sleep and stressed from work, so I thought it was nothing too serious since Im already used to it not until recently when it gets nearly unbearable" I explained 

she paused for a moment before speaking 

"I'm sorry Ms.Lim, You have Glioblastoma multiforme"

I was clueless about what she said and I think she got a hint when she saw my confused expression 

 "you have a brain tumor, Ms.Lim, you have Cancer and you are in stage 4. I'm afraid that it's nonsurgical and you only have a month to live if you're lucky enough....." 

my head was clouded with thoughts that I was deaf to the world. nothing makes sense to me. 

But one thing is for sure.

My story will end sooner than I expected it to be.....