DEAR EX HUSBAND, I AM NOT A REBOUND!

Chapter 2

LILY'S POV

A lucid hickey was plastered on my neck and I quickly covered it with my hand, taking a deep breath to calm myself down.“You don't have to be ashamed or shy about it, it's a symbol of the love you share with your husband.” She tried to comfort me and I chuckled sarcastically.If only she knew what was going on.“Stop crying, couples fight and it's normal. He'll come begging soon. Just go inside and have a bath. I'll serve you something to eat.” She urged, but I wasn't in the mood to have anything, but I needed a bath. Maybe it could wash away the hands of that filthy atrocious man.I made my way to the guest room and waited for her to get me new clothes to change into. She gave me a comforting peck and stepped out to give me privacy. I walked towards the mirror and realised it wasn't just one.The dress was sling-handed and my shoulders were exposed. The ugly hickeys irritated me to the core and I felt like throwing up. I took off the dress and stood before the mirror. My face suddenly turned pale, seeing the mess he made of my body. My nips were swollen and fumbled. I facepalmed myself and cursed Aaron before entering the bathroom.I soaked myself in the warm tub, scrubbing my body with the intention of scrubbing off his dirty touch but it wasn't helping. My skin reddened and I knew I had done enough. What happened wasn't my fault, but I felt it was, for trusting Aaron.‘But isn't trust a vital component of marriage?’ I tugged at my hair to vent my frustration, but it only worsened the ache I felt in my head, contributing nothing to the betterment of the situation.I got out of the tub and dried myself with a towel before proceeding to put on the dress Cassie offered and a pair of flats. I locked the door from behind and curled up in bed with a heavy heart and hazy vision as tears clouded my eyes.I heard a knock on the door and knew it was Cassie. She urged me to come out, but I couldn't. She'd see the tears and know it's beyond what I told her earlier. I ignored the sound of her knocking and remained in bed.“Lily, I know all isn't well. Please, come out and tell me what the issue is.” She urged from the other end of the door but I wasn't ready to have the conversation with her.My phone rang and I glanced blankly at the screen. It was the doctor at Evergreen Hospital, where my mum was receiving her treatments.I answered the call without hesitation and waited for him to speak.“Good day, Mrs Hilton.” He greeted me and I hated the sound of that. I already cut ties with Aaron and addressing me by his last name wasn't allowed.“Good day, Doctor Cole. I hope all is well, how is my mother?” I adjusted in bed, trying to sit upright.“Unfortunately, All is not well. Your mother's case became critical last night. We tried to reach you and your husband last night but neither of you was answering the calls.” My heart skipped a beat when he began and I finally heaved a sigh of relief.“I'm sorry, Doctor Cole. We were caught up with something but I'm less busy now. How's she? Should I come over?” I asked, hoping she was fine.“Mrs Hilton, I regret to announce that we tried our best but were unable to save her. We lost her a few hours ago.” He muttered under his breath and my pupils dilated.“Doctor, I didn't get the last part of your statement. Please, come again.”“I'm sorry, Mrs. Hilton. Your mother gave up last night, we tried our best. Accept my condolences.” He hung up after this and the phone fell off my hand.“No!!!” I yelled at the top of my voice, stumbling out of bed as I landed on the floor with a loud thud.“Lily! Is everything okay? Let me in—” Cassie's worried voice sounded from outside. I got on my feet and opened the door, running out like a mad woman without pausing to glance back. Cassie ran after me and was able to catch up with me.“Where are you going?” She asked, holding my arms with concern.“The hospital!” I responded, trying to get past her.“I'll drop you off,” She offered and we went towards her car.“You still haven't told me what's wrong,” She said as we left the compound.“The doctor just called to inform me that—--” I couldn't utter the statement. Doctor Cole was lying and I knew it. My mum was alive and she would wake up on my arrival at the hospital.“What did he say?” She asked as she drove at a higher speed.“Just keep going, Cass—” I muttered weakly, leaning further into the couch. After some minutes, we arrived at the hospital and I ran into the building like someone who just escaped a psychiatric home. I hurried towards the ward my mother was occupying and met Doctor Cole and a few nurses. My gaze travelled towards the bed, and there she was, covered with a white cloth from head to toe. I pulled it off her face, tossing it aside.Her eyes were tightly shut, her face was pale and she had a pained expression on her face. I grabbed her arms and wrapped her in a hug, shaking her with great difficulty.“Mum, I'm here now. Please, wake up— I'm still trying to get the money for your surgery, you can't die on me now!!” Tears rolled down my cheek as I bawled my eyes out, trying to get at least a response from her but there was nothing.She didn't even bulge, neither did her eyes flicker open. My entire world was crumbling into dust before my eyes and I felt useless. I couldn't do anything. Cassie finally arrived and she approached and hugged me from behind, sniffling back the sobs that threatened to escape her lips as she comforted me.“No Cass! She can't be gone— She promised to stay with me till the end. Dad left; she can't leave too–” Tears threatened to wash my eyes off their sockets, but I couldn't care at the moment. All I wanted was for her to open her eyes and tell me she was pulling my legs.“Doctor Cole, do something!! You can bring her back, just do anything. Please, she can't die— get your tools, do something,” I grabbed his calf, pleading pathetically but all he could do was flash me a sympathetic gaze as he tried to lift me off the floor.“You have to leave; she needs to be taken to the morgue, Mrs. Hilton. I feel your pain, but you have to be strong.”I went back to my mum's bedside and glanced at her one last time. The expression on her face broke my heart unexplainably. She fought for her life and experienced pain, even till the very moment she took her last breath.The nurses brought in a stretcher and wheeled her out of the room. I just couldn't sit back and watch them take her away. I held the stretcher firmly, giving them no room to keep rolling it. Cassie tried to hold me back but I wiggled out of her hold. Doctor Cole assisted her, but I fought them with all my might, ruining his coat and destroying his stethoscope in the process, but it didn't make me feel better.I slumped to the floor, realizing it was the painful reality I had to face. Just in one day, everything that mattered to me was stolen by nature. My marriage, my dignity and now, my mother? I just couldn't remain sane.