Chapter 2
1434 Words
Because I still need her here with me.
We're not alone.
Mom's not alone.
She will always have me, Bliar, Tom, and Riley. And my father will always be her angel.
Ill take care of her like she had taken care of me for seventeen years.
When Dad died, it hurt. Mom glued me back together. I'l never understand how she did it when her heart was shattered, but she did. She did it because she is strong.
She was there to comfort me and encircle me with her love.
Mom continuously talked about all the wonderful memories, to keep my father alive even after his death. She promised to alvways be there for me.
And she was. So, now it's my turn to be there for her.
Ill help her fight.
Il love her every step of the way.
I'l be her strength in her weakest moments. And Il help her through this. Il carry her the way she had carried me. And Ill never let her go. Even when she doesn't have the strength to fight, I'll fight for her.
Riley pov...
"I'm worried about, Mary," Latt proclaims.
"Me too, Latt," I confess as I sit on the side of her bed holding her fragile hand. Visibly, Latt has lost so much weight these past two months.
Furthermore, she's lost all of her hair. But through it all, Latt has remained strong, and I think it's more for Mary's sake than hers.
"I need to talk to you, Riley. And, I don't want you to interrupt me." I nod as she proceeds. "I realize I'm not going to survive this battle with cancer. I'm tired. I'm weak. I'm sick all the time.
Plus, I'm in so much pain. I have fought so hard because I didn't want to leave my daughter." She pauses, giving tỉme for her words to sink in. "I don't think I have much fight left in me. I need you to be her crutch, Riley. She loves you, and if anyone can help her through another loss, it Would be you."
I hang my head low, closing my eyes. My worst fears are coming true. "What if I can't?" I ask the question I fear the most.
Latt takes hold of my hand, andI cover her hand with mine. "You have to, Riley. You have been there for her throughout her entire life.
No doubt, she's going to push you away, but you can't let her. You'l have to fight her twice as hard as she fights you." Latt coughs.
Recently, I've noticed her cough has worsened. I take her glass of ice water off the table, placing it against her dried lips, "Ill never leave her side Latt. Honestly, I'm terrified she won't be capable of dealing with the pain of losing you."
When I place the glass of ice water down on the table, Latt speaks. "Then you carry it with her. I love you, Riley, as my own son. There is nobody, no woman, no man." She shakes her head. "There isn't anyone I trust with my daughter more than I trust you. Only, because I know Mary loves you."
I place a soft kiss on her hand. "I don't want you to die, Latt." I'm helpless to fight these tears. I voice my concerns, my fears, and let the pain out every time Latt and I are alone.
I only have nights alone with Latt after she forces Mary to go to her bedroom and get some rest. Honestly, if Latt didn't force Mary to sleep in her own bedroom, she would never leave her side. After Mary had graduated high school two weeks ago, she does nothing except lay by her mother's side, and cry.
"I don't want to die either, unfortunately, God has other plans." I lean down, place a kiss on Latt's cheek, and allow all the pain to escape.
She brings her hand to my shoulder, pats it, softy.
"Let it out now, Riley, so you can be there for her."
And I do.
I let out every f*****g tear until I have no more. I cry for Latt while she's still here, and breathing because I know that it's only a matter of time.
Although Mary doesn't want to believe it, I think deep down she knows. "Make sure she eats Riley before you go to sleep," Latt says, sadly. I nod, kiss her cheek, not knowing if it will be the last time.
"Eat," I order as I hold the slice of extra cheese pizza in front of Mary's mouth.
Since her mother's diagnosis of cancer, Mary has done nothing but mope around the house, and lounge by her mother's side. I understand Mary's heartache because I feel it as well. I have been doing a lot of pretending lately. I pretend to be okay to support my lifelong best friend.
Latt has been a second mother to me from the moment I was born. Unquestionably, it's difficult to sit by and watch somebody you love slowly deteriorate. "If you want to remain strong for your mother Mary, then you need to eat." I use her weakness against her in hopes it will make her eat.
"How can I eat Riley when I watch my mother vomit every day just from the sight of food?" The pain is evident in her voice. There isn't anything I can do to take it away. I feel helpless, and Ifucking hate it.
I wish I could heal Latt, and take all Mary's pain away, but I f*****g can't regardless of how much I want to.
Undoubtedly, I feel so much anger on the inside and so much hurt. In addition to that, I feel f*****g helpless.
Unequivocally, I hate standing by helplessly, watching the people I love suffer, and can't do a damn thing to help them.
"Please, eat Mary," I beg. I'l do whatever I can to get her to take care of herself, even if I have to beg. For her, I'll do anything.
Eventually, she takes the slice of pizza from me.
I watch as she slowly eats it. The entire time she eats, I observe her. I noticed she's lost a couple of pounds, and it seems like she doesn't enjoy anything lately.
What saddens me, is how she stopped caring about herself since her mother's diagnosis.
Once, Mary swallows the last bite of pizza, I pull her into me and hold her firmly against me. As SOon as she rests her face against my chest, she weeps.
Tenderly, I stroke her hair, "I love you, Mary."
She hiccups, "I love you too, Riley." She grips my shirt tightly within her fist, "I don't want to lose her Riley. I still miss my father, and I'm struggling to grasp the fact I'm going to lose her too." My heart splits even more, but I bury my pain for her.
"She's still here, Mary." I remind her.
Gently, I lay Mary down on her back, place my hand over her heart, "All our hearts are still beating, so for now, we're okay."
Rashly, she pushes my hand off her chest, "For how long Riley?" She shouts. "How much longer will my mother's heart beat for?"
"I don't know," I mumble as I lean my forehead against hers. "I don't know." She's f*****g breaking me, andI don't know what the f**k to do to erase her heartache.
At once, I feel Mary's warm breath against my lips, and slowly, I open my eyes. Her tear sparkling eyes stare intensely into mine, as she moves her lips to mine.
A weak moment is what this is.
Still, I can't think of anything else since she's never kissed me before. Of course, I have loved her every day of my life, and never have I hid her every day of my life, and never have I hid it from her, but not once has Mary made a move.
Moreover, as far as I know, she's still a virgin. I have always wanted to make Mary mine especially when I noticed the boys in school flirting with her. I never showed the jealousy I felt considering our parents are best friends. Also, I didn't want to lose Mary as a friend if she didn't feel the same way.
My broken Mary.
She's hurting and is seeking comfort.
I want her pain.
I want her heartache.
Therefore, I part my lips and slowly twirl my tongue around hers. She doesn't hesitate to grab hold of my chocolate brown curls and yank me closer.
- Writer
