Rosetta

Rosetta groaned and rolled over. She peaked at her alarm clock, 5:30. Her shift wasn't until the next hour and a half. She rolled over and lay on her back, staring blankly at the ceiling. The wind was howling outside, and the cold night air swirled around. Soft whining filled the silence as her Husky, Lucky, climbed onto the bed and nuzzled her shoulder. Rosetta smiled and scratched behind his ear. "Can't sleep? Me either" she told him. Lucky whined again and stared right into her eyes > Rosetta gasped started at and stared at her dog. Did he just talk? Or did I imagine it? She thought. As she thought this, thunder echoed as the rain started to pour. She turned to look at the window for a second then back at Lucky, who was staring innocently back at her. Rosetta just shook her head and smiled, rubbing his head. I must be imagining things, guess I'm more tired than I thought. She dismissed the moment and drifted slowly back to sleep, Lucky snuggled next to her.  *************************** At exactly six am, Rosetta was startled awake by the sound of her alarm. Lucky popped his head up startled at well and looked around. Rosetta turned off the annoying thing and brushed her messy red hair out of her eyes and mouth. She sat up, took a deep breath, and stared around her small room. The only furniture was a small wardrobe, her nightstand with carried her lamp, a small bean bag next to the window, and her computer desk and chair. The floor was covered with a light pink, fuzzy, rug carpet. Her curtains were light pink as well. The walls were white and covered with posters of her favorite artists and places she wanted to travel to. Rosetta sighed and looked at her dog, who was wagging it's tailed excitedly. > he seemed to say.  Rosetta was startled again and just gazed in wonder at her pet, wondering if she actually heard it. Lucky c****d his head as though he was wondering what she was thinking. Rosetta just shook her head and dismissed it again. She got off the bed and slipped into her bunny slippers. She opened the curtains and headed downstairs into the kitchen. She opened the curtains there too and then opened the fridge, scanning it's contents.  "Eggs and bacon?" She asked Lucky, and he just barked happily and wagged his tail. Rosetta smiled and grabbed the items and began preparing them. She hummed and she moved around the kitchen, grabbing two plates and mugs from the drainer. Lucky dropped his bowl at her feet and sat down, looking at her expectantly. Rosetta smiled and picked up the bowl filling it and the plates with fatty foods. She filled the mugs with freshly brewed coffee and placed the bowl down. She grabbed a plate and a mug and headed back upstairs, past her bedroom and towards the door on the far left. She took a deep breath and opened it.  "Hey mom, you up? I made breakfast"  The middle-aged woman lying on the bed with tubes in her arm and an oxygen mask on her face turned, ever so slowly to face her daughter. Her breathing was raspy as she struggled to take another breath each time. She weakly lifted a hand and forced a smile, beckoning her to come closer.  Rosetta smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed and place the food on the nightstand. She held the outstretched hand "How are you feeling?" "Same as everyday" she hoarsely replied and coughed.  Rosetta sighed sadly. Her mother was diagnosed with bronchitis a few months ago, and its only been getting worst. The sudden illness forced Rosetta to work two jobs and as a result she had to stop school, to be able to take care of her mother and pay for treatment and medication. She till took online classes and told everyone she was being home-schooled. She could just tell them the truth, but what could they do? She didn't want anyone's pity.  "Do you think you can eat?" She asked, reaching for the plate. "I'm not hungry" Mother replied. "Mom, c'mon you gotta eat something. You have to take your medication" "I don't want medication" she rasped stubbornly, turning her head away. Rosetta sighed in frustration "Mom. I'm not asking. You. Have. To. Eat" Mother sighed and took a heavy deep breath "Just the coffee" she said. "Mom you need solid food" "And you need a normal life"  There was silence for a moment. The sounds of their breathing and the dog moving downstairs where the only sounds to be heard.  "Everything I do, all the sacrifices I've made, they're all for you, at my own will. Don't ever talk to me about having a normal life, this is my normal life" Rosetta said quietly but sternly. Mother just stared blankly at her, her  breathing now very shallow. She blinked a few times and turned away again.  Rosetta just sighed and placed down the plate. "I'm gonna be late for work" she said bleakly and left the the room. *************************** When Rosetta arrived half an hour late to work, her Assistant Boss, Karen, was furious. "Where were you! You were supposed to be here about and an hour ago! This morning was packed, Stacey needed you in the kitchen and Amanda needed help waiting the tables" Rosetta frowned "So I was to do both of those things? Where are the other workers?" "I mean you would take turns,. You could take over the kitchen when Stacey was tired and take over the tables when Amanda was tired." Karen rolled her eyes like it was so obvious. Rosetta sighed. She missed the days when he her mother was well and she was just a carefree 17 year old.  "Just get work" Karen snapped and threw an apron at her. The rest of the day was slow but normal. Usual costumers, usual orders, usual tips, usual naggings, usual tiring, monotonous chattering.  By the end of the day, Rosetta was extremely exhausted and yawned as she wiped down the tables. As she was doing this, Adam, one of her co-workers approached her. "Long day huh" he said rubbing the back of his neck and rolled his shoulders. He swung the towel he had in his hand on his shoulders and flashed a smile. Rosetta rolled her eyes but smiled politely "Hello Adam. Yes it has been. Which is why I am very happy to be heading home and only home" She began walking away. "Hey, hey, hey, Hold up" Adam said chasing after her "Let me take you home. You must be tired of taking the bus everyday. Let me give you a ride" "I'm actually very happy with the bus"  "C'mon save your money. It's much more comfortable too" Rosetta frowned deeply and turned to face him "I do not want you to bring me home Adam. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. Maybe if I'm dying I'd still call someone to get the bus. Now if you'll excuse me, I have important places to be. Go woo some other girl" She brushed passed him, tossing the apron on the counter, she grabbed her bag and stormed out. *************************** Rosetta was greeted with a slobbering kiss and pushed to the ground. She laughed and she tried to remove Lucky's heavy body from atop hers. When he finally got off, he barked and ran upstairs waiting for her at the top of the stairs. At that moment Rosetta's heart dropped and she ignored her bag and it's spilled contents and dashed upstairs. She flung her mother's room door open and ran inside. Relief flowed through her when she saw it was just her nurse doing her daily check-up. "Rose?" Nurse Claire said "Is something the matter?" Rosetta took a deep breath "No I'm fine. I just wanted to see if she ate" she lied. "Well she did. I came here and met her eating eggs and bacon, not the best food choice but it's better than nothing" "Oh" Rosetta said in surprise and looked at her mother who was smiling weakly. She smiled back and turned her attention back to the nurse "so how is she?" "She's doing okay. Her blood pressure is stable, her heart rate is improving, her lungs don't seem to be showing no sign of improvement but it's not worsening either" she smiled and patted her hand. She stood up "Tomorrow I'll be coming with a young man around your age to help me out. He's doing Volunteering at the hospital" She told Rosetta "I don't want to startle you again" Rosetta chuckled and thanked the nurse. She then turned and headed to her room, Lucky following.  "You gave me a bit of a scare there boy" she told him as he climbed onto the bed. She sat down next to him and rubbed his fur "I don't know what I'd do if lost her" she said quietly. Lucky whined sadly as though he understood her pain, and snuggled closer. "Don't worry boy" She reassured him "It's going to be okay. She's going to be okay. We're going to be okay"