Chapter 8 - Shattered in pieces
1100 Words
Alice’s Point Of View
“What is going on?” Reynolds asked calmly, seeing the fear in my eyes.
“Nothing,” I said calmly, my lips trembling.
I couldn’t say another word but I hurried to my bedroom.
Grabbing the first shirt and trousers I could find, I quickly wore them and hurried towards the door.
“Let me help you,” Reynolds whispered softly, taking the keys from my hand and dropping them on my center table.
I was too weak to argue, I just allowed him to lead me to his car.
“Directions,” he asked quietly, watching me hand over my phone with the directions the hospital had sent.
His eyes softened on seeing the text on my phone and he held my hands tight as he started the car engine.
“Everything is going to be fine,” he whispered softly, kissing my forehead.
I couldn't remember anything else as my heart was shattered into a million pieces.
“We are here,” he announced a while later, squishing my hands gently.
Without another word, I bolted out of the car and ran straight to the reception.
“Please where is my mom?” I asked anxiously, tears rolling down my face.
“What is her name?” The nurse responded calmly, typing away on her computer.
“Miss Crystal,” I said firmly, waiting anxiously.
“Sorry there is no Miss Crystal on our system, Ma’am,” the nurse responded, her brows furrowing.
My heart skipped a beat and I fell to the floor, turning into a puddle of tears.
The nurse, touched and concerned, came to my side, comforting me alongside Reynolds.
“I'm so sorry Ma’am, does she go by any other name?” The nurse asked quietly, her voice softening.
“Y….yes” I stammered, cleaning my eyes quickly.
I remembered that my mom had gotten married the day before.
Only then did I realize that I didn't know the surname of my mom's new husband?
“What's your surname?” I asked anxiously, remembering that Reynolds' father was her husband.
“Smith,” He responded immediately, the nurse hurriedly towards the system.
“Found it! Mrs Crystal Smith,” the nurse announced, rushing to my side and helping me to my feet.
“Okay, what room?” I asked anxiously, trying to put myself together.
“Room 352, take it easy, and good luck,” she said softly, a sad smile spreading across her face.
I didn't even wait to say thank you, as I hurried towards my mom's room.
Her new husband would have been the one to bring her in hence the name confusion.
I didn't care about any of that, I just prayed that my mother was fine.
“Please Ma'am, try to calm down before I can let you enter,” a nurse said quietly, giving me some time to get myself together.
After a few minutes, I was finally calm enough to enter the room.
“Good luck,” she said quietly, letting me into the room.
“Mom!” I called loudly, unable to control myself rushing to her side.
I was shocked by the many machines connected to her body but Reynolds' arm on the small of my back held me up.
A small reassurance that I wasn't alone.
“Hi Alice,” my mom whispered weakly, reaching for my hand.
I grabbed her hand, kissing it as I sat by her side.
“How are you feeling now?” I asked anxiously, my eyes fixed on hers.
“I am fine, it's an old problem,” she responded softly, a weak smile plastered on her face.
“What do you mean? You were never sick, never!” I said firmly, looking at her in shock.
My mom had always been the greatest giggly ball of sunshine.
All my life I had never seen her in the hospital and now she was in such a state and claimed it was an old problem.
“I shielded you too well,” she responded calmly, nodding slowly.
Her words rocked my world, shaking me to my very core.
It was clear that I seemed to know nothing about my mother at all.
“I'm so sorry, I didn't know,” I cried bitterly, finally letting the tears slip.
I had judged my mom so hard, almost resenting her but now I understood that I was so wrong.
I had been so blind to her true pain and why she felt the need to always have someone around her.
“I left you all alone,” I grieved, kissing my mother's hand as I let the tears fall freely.
“No sweety, please don't,” my mother begged, as she began to tear up.
It was just a few minutes but it felt like hours of silence and tears.
My regrets stared me in the face, threatening to destroy my already scattered heart.
“Miss Alice,” an unfamiliar voice called sternly, my eyes snapped in the direction of the door.
An elderly doctor stood there, clearing his throat and adjusting his glasses.
“Yes doctor,” I responded weakly, too exhausted from crying to speak any louder.
“I need to see you in my office,” he said firmly, walking out of the room immediately.
“I will be right back Mom, wait for me,” I pleaded softly, kissing her forehead as I hurried after the doctor.
On my way out, I saw my mom's new husband for the second time.
He looked oddly calm with an expression I couldn't fully understand.
“Please doctor, how is my mom?” I asked curiously, as I entered his office.
“Take a seat,” he said sternly, avoiding my gaze.
He seemed annoyed with me for some reason and that was shocking because I had never seen him before.
“This generation of children have forgotten your values and it is disgraceful,” he spat angrily, turning his focus to his computer.
“I don't understand what you are saying Doctor, please tell me how my mom is, what can I do to help her?” I said anxiously, ignoring his rude comments.
He was quiet for a long time, staring into my soul and scaring me in more ways than one.
“Your mother's cancer has developed to the fourth stage, she doesn't have much time left,” he said quietly, taking a deep breath.
“My mom has cancer?” I asked in shock, my entire world crumbling in that instant.
- Writer
