Prologue - My Mother
-Faye-
Sitting here in this cold hospital room alone, is unnerving. Every sound is shattering. The beeping heart monitor, the sound of the oxygen, the dripping IV, and I could go on. I don't want to be in this situation anymore, but when I look at my mother, I cant help but be strong for the both of us. Chills ran up and down my spine, even with my jacket on. I'm holding hands with my weak mother, begging her to hang on a minute longer. Hoping my dad would walk through that door before its too late. He was on a business trip in London when I had the nurse call him 24 hours ago. I’m awaiting his return, and the minutes feel like hours.
My mother squeezes my hand, breaking me out of my trance. She sends a weak smile my way. Her eyes wide, questioning where my father was....again? I smile to say "He is on his way."
“Faye my dear, I want you to be happy and I want you to follow your heart no matter what your father says. I know he is stern, but he means well. Being emotional was never something he showed often.” She says in a weak and raspy voice. “Please promise me, okay? I love you sweet girl.”
“I promise mommy, I promise you!” I said as the tears began to fall down my cheeks.
I lean down to kiss my mother on the cheek and squeeze her with a hug. She closes her eyes, and falls asleep.
*
After what feels like hours, I hear a lot of commotion in the hallway. That’s when my father walks through the door. Everyone always wants to talk to him about his ventures, but he needs to be here. Here with mom. He immediately looks at me with a very stern look, with no emotion. His gaze lands on my mother and he is dead in his tracks. I swear I saw a single tear roll down his cheek, but he blinked it away.
“H-Has she said anything?” My father asks with a stutter.
“Yes, but it was a few hours ago. She told me that she loved me and asked me to promise to be happy.”
“Okay,” he says as he pulls her hand into his.
My mother opens her eyes and she gives him a weak smile. My father looks at my mom, but doesn’t say a word. Seems as if he can’t speak. My mom then tries to reach out her hand to rub his chin and her hand suddenly falls as if it was weighted down by bricks.
She mouths the words “I love you" to my father. She looks at me as her eyes closed for the last time. Just like that, she was gone.
I grab ahold of her shoulders and nudge them.
“Mommy, please don't. Not yet!!!" I screamed hysterically with tears in my eyes. I lay my head on her chest, trying not to sob harder. I feel hands on my back, trying to pull me into a hug. My father turns me around and embraces me for the first time in a long time. "She is gone...why did she have to go?" I say quietly. I didn't expect him to answer me. We just sat there for what seemed like hours, and held on to eachother.
