Chapter 9
1351 Words
Liana
I've been on the balcony for a while now. The few tendrils that have escaped my ponytail, were whipping around my face.
I was deep in thoughts when I heard footsteps behind me. The set of foot stopped beside me. I didn't turned to look. I knew who it was. The scent of man cologne wafting through my nose.
I didn't say anything to initiate a conversation. I was in no mood to talk.
He didn't say anything either. For a while, we enjoyed the silence, the night sky, the smell of roses, but he broke the heavenly moment,
"Why are you here? The party is inside", he informed me as if I didn't know.
"I know, I needed fresh air", I cleared.
He didn't say anything for a whole moment, but then, "Dance with me", he said and my breath hitched. Why? Why now?
I faced him,
" I don't think so Mr. Eaton, I should head home,it's late", my voice came out hard and sharp, more then I'd intended to.
He opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again but I gave him a tight smile, "Good night, Mr. Eaton" , with this said , I strode inside the room without waiting for his answer. I spotted Steve and went to him. After informing him about my departure, I walked towards the exit. He argued that he'd drop me home but I refused.
Hailing a taxi, I sat inside and let out a sigh. A headache was brewing in my left temple.
I leaned my head on the back of seat and closed my eyes.
It had been a long, long day. I shouldn't have come.
I needed to stay away from Helios as far as possible. He wasn't good for my mind. I have made my resolve and nobody was going to break it.
I'll stay away from him for the sake of my sanity and heart.
I cannot be heartbroken at this stage of life.
I'm stable and happy, I didn't need anything else. Certainly not some stupid feelings.
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Sunlight filtered through the curtains and chased away the lingereing darkness. I inhaled deeply, aromas reached my nostrils. Toast,bacon and eggs.
My eyes flew open and I quickly scrambled out of bed and ran to the kitchen.
Just as I thought, there she was, my beautiful mother. She was,unlike me, a blonde. The green eyes are the only thing that I inherited from her.
Her once perfect hair was now so thin and almost white. It broke my heart to see her like this. But I put on a cheerful smile and hugged my mother from behind.
"You're up,honey", my mother's melodious voice reached my ears and I sighed with content. She's really here.
" You should've told me you're coming ", I said while opening the refrigerator for milk and orange juice.
"I thought I should give my daughter a surprise", she said, turning the stove off.
"Well, this is a pleasant surprise", I pointed towards the delicious breakfast .
" Ah, food loving daughter ", my mother sighed and I laughed.
My mother was a health freak with the counting-calories-in-everything habit. But still she got sick, didn't she?
I shook my head and started eating.
" We are going to the hospital after breakfast", she opened her mouth to protest but I gave her a stern look that shut her up.
My mother hated hospitals. She refused all the treatment. She never tell me about her condition.
So hospital is the only place I can find out if she's really fine as she tells me every time. I love my mother to death. She is my best friend. When I found out about her cancer three years back, it broke me. I was living in the dorms back then. As soon as I shifted in this apartment, I begged her to move in with me but she refused, saying " Town life is calmer".
So I made her promise she'd come here, every three months for a week.
In this period, I take her to the docter,we do shopping, watch movies and visit the church together.
I parked my car in the hospital parking. Together, we made our way to the interance.
I was sitting on the waiting chair outside the doctor's room. Mom was inside for her checkup.
My head was leaned on the beige wall behind me. I dread this day all month,every month. What would the docter tell me? For the past three year, it's been going like that.
How many times I've sit on this same chair and dreaded that this will be it. The doctor will tell me that she has no more time.
That my mother has no more time.
I closed my eyes against the burning. I lone hot tear rolled on the cheek,making it's way through my neck, finally soaking in my T-shirt.
The door to the doctor's room opened. I took a deep breath and wiped my face with a hand. I stood up. Mom was smiling at the docter bidding her farewell.
Then she came towards me. I smiled at her with difficulty.
"Wait in the car for me, mom, I'll talk to the docter", I handed the keys to her and kissed her cheek. She patted my cheek and whispered, "Don't worry", and started walking away from me. She always says this.
I watched her until she disappeared in the elevator, taking a deep breath, I braced myself and turned towards the room.
"Hello Docter Avery", I smiled politely at the docter.
She was in her early thirties, with wild curly black hairs, coffee coloured skin, soft black eyes and a gentle smile.
She's been handling mom's case for past two years.
" Sit down,Lia", she gently said. I nodded and sat down in the chair. "How's she,docter?", I asked without furher greetings.
The docter sighed. She sighed and I knew something bad was coming.
"Her cancer is spreading once again, even though slowly but it's spreading, it's stage four. We can't treat it at this phase ", she squeezed my hand. I couldn't help but wince.
My throat tightened and my eyes burned.
"How....", my voice cracked but I shoved the words out, " how...long do....does..sh..she..have?", silent tears rolled down my cheeks. I bit on my lips hard, to keep myself from becoming a sobbing mess.
She looked at me pityingly. "Few months, a year maybe. I can't tell for sure", I nodded.
"Don't let her know this", I stood up from my chair and shook the doctor's hand.
"You're a very strong girl,Lia, but fate is a cruel thing",she squeezed my hand ," yes, it is", I whispered.
"Can I use the bathroom?", I asked, when she nodded I made my way towards the door and after shutting it behind me, I took a deep,deep breath.
I have to be strong for her, I got to be strong for her.
I splashed cold water on my face. Removing any trace that I'd cried. She didn't need to know this either.
After drying my face, I got out. Nodded at the doctor. She gave me a painful smile. I shook my head and headed outside.
Once I reached the the front doors, I put on a cheerful smile and opened the door , walked towards my car calmly and sat down inside.
She was slurping on a orange juice and going through my songs.
She looked at me with a raised eyebrow, I beamed at her. She didn't need to know.
"You're fine, mom", I said enthusiastically.
Even if she's going to die, she didn't need to know this. Maybe if she don't know she's dying,then she won't.
I knew I was grasping on foolish hope but that's all I had.
Mom's face broke into a beautiful smile. She was just forty five.
"See, I told you not to worry",I nodded,starting the car.
" Now,Are we going shopping or what?", she said while shuffling through the CDs.
"Yes mom, to the shopping mall", and I speed towards the shopping mall.
- Writer
