Just for Tonight

6

Episode 6

MARE

By the time we arrive the front of the Chris-Flourish hospital it was already dark and only the street light was lighten up the street that was now covered in total darkness.

The driver park the car and I quickly look at my face in the mirror before coming out of the car. I don't want Mom to notice I've been crying and not happy in my new school.

I hang my bag well on my back before running to the receptionist in the lobby wearing a smile on like her husband might walk in anytime soon.

"How may I help you young lady?"She asks.

"I'm here for Mrs Atwood, she was rushed in here by_"

"Are you Mare?"Someone call my name and I turn.

"Yeah"I reply to the stranger.

"Thank God, Come with me"he ordered and I follow him Immediately.

"I'm the pharmacist that called you earlier"

"Oh how is my mom?"

"The doctor refuse to open up to me but you should go see her now"

"Thanks so much"

"She is in the next ward, I will take my leave"

"Okay thanks"I replied with a smile and he left While I rush into my mom ward and there she is looking all white and pale.

Her eye were shut closed as she lay on the bed.

"Mom"a tears roll down my eye as I grab her hand in mine and sit beside her leg. I noticed the bruises that are now appearing on her body.

"Mom"I called again but I noticed some tears rolling down her eye too that went down to her ear.

"Mom can you hear me?"I asked but she just lay down her eye shut and she couldn't even lift her mouth to talk.

"Mom promise me you are going to fight for your life. Just tell me you aren't going to die. Promise me you will stay with me forever"the tears I was holding back roll down my cheeks and my breaks completely.

When she didn't respond to my words I took that as an agreement and wipe my tears that won't stop falling.

"Are you the daughter of Mrs Atwood?"a man in white Jacket and obviously a doctor asks and I nod placing my mom hand down gently and stand up.

"Great, Can I talk to you privately for a moment?"

"Sure"I nod, I don't even know the word that should be coming out of my mind as we walk out of my mom ward.

"So what is my mother condition doctor?"I asks immediately we were out.

"Yeah I actually want to talk about your mother condition but first do you have any elderly person that can actually stand for you?"He asks.

"I'm sorry but I'm the only one she got"I replied and force a smile on hiding my sad face.

"This is going to be hard"he sigh deeply and I know he is only feeling bad he is about to break a sad new to a seventeen years old girl that just start her life.

"Are you sure?"he asks and I nod instead of saying words.

"The thing is your mom has a stage four leukemia. There are many_"

"What are insinuating?" I was so much curious because my brain couldn't processing anything at that point.

"She has cancer"he blurted out and tears roll down my eye as I looked at him shaking profusely as tears roll freely down my eye.

My mother is going to die??

NINA

I'm so scared last night when Mare didn't show up. I didn't even know how I slept off last night because I've been trying her number but she isn't picking up.

Few of her things were missing but she didn't drop a note or anything for me to know she would be leaving.

I dress up for school early so I can go make enquiry probably someone must I've seen her. I grab my bag and ran out of my dorm only to bumped into Linda.

"Hey where are you running to this morning?"She asks.

"To search for Mare"I replied.

"When did Mare turn to a needle?"

"She didn't come back to the dorm last night"

"I'm sorry"She gasped.

"What?"

"She asks me to inform you, she is going back home"

"Why? All of sudden?"

"Probably something came up at home"She replied.

"That strange"

"You can just call her"

"She isn't picking up her calls. I think something is wrong"

"So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know"I shrug.

"Just keep calling probably she might pick luckily"

"I pray so"I replied.

"Nina"She called.

"Yes"

"You attended the same high school with her didn't you notice anything off about her?"She asks and I sigh.

"Mare had always keep a her identity hidden and hardly talk. Nobody know anything about her"

"Oh She is our friend we should look out for her"

"There is nothing we can do except we pray she comes back to school earlier to avoid been evicted"I replied.

"Are you heading to call now"

"No I should just go have breakfast since I know she went home at least"

"Let go together"

"Sure"I smiled and we head to the cafeteria to get our breakfast.

BRYAN

I was having breakfast with my friends and of course Cynthia been cliche. She is busy taking photos and uploading it on her page.

There is only one reason I'm accepting her offer. She is blackmailing me and I don't want to hurt Mare because of my foolishness.

#Flashback#

"Bryan"Cynthia kept calling my name that night as I was coming back from the dorm but I ignore her. I wasn't planning to go back home that night because I'm aware my dad is around.

"You know ignoring me won't save me from uploading this shocking new I read about Mare"She said and I stopped.

"What do you mean?"I turn and she laugh.

"So it true"

"What true"

"You like her"

"I totally don't understand what you mean because I don't even know her and don't want to know anything about her"I scowled and she laugh.

"Is it because of a stupid kiss?"

"Cynthia were are heading too exactly?"

"I have the video and I will upload it and tell everyone that she is just a slut trying to be a white dove"

"What do you mean"I asks, She press somethings on her phone before passing the phone to me.

"What is this?"I snatch the phone from her and look at the video she is showing me in disbelief.

"If you don't do what I want right now. Tomorrow headline on the school forum will be Mare Atwood a freshman has proven to be a slut by sleeping with two best friends. Firstly it John and now she is a pass over to Bryan the school Greek god"

"How did you get this?"I clenched my fist together, I would have literally punch her but I don't touch girls.

"Are you going to do my thing or destroy the little poor girl future"

"No"

"Don't tell me you don't know that Mare is from a very poor family and she even lost her father a long time ago and she is only surviving through her sick mother"

"Cynthia why are you so desperate?"I asks.

"I won't repeat myself Bryan"She replied.

"Fine! But if I found out all this is a lie I won't spare you I promise"

"I won't ever lie to you"She said.

"What do you want from me?"

"Nothing just do as I say"She replied and my fist clenched.

I don't know why I'm doing this but that night was my fault. I shouldn't I've allowed John take her up or even allow her join our table.

"Goodnight love"She kiss me and walk away but I just stand there without saying a word.

"Hey man"Leo walk close and tap my shoulder.

"What's up"I sounded so unlike me.

"Isn't that Cynthia?"

"Yeah"

"What does she want?"

"Nothing"I brush him off and walk back to our dorm leaving him outside to contemplate on his own.

#End_of_flashback

"Take a bite honey"She shove salad into my mouth and chew unsatisfactorily.

I was waiting patiently for Mare to walk in through that door but it doesn't looks like she will be having breakfast this morning again.

Is skipping lunch something she is addicted to or what?.

"What wrong with you man?"Leo asks John and my attention landed on him.

he hasn't been eating truly. "Is anything the Matter?"I added.

"Nothing I lost my appetite"he replied.

"That Funny"Liam laugh and I smirked.

"I'm serious"He frown and Leo chuckled making me smile.

I was happy when I sighted Nina and Linda walk in and approach us. I was waiting patiently for Mare to walk in but she isn't coming.

"Good morning guys"Linda greets and sit beside Leo.

"Hey"Nina sit opposite me which is close to John.

"Where is Mare?"Liam was the first to asks.

"She didn't tell you guys too?"Nina asks.

"Tell us what?"I blurted out and everyone attention was on me.

"I told you she was in a hurry"Linda bailed me out.

"She went home yesterday and she is yet to be back"

"Home? Why?"Leo asks.

"I don't know but I think it must be her mom again"Nina replied and I remember what Cynthia said.

Is she for real? Mare mother is sick?.

"Yeah I saw her last night when she was leaving but I couldn't stop her. She was crying and really angry and mad at me for no reason"John added.

Is that the reason he suddenly lost is appetite? He cares about her too?.

"I just hope she returns"Nina added.

"Why would you make a statement like that?"Liam asks.

"She drop out of school for a while when her mother illness become critical and that was the last time I saw until now"She explained and I don't understand the way I feel right now.

Is she ever going to return back?

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.

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TBC...

Do you think Mare will ever come back now that her mother is diagnosed with cancer?.