Iridescence

It was a Friday afternoon and as per usual my mother, father, and I all go through to my Nana’s house to visit. It’s a normal run of Mill home in the suburbs, it’s an old house with a beautiful garden that used to belong to my great grandmother. We do this every second week so they can give my mother her medication. They say she is sick but it's not something you can see when you look at her. My mother is a beautiful and strong woman, but as little as i am i can see the toll the sickness has on her if you look carefully. The bags under her eyes and the bruises she keeps covered. My father and Nana always tell me she has a horrible disease that needs to be kept under control or they will lose her. Honestly, I hate these weekends, I feel the terror of what is to come already start to creep up in my veins and my heart begins to race thumping so loud that it’s starting to drown out the sounds of us pulling into the well-maintained flowery yard. Tears form in my eyes and begin to spill over like a never-ending waterfall and my hands start to shake. “Oh, my sweet Bokkie, don’t cry my love. It's okay everything will be okay.” my mother soothingly tells me as we climb out of the car and she holds me tight. My father just huffs and starts to make his way to the front door where my Nana is waiting. “Scarlett, my sweet pea! How are you my little munchkin?” my nana calls to me as she holds her arms open for me. I reluctantly walk out of my mother's embrace and go towards my nana. She lifts me easily in the air and swings me around. I am only four years old so it's rather easy for her to do so. I hear my father whisper something to my nana and they both look towards my mother who is trying so desperately to conceal her fear. I may only be four, but I know how hard my mother’s treatments are.  My father ushers me into the lounge and puts on some cartoons to keep me distracted when they take my mother to outside room in the back yard.” Stay here, Scarlett!” My father stays sternly. “We won’t be long.”. I watch helplessly as he holds my mother by her arm and pulls her along towards the room. It’s a small room with a heart rate monitor and a small bed with a toilet in the corner. I sit quietly and watch when I hear it. My mother’s Bone-chilling screams. For the first time, I disobey my father and run towards the room when I see my mother being pulled back by him and he is straining himself to control her. “You better stop this now Alexa! “My father bellows. “No! Please. Shaun, I’m begging you! Mom, Please I can’t take this anymore!” I see my Nana pull out a needle with grey liquid in and is busy pushing into my mother’s side. “Mommy!” I scream and try to get to her only to have my Granddad grab me before I could get too close and my father slams the door shut. I’m fighting and kicking so hard but it’s no use. I'm screaming and calling for them to stop hurting her while I hear her screams dull down and I’m carried back into the house. “Why? Why grandad? Why must everyone hurt mommy so much?” I cry into his shoulder. I’m so confused. “She is sick Scarlett, with a dreadful disease! It must be done." He just looked at me and explains sternly. We spend the weekend there where I don’t get to see my mother until Monday morning when she is getting me ready for school and herself ready for Work. She looks like she always does. Absolutely stunning but very tired. “Good morning my sweet princess, I’m so very sorry you had to see what you did on Friday “, She says holding me close as I stand ready for school. “don’t you worry, soon, very very soon everything will be better.” And off we go to start a new week. The weekend has come, and my father has decided to go out for the night leaving my mother and i home alone. As quick as she can my mother is packing bags grabbing clothes for both of us. “Scarlett sweetie.” My mother says as calmly as she can.” It’s time for you and I to go on an adventure! What do you say?” Looking around and all that is packed. “Is daddy coming, are we going to the sea again?” I ask eagerly. “No, my Scarlett, it’s just going to be you and me and mommy’s friend from work okay? Don’t worry everything will be okay!” She pulls me in tight for a hug and then her phone rings.” hi! yes, we are all packed! I'll open it now. We need to hurry” Soon after a huge man comes into our home. He is the biggest man I have ever seen. He pulls my mother in for a quick hug and goes to pick up the bags when he notices me. “Hello there little Bok,” the giant man says. “I have heard so much about you. Are you ready for our trip? “He asks in the warmest tone. His eyes are a deep green and his hair a jumbled mess. I nod my head, grabbing hold of my mother's leg and clutching to Me snuggly pants, my elephant teddy bear. “Are you going to take us away and hurt my mommy too, because she is sick?” I ask shyly. Anger flashes in his deep green eyes and he stiffens before taking a breath and relaxing. “Your mommy is not sick little Bokkie. I will never hurt her, nor will I ever hurt you. You both are going to be safe now I promise.” He answers kindly. Quickly grabbing as many bags as he can goes to put them away. We walk out of the house and my mother places me into the car chair that’s already strapped into the back of the bakkie, closes the door, and climbs in the front seat next to the giant man. “Are you ready my love? “He asks my mother who looks at him lovingly and turns to me with the happiest smile I have ever seen her carry. She then turns and takes her cell phone in her hand and throws it out the window, looking back to the Giant man “Ready!” she says with a breath of relief and we drive off.