Their Voices

part 10

Chapter 5.

“I can't believe I'm skipping school. I’ve never skipped school” I said. “Same” Sophie agreed “I've skipped school with Sam a few times” Jack claimed “yea we know always around lunch time too” Sophie hinted, Giving us a sly smile Jack laughed “yea but haven't you missed school like when you where sick” Jack asked “I have but Jas has never missed a school day in her life” Sophie claimed “for real, how?” Jack asked “I’ve always been scared I would get into trouble with my mom or the teachers” I explained, making Jack laugh. Turning a bright red I laughed shyly. When suddenly we heard “you have a message...you have a message” looking around we noticed Jack rummaging through his pockets pulling out his vibrating phone. Taking a look Jack's face went from that warm smile to a pale white “what?” Sophie asked concerned “what's wrong Jack,” I asked “oh um nothing!” Jack nervously said “that's a lie” I said looking at him worried “what happened” I asked. “Nothing Sam just texted me about a new sick game that's all” Jack lied “really can I see” I asked “NO! I mean it's all b****y not for girls” Sophie looked at him then got up “fine I give up” Sophie said, turning around to leave. Sighing in relief Jack relaxed but Sophie suddenly grabbed his phone seeing the text her face went just as pale as Jacks. “What's wrong,” I asked “he's right it really isn't for girls,” Sophie said stunned “yea I told you,” Jack said “well now I'm curious,” I said pouting “um Jack could you come with me like NOW!” Sophie asked, grabbing his wrist, pulling him away. “What the heck is this” Sophie asked angrily, “I don't know but what do we do” Jack asked confused “I don't know but I do know that that is not true” Sophie acclaimed “did Jasmine tell you she's ok” Jack asked “Jas told me many times, I've talked to her to” Sophie said nervously “then what can we do?” As they whispered I sat behind the bushes they walked behind. An uneasy feeling rising in my stomach. “What are they talking about?” I asked myself --BEEP BEEP-- suddenly my phone beeped startling my attention to the text on my screen. A gasp came from my mouth. “No no NO! Is this what Jack and Sophie were talking about” I asked myself fearfully. My fear and worry overwhelmed me. Hastily I quickly stood up and walked around the bush. “Uh hey...hey guys I just remembered my Mom asked me to get some groceries.” I nervously said “oh ok um hey Jas” Sophie stopped me “you ok” she asked worried “yeah why wouldn't I be” I smile “no...no reason” Sophie stuttered. “Ok,” I said as I started walking towards home “something’s wrong,” Jack said, “yea you think she heard us,” Sophie asked, “no I don't think so but even if she did, it's not true...right?” Jack asked worriedly. “I don't know anymore,” Sophie answered.

“What do I do if people start looking into it?” shaking my head I tried to calm myself. “No, I can't think like that. What matters right now is that I'm ok for now yea I'll...I'll be ok for now she said she was getting better” I said “still the only ones who knew where me and the three demons... they must have shared it because of yesterday” falling to my knees, my legs weak from fear and sorrow. All my worries and fears were flooding my head dancing like a thousand fireflies. My head and heart feeling overwhelmed holding my hands up I pressed them against my ears trying not to hear anything wanting everything to disappear. Hesitantly I moved my hands lifting my head “--Sigh-- No, I can't break down. Not here and especially not now.” I said sternly to myself getting up off the ground, dusting myself off before heading toward the pharmacy again.

“Hey, Aldean,” I said waving as I walked down the aisle of the pharmacy. Aldean Waayers, a nice lady with beautiful golden hair and blue eyes like crystals and a tattoo on her wrist that's shaped like a butterfly. She's the pharmacist I see almost every month sometimes more if need be. “Hey Jasmine back already” she said cheerfully “yea do you have the medication it should be filled by now” I asked “let me look” she said holding her finger up as she walked behind the shelves. “So how’s everything been shouldn't you be in school right about now” she asked “yeah but I got out early” I laughed nervously “ah well that's always good I hope your doing good in school” “well I have good grades like usual and Sophie's been helping me with the student council” I explained “well that's good you two have always been like sisters always next to each other” Aldean laughed happily “yea we still are, but she's more like a bossy sister.” I laughed “that's part of Sophie's charm isn't it...ah here we are” Aldean smiled “sure is,” I said agreeing “so how has your Mom been,” Aldean asked giving me a sweet smile “well she's getting better. Although sometimes it suddenly gets worse. The doctors say it's a severe case of cancer but they are not completely sure yet so hopefully they'll find out soon” I said sadly “well I'm sure everything will turn out alright” she said supportively “yea I'm sure it will” I smiled “well here's her medication” she said holding the bag up “thanks a lot I’ll see you soon Aldean” I waved “your welcome dear. Oh and come over for dinner Saturday Rick and the family are having a cookout you should come” she hollered “I'll try! Thank you” I said as I walked out of the pharmacy. After about half an hour of grocery shopping I finally headed home. The hot sun hanging over my head as I carried the heavy bags breathing heavily. My legs tired and my arms growing weak “Man, I wish I had a car right now,” I sighed, my arms getting numb from all the bags I had in hand. --BEEP BEEP-- a car suddenly honked startling me. Quickly I looked behind me to see Jack drive up in a shiny cobalt blue-coated 79 Trans-am “hey Jasmine” Jack said smiling proudly “JACK!” I yelled surprised “need a ride,” he asked generously “uh yea” I laughed “talk about perfect timing” I laughed to myself as I walked around the stalled car. Quickly he noticed the bags and put the Trans-am in park popping the trunk, and quickly hopping out to help me put the bags in. Afterwards we hopped into his car buckling up before driving towards my house. “When did you get a car,” I asked curiously “oh this I've had her since the beginning of high school but I only drive outside of school and on the weekends. You like her?” he asked smiling “yeah I do she’s a beautiful 79 Trans-am” I said sounding amazed “I didn't know you liked cars” Jack said shocked “well yea I even used to help my Dad with them all the time though I was small I couldn’t do much but when I did I always felt like I was ten feet tall” I reminisced. Jack laughed an understanding laugh “yea I get that” he finally said. “Oh turn here” I directed quickly “got it...so what's up you left pretty abruptly,” he asked “I'm guessing he's wondering about that text” I thought sadly. Uncertain Jack sighed agitatedly “ok, look there's this rumor going around that your mom is dying and that you are by yourself...” he stopped himself. “Yea I know,” I said as I held up my phone. “I got a text about it,” I said, shaking my phone. “So you did hear us,” he said upset, “not really I didn’t want to snoop but Sophie freaked out and when I suddenly got a text I kinda put them together,” I said slowly becoming upset already knowing what he was thinking. “Is...is it true then,” he asked, finally spitting the question out “well yes she's sick.” I admitted “what's she sick with” he asked hastily “a cold but I haven't heard of anyone dying from minor cold though she's getting better OH! Stop here,” I said pointing to an old two-story house with tan and black wood. “Thanks for driving me by the way” I said, waving before I started walking towards the house with my bags in hand “hey….” “bye” I interrupted before I walked into the house setting the groceries on the door counter “Momma I’m home and I got groceries.” I yelled “oh, I'm in the kitchen woah! --CRASH-- “MOMMA” I screamed with terror, bolting to the kitchen. “JASMINE” Jack yelled, bolting towards the door. Beating on the door he yelled my name over and over but was met with no answer. So with no hesitation he opened the door and ran in “Momma… Momma wake up...please wake up Momma MOMMA” I cried out “Jasmine…” Jack said worry in his voice. I turned to him, tears streaming down my face and fear in my eyes “call an ambulance PLEASE.” I said terrified and with no hesitation or stutter he called nine-one-one. Not long afterwards an ambulance came taking Momma to the hospital leaving me on the concrete freaking out and worrying. “You ok,” Jack asked “no I don't understand she said she was getting better,” I said scared. Without knowing what to do he stood there speechless “please can you drive me to the hospital” I pleaded. Jack hearing the fear in my voice he willingly said yes and drove me to the hospital as fast as he could.

“I'm looking for an Elizabeth Knight'' I asked the desk attendant “sure let me see'' she said “please hurry” I said hurriedly “ah here we are she just got admitted” she smiled “yes I know that but which room” I hurried “she's in the emergency room Two-Eighteen” she said curiously “thank you” I said before running down the hospital halls to the emergency room my chest aching and fear in my eyes “you can't go back there” the desk attendant yelled “I'm her daughter” I yelled back “but...” she yelled again “thank you” I said running faster to the emergency room. Jack stayed back practically frozen not knowing what to do. Curiously he turned to the desk attendant whose eyes were fixed on him “Um excuse me ma’am do you know what's wrong with Mrs. Elizabith Knight'' he asked as he looked at her intently. Captured by his mesmerizing eyes she shook her head snapping herself back to reality “oh um yes it says here that she has stage 3B cervical cancer apparently it had spread faster than anticipated and that her treatment wasn't working anymore,” she said sadly “What! So she's dying” Jack asked “yes but you should talk to her doctor he would know more than me,” she said “I will, thank you” he said as he turned around pulling out his phone with all seriousness in his eyes “I need to get Sophie here.” He said to himself as he messaged Sophie.

[Jack]:Hey Sophie:

[Sophie]: Yo what’s up:

[Jack]: Jasmine needs you at the hospital:

[Sophie]: Why what's wrong is she ok:

[Jack]: No she's fine it's her Mom she is sick badly to:

[Sophie]: WHAT! ok, I'm on my way:

[Jack]: Good I’ll talk to you when you get here:

[Sophie]: Yea bye:

[Jack]:Bye:

“Ok good Sophie’s on her way. What else can I do for her? She's so scared I could hear it in her voice. She had tears in her eyes and on her face I've never seen someone cry such painful tears” he breathed to himself scratching his head stumped on what he could do to help Jasmine get through this tragedy.

Chapter 6.

“Momma, what were you thinking? I told you not to do anything strenuous. I wanted you to rest and take it easy. Something worse could have happened especially since you were feeling weaker than usual. What would have happened if I hadn't come home early” I asked,“I wanted to make dinner for you instead of you doing everything for me. With so much that has happened in your life with me, your school, then you working your part-time jobs for money. For us to have a home, food, even my medical bills. Jasmine, honey...I just think that you have too much on your plate. So I wanted you to have a nice dinner that I made for you, but look at what happened your worrying about me after you just got home from working hard at school...I'm a horrible mother” Momma said sadly with tears in her eyes giving me a weak smile, one that I knew all too well. I cracked seeing that expression on the woman who always smiled, she was my rock, she was the reason I put up with everything but right now the happy and cheerful mother I knew and loved. Her face was unrecognizable, her face that held such a weak and terrified smile. It killed me and pushed me over the edge “NO!...NO MOMMA YOU'RE NOT A HORRIBLE MOTHER. I LOVE HELPING YOU, I LOVE COOKING FOR YOU, I LOVE MY PART-TIME JOBS AND SCHOOLS EASY.” Her words hurt me. They hit me like a punch in the face making me break past my limit. Tears building up in my eyes as I yelled at my sick mother lying there smiling about all this “I MEAN, I LOVE YOU I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR YOU SO PLEASE...please don't...don't say things like that...I can just...just” suddenly I saw her smile became weaker and her eyes become grayer before they began to shut. As her shallow breaths stilled and the heart monitors steady beeping started to go still into a long flat line. Doctors and nurses started to swarm into the room one after the other one pulling me out of the room as I froze in shock. Everything was silent; it felt like I was in slow motion. My mind both knowing and confused of what was happening, it just didn't seem real and I just let it happen with my eyes wider than an owl's and my skin paler than vampires. Suddenly everything became loud, hearing the doctors yell directions as I saw Mommas' body go still, everyone rushing to help her. As I just stood outside the door watching them do what they could. Pumping her chest again and again and again but her heart and her body wouldn't react. They even pulled out what looked to be a defibrillator hearing the doctor yell sternly “CLEAR” before I saw Momma's body jolt up still no change. Trying a higher voltage they repeated this over two more times before finally the doctor pulled his mask down and with a grave face looked to the other doctors and nurses and shook his head. “Time of death...five thirty” my heart felt as if someone stepped on my chest as I heard those three heart aching words “Time of death” I whimpered. My body froze in place standing there watching the doctors and nurses pack up their equipment putting a blanket over Mommas' still body. As I watched them leave the room one by one I looked at every face that went past me. When one doctor looked at me saddened before softly saying. “I am so sorry for your loss” I felt my knees buckle. My entire body now heavy as I fell to the ground lifeless. My heart shattered into millions of pieces. I was all alone with no one and nobody with me. Suddenly I heard a loud shriek as I held onto myself not knowing where it was coming from. I soon realized it was my own voice shrieking with grief. Suddenly warm hands wrapped around me holding onto me tight and caring. Tears streamed down my face as I cried in the warm embrace weeping with pain.