Finding Me

Chapter 9

"Stefanie." The sound of someone calling my name was faint and distant. 

"Stefanie." The world was becoming faint around me, the last thing I saw Ben's face, everything went black.

What is this dark place, I see a light shining through as though it's looking for something. 

"Stefanie." Someone called my name. 

"Run to the light my child, it's not your time yet." I hesitate slightly before doing what I was told. If It wasn't my time then who was I to argue. I shift slightly as I hear someone call my name again.

"Stefanie." 

I slowly open my eyes. "You're awake." Ben looks relieved as he looks down at me.

"Hey Ben," I say weakly.

"Stefanie, I'm glad to see you're awake." A soft but firm voice says it's the school nurse.

"What happened?" I sit up.

"You were out cold for a few minutes, I was coming to check on Becky and then I saw people were gathering around as you fell."

"Well, it seems to me that you just fainted but you should get a check-up and some rest."

"I can have her checked out, I should be heading to my grandfather's now."

"Sure thing. You don't feel any pain do you honey?"

"No, not really just a bit tired."

"Okay, have her checked out as soon as possible."

"I will, thank you." He put my shoes on my feet and helped me up, we left the nurses office.

"Oh my gosh, are you okay?" It seems as though Becky was waiting outside for us.

"Yeah."

"I'm heading over to the clinic to get her checked out."

"I'm coming with."

"No, you have classes still."

"I can skip them."

"This is not the time to argue, I said no, you have classes. Skip these and there'll be consequences." He looked down at her.

"But Ben-"

"Becky do I make myself clear?" His voice was firm.

"Yes." She put her head down, Becky heeling, wow, she has a lot of respect for her brother.

"It's okay Becky, how about after school you meet me at the hospital? Just text Ben, " I look up at Ben, "you'll be with me right?"

"If you want me to."

"So there, I'll see you later."

"Yeah, I've got to go, I've got a class now." She looks down the hall, "take care of her Ben."

"Will do." We walk out to the parking lot, he clicked a button on the key, and the car chirped. He opens the door of the passenger side and closes it once I'm comfortable. "We're going to get some food and then we're going to get you checked out okay." I nod, buckling up.

He starts the engine and backed out of the school's parking lot. I looked out the window looking nothing in particular, just hoping that I'm not going to the hospital for the same reason I went for dad.

"Stefanie talk to me."

"About what?"

"What's on your mind."

"Don't want to."

"Okay, what's your favourite colour?"

"Brown. What about you?"

"Dark green."

"Great, then we can make a camouflage."

"Nice one." He smiled.

"Any hobbies?"

"Studying."

"I mean like for fun."

"Studying."

"Oh waw, okay."

"I don't have fun around my mother, I'd explain to you but not now, when the time is right."

"Fine. Do you have a favourite food?"

"Fries I guess."

"I love lasagna."

"Do you like animals?"

"Yes, do you?"

"I love them, I guess more than people."

"So you want to be a vet."

"Yes, I just really love animals, both wild and tamed."

"Been to the zoo?"

"No, my dad never had a chance to take me."

"Oh, do you plan on travelling?"

"Well, for studying yes, but I really want to go to Europe."

"Really?"

"Yes, that's where my granduncle was born."

"That sounds cool. How about England."

"Of course, if I could travel the world I would."

"Ah, I see." He pulls into a small parking lot. 

"We're here, give me a sec." 

He unbuckled his seatbelt and gets out, coming over to my side and opening the door for me, he holds my hand as I get out.

"Thank you." I stood up and he closed the door.

"Come on let's go." He holds my hand as we walk to the small building covered in vines which makes it look so appealing. The doorbell rings above his head as he opened the door, we walk straight over to the receptionist. 

"Hey, Tina." he leans in to kiss her cheek, smiling cheekily.

"Ben do not bother me and just go in," she says as she swats him with whatever she had in her hands.

"That hurt," he said as he skipped to the side.

"So who child you stole?" She said as she glanced at me giving me a warm smile.

"Oh, she's my girlfriend." He said dragging me behind him into the office.

"Ben my boy," an elderly man hugs him, "it's good to see you, son, your parents are still travelling?"

"We both know the answer to that." He said as he returned the hug.

"Ahh," he turns to look at me. 

"This must be the young lady I've heard about. 

They turned to me and smiled. 

I smiled back politely feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"Hello," I said slightly hiding behind Ben's back. 

"No need to hide hun, we don't bite."

I stared at the really homely elderly woman. Elderly is not the word. She was beautiful. 

The way her grey hair was neatly combed into a bun and her little apron prim and proper around her waist. I smiled. She was the type of woman I would've imagined my grandmother to be, sweet, homely and loving. My eyes watered a bit, as I remembered my mother being in the hospital. 

"Ben, I have to go," I say slowly backing away. "It was really nice to meet you guys but I just remembered I had something really important to do.

"Stephanie?" I was already out the door and walking back to the vehicle.

I watched as Ben ran out the door towards me. 

"Baby what's wrong? Talk to me." 

Rubbing my temples I stare up into his concerned eyes and sighed.

"My mom, I need to make sure she's okay." 

"I can't be here, not knowing if she's okay, she could be dying." 

My breath starts getting shorter as I realise that I'm very close to getting a panic attack. 

"She can't leave me too." 

"S-s-she's all I have left."

Ben wraps me in his arms nuzzling my hair as I try to keep my composure. 

It will be okay, I will be okay, Mom is okay.