Chapter 4
1241 Words
After receiving the diagnosis, I found myself at the coffee shop, lost in my thoughts while wiping down the machines. Suddenly, someone walked in and caught my attention.
"M...mom?" I exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes, it's me," she replied sarcastically.
I felt a bit shy and asked, "What are you doing here?"
She looked around, aware of the other customers listening, and asked, "Where's your sister's phone?"
"Um... let's talk outside, Mom," I suggested, gesturing towards the back door.
She seemed impatient and replied, "You can just give it now so I can go. Your sister is waiting."
"Mom? I have customers waiting.... the phone can wait," I said, feeling the pressure of the busy store.
"But Nica can't, so just give it to me," she replied forcefully, emphasizing the urgency.
To avoid any potential scandals or disruptions, I made a quick decision. I hurriedly made my way to the kitchen, desperately seeking assistance from the other cashier who was on duty that day. I pleaded with them to take over my responsibilities temporarily so that I could have a conversation with my mom.
I gently guided my mom towards the back of the shop, seeking a more private space to have our conversation. She seemed eager to know something specific.
"Where is it?" she asked, her tone filled with anticipation.
"I haven't bought it yet," I replied, trying to remain calm despite her reaction.
"What?!" she exclaimed, her voice rising.
"Mom, please lower your voice," I urged, aware of the need to maintain a peaceful environment.
"Shona, why haven't you bought the phone yet? Nica specifically told you she needed it!" she questioned, her concern evident.
"I understand that Nica's phone is important, Mom, but something emergency came up and...." I started to explain, but she cut me off with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"What could possibly be more important than Nica's phone?" she scoffed, her tone dripping with condescension.
"Mom..." I tried to interject, hoping to share the reason for my delay which is my health, but she interrupted me again, not wanting to hear any excuses.
"I don't care about your emergency. You always find a way to prioritize yourself over your family's needs," she snapped, her words laced with bitterness. "I want you to buy the phone today, no matter what. I'll come back later when you've sorted yourself out," she declared coldly before turning her back and walking away, leaving me feeling hurt and misunderstood.
It was disheartening to see my mom's lack of empathy and understanding in that moment.
That day, it felt as though the weight of the world had crashed down upon me, leaving me feeling crushed and defeated.
I went to the store and bought the newest iPhone. I paid with all my cash, so now I have a budget for a week.
When I returned to the shop where I work, I was shocked to see my mom yelling at the cashier, insisting that they let me out because she believed I was hiding. It was a chaotic scene, and I had to intervene.
"Mom, what's going on?" I asked, trying to understand the situation.
She responded angrily, "Where have you been, you stupid i***t!"
Before I could explain that I had gone out to buy something, she abruptly slapped me.
"You are a selfish and ungrateful child! I regret bringing you into this world!" she exclaimed, while continuing to slap me.
Despite the presence of many onlookers, my mom seemed indifferent to their presence. I couldn't hold back my tears as she was extremely angry with me.
"Is that the phone?" she asked, her gaze fixed on the bag I was clutching.
I simply nodded, tears streaming down my face, but I couldn't bring myself to look up due to my embarrassment in front of the people around us.
"Give it to me!... and don't forget about my budget!" she demanded, as she stormed off from the shop.
Feeling overwhelmed by the situation, I quickly made my way to the back door of the shop. Once I reached there, the emotions became too much to bear, and I broke down, crying uncontrollably.
"Why did you let her do that to you?" Brook asked, their voice filled with concern, as they approached me at the back of the shop. As I turned to look at them through my tears, their presence seemed to bring a sense of comfort, and I took a moment to collect myself, wiping away my tears.
"What?" I asked, pretending not to understand what he meant.
"Come on, Shona..." Brook said, his voice filled with empathy and understanding.
"Stop this! Stop being so kind and passive! I'm tired of seeing you get hurt!" Brook exclaimed, his frustration evident in their voice.
I simply looked at Brook, taking in their words and the concern he was expressing.
"I wanted to intervene earlier and remove your mom from the shop, but I know you wouldn't have wanted that," Brook continued.
"I hate seeing you like this..." they whispered, gently wiping away my tears as he leaned in closer to me.
In that moment, overcome with emotions, I embraced Brook tightly, seeking comfort and solace. It was as if the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders as we held each other. Brook reciprocated the hug, providing a sense of reassurance and support, assuring me that everything would eventually be alright.
"Brook? I have, um... I have something to tell you," I mustered the courage to begin, wanting to confide in him about my cancer diagnosis.
"Yeah, go ahead. What is it?" he responded, his tone filled with attentiveness.
"I... um... I have..." I started, struggling to find the right words.
"You have what?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
But before I could continue, our conversation was abruptly interrupted by someone calling out to Brook.
"Hey Brook? Someone is looking for you," a guy called out.
"Yeah, I'll be there!" Brook responded, acknowledging the interruption.
"You have what again?" Brook asked, trying to catch the last part of my sentence.
"Go... I'll tell you later," I replied, understanding that there wasn't enough time to explain at that moment.
"Oh, okay... I have to go then. Talk to you later?" Brook said hurriedly, heading towards the shop.
"Yeah, later," I replied, watching as Brook rushed inside.
"I just want to tell you that I have cancer, and I have three months to live," I whispered to myself, imagining that I was sharing this news with Brook.
I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness and frustration, wishing that it were as simple to open up to my family about my condition. However, deep down, I knew that they didn't truly care about me, which made me question the point of even bothering to share my struggles with them.
Then my phone rang.....
As I answered the call from Nica, I anticipated a word of gratitude or appreciation. However, to my surprise, her tone quickly turned angry and accusatory.
"Hello?" I asked, my voice tinged with confusion.
"What the hell, Shona!? Why is this white? I specifically told you I wanted pink! Is that so difficult for you to remember? Huh? You're such a f*****g i***t! And by the way... don't you dare make mom wait!" she shouted, her words laced with anger and frustration. Without giving me a chance to respond, she abruptly hung up the call.
- Writer
