C9 Emotions

Maria:

When I got the call from the hospital. I didn’t even waste a second as I ran out of the house like a mad woman. Yes, I was in so much pain from my last drinking episode but hearing about my mother, I didn’t care much about my health.

Sarah had tried to stop me and get some information of why I was so restless but I didn’t have that much time to begin explaining myself to anyone. My goal was to get to the hospital as soon as possible.

I didn’t think I would have much time if I was delayed. I had known that without required treatments, my mom wouldn’t make it but I wasn’t thinking it would be this early. Before I left the house, I had already placed a call on Frankie to meet me there. I didn’t think I would be able to take whatever the news was alone.

I booked the nearest Uber in the vicinity. It was supposed to come find me but I found Uber instead. I ran towards the car and I waved my hands to identify I was the person who booked the ride.

In no time I got to the hospital and I ran towards my mom's ward panting. I barged into my mom’s room and I found her doctor checking her chest. The worst has happened, I exclaimed. Was my mother dead? Mom lay helplessly on the hospital bed. She did not even look any better.

I ran and held the doctor's arms. “Sir please tell me, is she gone?” I asked as I was about to tear up.

He stared at me and I couldn’t read anything through his gaze as I waited for his reply. “No, Ma’am she’s not. Can we talk outside?”

I accepted right away and he led me out of the room while the nurses were busy with my mom's condition. “Ma’am thankfully we were able to take control of the condition this time but I am afraid if this persists, there won’t be any next time.” He said as politely as he could.

“Doctor, believe me when I say I have tried all I could. I have in fact taken drastic risks just to save her. I'm slowly losing myself.” I cried.

The doctor placed his right hand on my shoulder. “I am really sorry Maria, I am very sorry. The only thing still keeping her in check is her health insurance, imagine if that wasn't there.”

“I understand, Can I go see her now?” I asked.

“No, no not now. Give her a few minutes then you can go see her.” He said.

“Alright.” I meekly said and sat on the hospital chair placing my head on my lap while the doctor walked away.

I was in that position for several minutes lost in my head. I heard someone call out my name in the hospital Hall, it was Frankie. He was running towards me. I stood up and just as I was about to speak, he embraced me and held me in his arms.

“I am so sorry Maria. You sounded broken on the phone. No matter what the result is, I know you are going to be strong for me.” He assured me.

“She's still alive. Frankie, she's alive.” I said with tears mixed with a bit of a chuckle.

Frankie released me from his embrace and stared at my teary eyes. He cupped my cheeks. “ You see, I told you everything will be okay. You can't risk this much for you to get a bad result.” He said.

“Yes, yes you said that. The doctor said there won't be a next time if she undergoes this breakdown again.” I explained.

“She won't. She won't, can you just please be at least positive sometimes?” He asked with a frown. Just then a nurse walked over to where we stood. “Miss Maria, you can now see her.” she declared.

We went into the room straight away. My eyes locked on my mom’s body. She has lost weight drastically. She was of course getting worse by the day. I moved towards her and held her hands while Frankie stood by the door observing.

“Mom,” I called out. “It's me, your daughter Maria. I'm here Mom.” she slowly opened her eyes and nodded. Seeing me made her eyes wet. “I'm sorry, my child. I am so sorry for putting this pressure on you.” She pleaded and it broke my heart into a thousand pieces.

“No, no Mom, don't. Please none of this is your fault, you didn't do anything. You've provided for me all my life now it's my turn to do the same. The only thing you can do for me now Ma, this only thing I want is for you to be strong for me. Stay and stand strong for me Mom.” I cried. Tears filled my eyes and they started choking me.

“Stay with me, stay strong for me so I can fulfill all of the promises I promised you since I was a little girl. We've been through a lot Mom. We have, and we've conquered. So this isn't going to take it all away from us.” I continued.

I was so filled with emotions as I kissed my mother's hands and gently placed my head on her chest. Frankie finally moved to me and tried to calm me down. I hugged him tightly as I let out all my tears on his shoulders.

“Frank,” Mom called and I turned to her.

“Yes Mom, it's Frank.”

“Oh wow, Frank you look so big now from the last time I saw you. You have been eating well I must say.” Mom praised him in astonishment.

Frankie held her hands with mine. “Thank you, Ma.” He said.

Mom shook her head. “No, Thank you, Frank. Thank you for taking good care of my daughter. By still standing by her side amidst everything. For coming to see me. I am so proud of you Frank.”

I smiled at Frankie and he smiled back at me. “ I will do anything for you both. You took me in when things were rough for me then, and always had my back since I was a toddler up until I grew up to be the man that I am today. I owe it all to both of you. We are all in this together as a family.”

“Awwwn look at both of you, you look so cute together. You know I have always pictured the two of you getting married one day. Trust me, you will make me beautiful grandchildren. Don't tell me you two haven't ever considered that?” Mom said.

Oh God! I immediately realized I hadn't told my mom about the impromptu wedding my father and his wife had forced on me in order to save her life which ended in betrayal. I didn't want to tell her I'm now a married woman, it would only add more sadness to her condition. She was going to flare up and the next time we didn't hope for would eventually come sooner than we expected.

I glanced at Frankie and he got the memo and stared at the floor. Mom had a questioning look on her face. “ What's wrong, did I say something wrong?”

“No Mom, you didn't. I just remembered something I needed to do. You know how to raise money.” I lied.

Mom nodded. I stood up and Frankie followed suit, I pecked my mom on the forehead and wiped my tears with the back of my palm. “I'll see you soon Mom. Take care.”

Frankie and I left the room and quietly shut the door. We made our way down the hospital Hall in silence. The emotions in the room were so intense that I couldn't comprehend. I finally broke the silence. “Thanks for coming, Frankie,” I said.

“Anytime any day Maria, I am just a call away.” He replied. “Yeah you know Maria keeping your marriage away from your mom will make it even worse when she finds out from someone else. You know she will know someday.” He continued.

“Who would want to tell her?” I asked rhetorically. “Frankie, I'm aware of everything you just said. She will know but that will be when she's out of danger and is in a good condition, when all of this is over. I can't afford to risk her life because of the stupid risk I took myself.” I said while we continued walking.

We walked into the elevator and thankfully there was no one in there. Frankie pressed the button on the hospital exit floor. “Yes, that's better.” He agreed. “So how you gotta go about the money?” He asked.

“I really don't know,” I replied.

We were silent for about a minute. Frankie pulled out his phone from his pocket. The next thing I heard was a beep on my phone. “ That's me, I just sent a little something to support.” He announced.

I quickly pulled out my phone from my bag and good riddance Frankie sent me two thousand dollars. “What the heck?! No no Frankie you didn’t have to do this.” I said as tears filled my eyes as I embraced him.

“It's nothing. I wished I could do more. You've lost a lot and sold all your valuable assets. Too bad you have nothing you could sell that's yours that is worth at least ten thousand bucks.”

Immediately he said that my brain clicked. I withdrew myself from him as I had an idea. He noticed it and was startled at first and then confused. “What?” He asked.

“I have something literally worth ten thousand bucks,” I announced.

“What? How? Where did you get it?” Frankie rained the questions.

The elevator door finally opened and I took to my heels. “Frankie, I will tell you about everything when I'm done,” I said.

“Done with what?” He yelled as I ran out of the hospital premises.