Winter Love - Chapter 2: Pain

I spared no time getting to the hospital. I can't waste a...She might be gone any moment...Oh God what would I do...How can I...I need her...We need her...How will Dad get through losing...And my sister...Can I be strong enough for them both?

Tears welled in my eyes and all the strength I had went into suppressing them. I couldn't let her see me like this, I couldn't let her know more tears had been shed. She's been through enough as it is. The end was near for her; death was lurking around the corner waiting to pounce and steal its prey, my mother.

I rushed to her room and sat with her. At home resting lay my father sprawled out on their bed. He'd not been sleeping much lately, the reasons evident and he tried to spend as much time with her as possible. I couldn't wake him today I knew he needed his rest and finally, when it got to about 1pm, he arrived so I left. Since 10:30am me and mum had been laughing and joking in between her sleeping. They need their alone time since it was clear there wasn't much left. 30 years of marriage and soon my father would be alone.

Sleep was trying to consume me so I went for coffee in this little cafe in town I went to regularly. In my bag I carried my laptop which meant after I grabbed a coffee I could catch-up on some of my essays for Uni. I studied English literature and needed to focus on getting all the work in on time. I knew my mother wanted me to do well and that's what my goal was since we found out she had terminal cancer. I wanted, no needed to make her proud of me and besides it wasn't likely she was leaving us today.

Sluggishly I wandered up to the counter. The smell of coffee surrounded me and even that began to wake me a little. The room was vibrant in colour with blues, reds and yellows splashed across the walls. The quite hum of people having private conversations mixed with the radio playing calmed me a little from worrying so much about getting through this year of Uni. This was the sort of place that was comfortably busy.

There was a new girl in today which slightly annoyed me. Great slow service since this new chicks not going to know what to do...I rolled my eyes with this thought.

“What would you like?”

“Grande coffee, please.” I requested with a fake smile plastered on my face for politeness.

I watched in amusement as she fumbled around trying to remember all she had to do. To me it didn't seem that difficult but this girl was proving otherwise. She was quite pretty with long brown hair, a petite, well toned figure, slightly tanned skin and rather beautiful blue eyes but also seemed annoying because from what I gathered she was the shy type that lacked any confidence what so ever.

“That will be ￡1.75 please Sir.” She finally mumbled after about 5 minutes of waiting.

I handed over the money.

“Thank you”

“Thanks”

After perfecting my coffee with milk and sugar I found a table to sit at and do my work in a little corner situated next to a window.

**********

It was 3 coffee's, 1 cake and 4 hours later when I thought I'd sufficiently caught up with my work for the moment. That's when it happened. I was just about to leave when my phone began ringing. I heard my father sobbing on the phone.

“Son...my boy...you need to come to the hospital.”

“What's happened? She's not...?”

“No...She's-She's still alive.”

“Okay I'll be right over.”

“Hurry, she's taken a turn for the worst.”

And with that I sprinted out the door to my car and drove as fast as I could to get there.

**********

Tears filled my eyes and spilled over the moment I saw her.

“My boy, my sweet baby boy.” she whispered.

“Yes Mama?” I said barely audibly

“Look after them, they'll need you” She looked out of the window into the corridor where my father and sister stood.

“They need you even more.” I said and she laughed so sweetly.

“I'm so proud of you Elijah.” A few tears slid down her face as she kissed my forehead.

“I love you so much Mama please don't leave us, please? You weren't suppose to leave us so soon”

“I'm sorry I can't stay baby. I need you to promise to look after them.”

“I will.”

“That's my boy” her voice sounded strained throughout this conversation. Her strength was leaving, you could almost see the life leaving her.

I lay next to my mother on the hospital bed, even though it wasn't allowed and cradled her in my arms. Her hands reached both sides of my face and made me look at her. She smiled briefly at me that beautiful smile I'd always loved from her. The one that told me everything was okay.

“I love you baby boy."

Her eyes closed, her life left her. She was gone.