Who said every short story was happy. Who said everything was happy in life. Graphic and sad writing is my qualification. Their will be happiness in this set of one shots but expect, blood. tears and anger.
Emotions wailed through her body. A mixture of emotions, things she hadn't dealt with, the emotions from her rape, Ava's birth, her illness now being back in riverdale.
That second night was the worst. The pair spent hours holding Ava's hair back as she vomited, her body weak. It was that night it was decided Ava Smith would under go her first round of chemotherapy when and if she became strong enough.
Her bones felt like they were on fire, each move bought nothing but pain to her.
The next morning rolled around without hesitation. The sun bright peaking through the curtains. At this point Ava had managed 5 hours sleep without waking up.
Her eyes opened slightly as she turned, wincing.
"Good morning beautiful"Betty smiled kissing the girls head. "Mummy"A small smile formed. "Daddy"she questioned. "He will be back soon baby, you need some food okay, i know you don't feel like it bub but you need to"Ava nodded gently, in 24 hours the bundle of energy had all life sucked from her, her skin was ghostly pale, sweat dripping from her head.
Soon enough Betty had a bowl of porridge in her hand with a small spoon, her lips making an o to cool the food. Ava ate as much as she could, an instant stomach ache forming. "Ouch"Her tiny face crumbled, her arm attached to a drip keeping her hydrated.
She managed to soothe through her pain as exhaustion took over, sleep over riding every emotion, every sense.
She slept soundly her head against her fathers jumper, the scent along with Betty's scarf comforting her.
Betty found the time to shower, brush her teeth, dry her hair, and pull on some clothes before everyone joined, unusual it was for the hospital to allow so many in one room at once. But the exception was time. Ava didn't have time.
The time she had wasn't apparent now, but soon it would become a well known crack in the foundations.
The black nike leggingg clung to her frame, compared to Sweat peas' white nike top which drowned her figure. Her appearance was the last thing on her mind.
She sat on one of the many seats, her phone in her hand as she scrolled through many of her pictures of her an ava.
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It was her favourite picture overall of them together, bar the images from when the girl was born.
Her peace soon interrupted, Sweat pea appearing. "I bought the heard, Sorry"He chuckled as everyone entered. The sat down as they did yesterday. but this time Veronica perched on Archie's lap. Fp had his arm tightly around Alice. Jughead sat beside Kevin, Sweatpea sat on the arm of the chair next to Betty. Cheryl and Toni were also seated together. Charles stood, lingering, struggling to process.
Not long after did the roll of a painful day begin as Ava darted up. "Mummy its happening i feel it"Her eyes filled with panic. Betty was by her side in seconds, "What do you feel darling what is it"Betty searched, her eyes desperate for a sign. Betty's sign was her eye, it rolled. "Charles"Betty panicked as the child began to violently shake. Betty stood, frozen. Cheryl pushing her out of the way preventing Ava's head hitting the metal bars.
Betty soon snapped back into it. "Baby"She stood beside Cheryl the nurses rushing in. "Its been her longest one i've witnessed"Charles spoke. The nurses took over calming her body "Okay, i will be back in 15 minutes if Ava has another seizure in this time i would like to take her down for some duplicate tests, to make sure nothing was missed"She spoke as Ava came from her seizure laying there sleepily. Betty nodded.
What prepares a mother for this.
"She's really sick isn't she"Betty asked the doctor. She didn't reply. "Isn't she"Betty cried
"Miss Smith your daughter is fighting"Was all she said. Betty stood her heart crumbled.
Betty sat down, settling into sweat pea, where she felt safe. His hand running through her hair.
"Betts i am sorry to add to pressure but your house, it sold. It needs to be cleared in the next 4 days"Charles looked nervous but she nodded, "Get it done with. I'll book it in a bit, Me you and Cher?"She asked wanting Toni and Sweat Pea with Ava.
"Sounds good. Whats the plan with packing and that"Cheryl asked" Betty shrugged. "Its stacked with stuff, Ava's room, my room the living room ..."She began to panic. "Betty don't panic"Charles smiled. "Okay"She took a breathe.
" We will all look after Ava, don't worry"Toni reasurred. "Will someone always be with her"Betty asked.
"I won't leave"Pea kissed her head. Betty you know we own the farm, there is a house we built a long time ago, it was for us, but we renovated and redecorated thorn hill. We moved back there, The house is sitting empty its 5 bedrooms perfect garden, we would like you to have it"Cheryl smiled at her. Betty's heart thumped as joy filled her. Tightly she hugged her cousin.
Thank you's were exchanged and Betty handed her bank card to Sweat pea and Toni, they were going to go furniture shopping with Kevin and Veronica, Betty wanted a fresh start. Not her old miami furniture. So they would decorate whilst Betty handled Miami. They'd book there trip later on.
FP and Alice agreed to staying with Ava when sweetpea and Toni weren't there.
An hour passed since the seizure, the room was pretty empty, Alice and FP sat on one sofa going through a photo album, Cheryl was sending Toni the colours Betty liked and suggestions for Ava's room. Charles sat beside Betty as they secretly looked at puppies. They messaged a lady who agreed kindly, a price was settled along with collection, the puppies are ready to leave in a week or just under. So Betty would come home from Miami, un pack the final bits. Then go shopping for dog stuff, keep it hidden get the dog, put a pink bow on the collar and fingers crossed Ava could be at home.
The room was awfully silent when a noise of choking alarmed every one.Betty jumped and rushed to her "She's fitting and choking on her vomit"Charles rushed away, the nurse soon in and Ava out. It was a blur.
The rest of the day was a blur, everyone returning had become a distant memory. All Betty could remember were the next moments in her life. The words that would forever less scar her.
"Miss Smith"The doctor called, Sweet pea sat back allowing Charles to go.
Silence embedded the air with an atmosphere, its like nature knew Betty's world was crumbling before her.
Her lungs filled, squealing, her breath trapped as she began to suffocate in emotion.
The eerie silence broken with piercing screams of heartbreak.
"I'm sorry"The nurse nodded to her. Charles couldn't handle her, her pain. her anger. She needed her mum. He found his strength, his absoloute strength to pull himself into that room.
"Mum. she needs you"He sobbed, his tears thick and heavy.
"Charles"Pea stood as Cheryl questioned.
"she doesn't have long left"He sobbed. "anything between 8 weeks and 11 months. Its progressing quickly the cells are duplicating to much.
"miami needs to happen now, She can't loose anymore time. There is nothing they can do now. Ava needs care and comfort and memories. She can come home. She needs too. Can she stay with..."Charles was cut off.
