Make This Feel Like Home

Chapter 14

TW Warning: mentions of cancer and cancer treatment, if these subjects make you uncomfortable or you fear it may bring up trauma, do not read. It's okay, do what's best for you. Xx

Harry's POV:

I wake up in my childhood bedroom, my eyes focusing in on David Bowie's poster on my wall, it's weird waking up the same way I did as a child, but now as an adult.

I make my way downstairs, still only in my pj pants, heading straight to the coffee maker.

As I pour myself and my mum a cup of coffee, a nurse comes in through the front door, I've been here for about a week so I'm pretty accustomed to their names and schedules. "Oh hi Lori" I say with a sleepy smile, "want a cup of coffee?" She excepts my offer with a smile.

After making coffee for the three of us we all sit down and have an over due conversation, a family meeting if you will, with Gemma on the phone.

"So mum, I think we need to have a conversation about the schedule and maybe alter it", Gemma starts. "Okay hunny and what do you propose?" mum asks. "I think, we might need to alter it in a way that someone is with you all the time, so either, me or Gemma plus a nurse, would you be okay with that?" I ask as to not sound like I'm telling her what to do. I've given this a lot of thought, and knowing she's alone makes me feel a crippling sensation of nervousness. She needs to be eating and taking her meds but she also needs company in a time like this. This disease can be very isolating, and having that isolation become real, rather than just feeling alone, is not something I want to contribute to.

"I mean I see why you would want that". My mum says. "I know mum but is it something you want? I don't want you to feel smothered" I say and Gemma agrees audibly. "Well it would be nice to see you two more often, I definitely miss you. But Gems you're in uni, and H you live so far away now, I don't want you to have to pick up and leave." She says, she's always worrying about us. She's the one with cancer and she's the one worrying about us. Sometimes I think I don't deserve her.

"Mum I can talk to the dean and ask for permission to do my degree online, it will be okay." Gemma says over the phone. "And mum I'm not picking up and leaving California, I'll still live there I'll just be here more often, I can stay for two weeks then Gemma can stay for two weeks every month and the nurses can still be here. But one of us, either Gemma or I will be with you all the time." I say assuring her. "Okay love, okay I think that's a good idea." Mum says agreeing. "Okay good plan. My flight is booked for tonight and I have to get my apartment unpacked and figure stuff out and Gemma is gonna come and stay with you tomorrow. I'll be back in 2 weeks then Gemma and I will trade." I say with a warm smile.

We wrap up our conversation and say goodbye to Gemma, it's fairly early in the morning and my flight isn't until 9:00pm tonight so we figure what better way to spend our time together than going to lunch?

....

Pulling up to the brunch spot near the house, brings back memories of birthdays, anniversary's, graduation and any kind of celebration ever. My Dad is at work right now, I wish he could be with us here, usually this is a place for family's, but my mum and I will have to do this time.

We're seated at a table for two, the breakfast and lunch menus displayed nicely on the table. This place isn't nearly as fancy as the brunch places in Cali but this place holds a special place in my heart.

"Can I get you anything?", the waitress asks. I smile and say "could I get a coffee please? Black?" I ask, and she nods "could I please get a tea with 1 sugar and a splash of milk?" My mum asks too. The waitress leaves to get our drinks and we're left here to chat.