Mother had been fighting cancer for years now. And as the days dwindled on, the sour pit of dread in Martha's stomach just kept growing. It multiplied in size as Martha stepped into the room.
The white cement walls were clean, and the room smelled of lemons and lavender. Mother lay on the bed, her breathing shallow.
Martha's fingers brushed a vase of dying tulips as she kneeled next to her. "Mother?" She whispered, unable to tell if she was sleeping or not.
Mother's eyes fluttered open.
"Martha?"
"Mother!"
"I've missed you so much, honey."
"Me too. And next time we visit, I'll show you what we did in science class!"
"This is your last visit," Mother said quietly, not meeting Martha's eyes.
"What do you mean?" Martha deflated. "Is the hospital limiting the numbers of visits? Oh—or did they change the hours again?" Martha asked hopefully.
"None of those, Martha. You know the answer."
"No." Martha shook her head. She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Martha. Let me go. The doctor already told me that—"
"Stop pretending everything will be okay! You're going to leave me behind, motherless. Think about Father." How had this "last" visit become so devastating so fast?
"Oh, Martha..." Mother leaned over the side of the bed to reach over to her daughter. "Take care of your father." She took a deep breath and lay back down on the bed. Mother pressed a button.
"What are you doing? Mother? Mother!"
The nurse came in and transported Mother from the bed into the wheelchair. Mother kissed the side of Martha's face.
"I love you. Remember me. Remember who you are."
She nodded, and the nurse proceeded rolling her out the door and down the hallway.
Martha watched, until it kicked in. Her mother was leaving her. Her mother was going to die. She was dying. Everyone had pretended she was going to be fine, and that she would come home soon.
"Don't leave me!" She cried, running after them. Father grabbed her arm and held her back.
"Why are you doing this? Don't you love me? Mother!"
Father slowly dragged her away towards the car, with tears in his eyes. "Father! Let me go! Don't you love her? Save her!"
"Mother! Don't abandon me!"
YOU ARE READING
Martha in the Clouds
AdventureMartha is lost. With her mother dead, as well as her dog, she has no one. Her father is working all day to support them. Martha has one friend, Cassandra. They become best friends when Martha moves to the small town of Seasbury. Cassie helps Martha...
