The glow in the dark stars.

Glow in the dark stars.

Glow in the dark stars.
TW/ religious trauma, mentions of child abuse/neglect/depression/ SA mentions/

On a warm and muggy, summer afternoon, Mel was eating a fairly late lunch, which was a bowl of leftover spaghetti and meatballs.
She was relaxing on her couch while watching some kind of goofy romantic comedy on the tv as well.
It was just an ordinary day, it was even a good day to her.
After a while, she felt her cellphone buzzing in her pocket. She looked at her phone as she received a call from an unknown number.
Mel was curious, not many people called her, and an unknown number was considered sketchy as well.
But she answered.

"Hi! This is Melanie Ericson." Mel said in a kind in bubbly tone as she answered her phone.

"Melanie, its your mother." Said the voice from the other line. It was that horrible cold, and distant voice that unfortunately, Mel was unfortunate enough to grow up with.

"Oh, hello Catherine. Why are you calling me?" Mel said now sounding blunt and unhappy towards her mother. She wanted to make it obvious that she didn't want to stick around and chat.
Catherine was a horrendous old woman, she was what people called a "Karen" A mean old hag who has nothing better to do besides being horrible to other people.
"How did you get my number?" She questioned. Mel sounded like she was offended that Catherine managed to find her number.
Mel was actually offended about this. The last time Catherine called her was a few years ago and Mel blocked the number.
Now it seemed that her mother must of had a new phone.

"Now Melanie, how I got your number isn't important. I am here to tell you what is important."
The woman added naggingly. Catherine herself almost seemed just as irritated as Mel, it was clear as day that they didn't get along.

"Okay? And what is that? Another long rant from you about how when I had my tubes removed was an abomination to your god because I won't provide children?"
"Or is it another rant on how I was selfish for calling the police on pastor Steve for touching me when I was thirteen?"
"Or is it possibly another rant about me calling child protective services on my sister because I found cigarette burns all over her two year old son?" Mel said sternly, she was clearly ready to hang up on this woman.

"No, Melanie. I am dying. This is my last month of being alive." The woman finally said, her voice was quiet, it was filled with dread.
This didn't seem like one of her attention seeking schemes. Like the time she said she broke her spine when really she pulled a muscle, or the time she developed a cough and immediately tried to make it seem like she was dying of lung cancer, or when she had a stomach virus and tried to convince everyone that she was pregnant.
Catherine was strange that way, she always pretended to be more sick than she really was. But this time, it sounded genuine.

Mel was silent for a moment before she spoke. "Dying? What happened?"

"I have colon cancer. I had six months to live, but unfortunately, and now this is my final month." Catherine answered.

"Why haven't you told me earlier, Catherine?" Mel questioned quietly.
Sure, she had low expectations on her mother, but this was definitely something that surprised her.
"Why did she call so late? This was something serious." Mel thought to herself.

"Because, I didn't think you or I would care. I thought a healthy diet and prayers from my pastor would of healed me. But it didn't." The woman said in a somber tone.

"I see." Mel said in a softy. At this point she really didn't know what to think.
Her mother was really an idiot. "Who in their right mind would think just praying and eating vegetables would cure cancer?" Mel thought to herself.

"Mel, please come over." The woman said, pleadingly. She sounded desperate and sorrowful.
"I just want to speak to you in person. Before I go."