Rollercoaster

#40 Surgery

It's 25th July 2023 and I don't even remember writing this chapter *sobbing* I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS BOOK but I found 2 drafts that weren't published so ima just publish them and find some time to force myself to reread my story. The plot is a MESS. There's too much going on. I don't have the patience to edit the previous stories BUT I will TRY to read them and continue writing. 

P.S. I'm not being very creative with the chapter name I know.

P.P.S ew I used to write horribly.

* * *

"One hot chocolate please," a customer in front of me at the counter ordered.

I was at scream-in-beans for my evening shift after school the next day. We had gotten much more customers that we had in a while.. or maybe I had just forgotten how busy it was since I took leave on Friday and the weekend break right after made me forget everything about the place. Plus I hadn't been here when we were in New York. It was like finally coming back to my long lost home - or rather in this case, job.

I saw River walk in alone and order.

"Why are you alone today?" I asked him.

"I don't know, I just felt like going to a café by myself for once."

"I see," I said and took his order while he took out his wallet to pay.

"Sydney, you can take 10," the manager, Rebecca interrupted.

"Oh yay, a break," I said and took off my apron as I walked out the counter. "Wanna join me?" River asked.

I agreed and we went and sat beside the glass.

"So, how's basketball? I heard there's a match this weekend," he asked.

Wow, why is this suddenly the talk of the town? I didn't expect the whole school to know about one match jeez.

I told him basketball was great and Kaycee and I were kind of adjusted to being with only boys for the rest of the team. Nico called out for River saying his coffee was ready. River went and brought his coffee and sat back down.

"I heard about your mom... how is she?"

"Well, she's better. I'm going to see her after this," I replied.

"Oh that's good. If you don't mind me asking, what actually happened? Kaycee didn't think it was her place to tell."

I told him it was just a car accident and that she had to have a surgery because of a brain haemorrhage and even though it's very rare to actually be fixed.

He told me about Max coming home very often and Kaycee and him going out on dates. I was finally happy that she might've possibly moved on from Ryan. That guy really did her bad. Max and her were meant to be. He treated her right, and she really enjoyed his company.

River and I spoke for a while, catching up on each other's lives.

* * *

After work, I went to the hospital to meet my mom. The surgery went well according to the doctors. They said if she heals quicker she might be able to come home in just three weeks.

The moment I saw her eyes open, I went and hugged her. "Hey Syddie," she said weakly.

"How are you? Did the surgery go well? Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?" I started rambling.

"I'm fine, relax," she said assuringly. "And the surgery went just fine, as you can see, I'm alive."

"God, don't say it that way!" I complained.

"But it is the truth. Anyway, let's not think about what could've happened. I'm all okay now and that's all that matters."

"Yeah okay," I agreed and smiled.

A nurse brought in her food. She was having an early dinner as she hadn't physically eaten for quite a few days (if you didn't count the iv drips). I sat in silence as I watched her eat. It felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off my shoulders knowing and seeing that she was better. I couldn't wait for her to come back home.

I spoke to her for sometime - about everything really. It only made me realise how I barely ever spoke to her these days. I told her about Kaycee and I getting into the boys varsity team and our first match being the following weekend. I spoke to her about the play, telling her I was a substitute who'd probably not have any part in the play whatsoever, but she was proud of me anyway. I told her about everything that happened in New York... leaving Drake out of it obviously. I had barely told her anything about the trip when I returned, even though she was a huge reason as to how I could even go on that trip. I felt like such a bad daughter. Now I was making up for being so ignorant. In a hospital room. I still didn't tell her about my job though. I just felt like she'd be mad about it, telling me she'd provide for me and I didn't need to start working this early. She'd probably ignore my argument of 'everyone my age starts working' like she always did. But that's what makes her her and frankly I was just so grateful to have her. She was the best friend I never knew I needed. I couldn't imagine what would've happened if I had lost her... the only family I had left. I loved her so much... I'd give up anything for her to be okay.

I remembered what I had been wanting to ask her for the past few days. "Mom, what really happened? I mean, why did you get into an accident?"

She seemed shook by the question. She then went back to eating her food, pretending like I hadn't just spoken. Why was she ignoring me? Her reaction to my question made me all the more curious as to what had gotten her into this hospital room.

"Mom... why are you ignoring me?" I persisted.

With a little more effort she finally spoke to me. "I was just trying to pick up a phone call."

"How many times have I told you not to use your phone while driving?" I said, disappointed.

"I wasn't using it. I just tried to pick it up."

"Well, why did you trying to pick up a phone call have you end up like this? Was it someone important?"

"That... doesn't matter."

What? Why was she being so secretive about this?

"What do you mean? What are you hiding from me?"

"I was just really shocked from that phone call, Syddie. That's all."

"What do you mean shocked? Who was it?"

She remained silent.

"Mom! Answer me! Who was it?"

I did not like this. It was freaking me out that someone calling bothered my mom so much. She was just refusing to tell me. I was honestly suddenly so concerned about this phone call.

"Mom! Please stop ignoring the question."

"Mom-"

"-Your dad!" She cut me off mid-sentence.

I froze.