A Sound from the Moon

Seven

I sit in the living room with phone on ear and listening to my mother reject the new medicine plan.

I let out a long sigh and say, "Mom. You need that medicine. I don't understand why you're saying no!"

Some of the members are around. I don't know if it's because they're curious or they just genuinely don't have anything to do. Wendy is sitting on the kitchen counter quietly eating pistachios. Seulgi is on the couch across from mine with earbuds in and a drawing notebook on her lap. Joy is on her phone sitting at the empty dinner table and Irene is talking on the phone in her room.

I don't seem to mind if they're around. For the first time, I don't hide this part of my life as I hear my mother say, "I don't want you to worry about paying anything. I'll be okay. I feel much better!"

"Mom. Don't worry about me. Please just take the medicine."

"Do you know how much this new medicine is?! Do you think I'll rest knowing that you're worried about money instead of focusing on studies and your new opportunity?"

"Do you expect me to focus knowing that my mother could die at any moment and I can't be there?!" This time I raise my voice and everyone around me look up with wide eyes. I clear my throat and look down when I realize the tone I've used. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"

"You already lost your childhood when I got cancer and your father left. I don't want you to lose your adolescence, too."

I hear her do a sniffle that breaks my heart. So I do a soft voice as I say, "I am most afraid of losing my mother instead. You're all I have left, mom. If you go...I have no one."

Tears slowly start to fall out and I quickly wipe them away. Seulgi is closest so she gets up to put a comforting arm around my shoulders. Her warmth is strange. It just as comforting as Irene's, but I let it be. It's in moments like these that I see their true colors. Unlike my father, they stay close.

My mother does a soft sigh and says, "Okay. I will take the medicine."

I let out a sigh of relief at her words and I know Nurse Lily must be getting to work the moment she said this out loud. "Thank you, mom. Don't worry about me, okay? Just focus on getting better. I'll also look for someone to take care of you when you go back home."

"Don't worry about that. The neighbors offered to help."

"Really? Oh. Okay. Call me when you're with Jade so I can talk to her."

My mother does a soft chuckle. "What would I do without you? Don't worry too much, okay? Focus on school and being the best at your training."

"Okay, mom. I love you. Please. Take the medicine. Hang in there. Just one more week."

"Yes, sweetie. I miss you."

My heart melts at her weak words and I hold back tears again. "I miss you, too, mom." I see Irene come into the living room and I quickly say, "Mom. I have to go. I'll be checking in with Nurse Lily."

"Okay, sweetheart. Be safe."

"I will." I give her one last goodbye and I sit back with a sigh.

"Will she take the medicine?" Wendy now says with curiosity.

I give her a nod as I slowly move my neck to relieve the tension. "I had to beg her. I don't get it. She can die without it and she still didn't want to take it!"

I shake my head with disappointment and look away from their sad eyes. Seulgi then says by my side, "What if we have a movie night? It's been a stressful afternoon for you."

Joy stands from the table with these words. "Yeah! Let's watch The Notebook!"

"What the heck?" Wendy says. "You're too young for that!"