I'm Sorry Trish.

The Talk

"It's time" Trish said with a pale face.
"What do you mean, i​t's time? T​ime for what?" asked Mia while stroking her straight chocolate brown hair.
"It's time to talk about...my cancer." Trish replied hesitantly.
"Ok." Mia shrugged.
Trish had been diagnosed with lung cancer at six years old, and she was now eighteen. Mia was a year old when Trish got diagnosed and had absolutely no idea what was going on. When Mia started talking she would always ask her mom, "Why is Trishie always so pale?" Nobody answered her, they just nodded and walked away. Mia only knew the rumors about the cancer, and never really understood it.
"Do you know what cancer is?" Trish asked Mia.
Mia nodded. "Well, what i​s c​ancer?"
"Well..." Mia started. "I only know a little bit. For example, you have to get medicine every month. Also, your hair falls completely off after chemotherapy, and yeah that's all." Mia stated while pushing her purple frame glasses up.
Whew! Thought I was going to screw up on saying Chemo... Nope screwed it up t​hought Mia "Well, that is all very true" Trish smiled.
Then why does she have a full set of hair on her head?​ Mia thought silently
Mia and her sister were the only children in their family. They lived with their parents in a quiet area in New York. Mia adored New York, and savored the rich history that the Big Apple held. Without a doubt, Mia's favorite place was Central Park. She loved bringing her diary there to write her deepest, darkest secrets, and also enjoyed the nice walks and runs she has with her dog Wonton. Mia was never the talking type, she just kept it all to herself, and to her diary. She never really talked to her sister. The only words that would come out of her mouth would be "Hi!' and "Bye!" Even if they didn't talk to each other Mia really did love Trish. Communication was definitely not what brought their relationship together, but playing outside did the trick. Every Sunday afternoon Mia's mom would help Trish outside, and they would play so many games from prince and princess all the way to soccer games in Brazil. Mia was also exceptional in school, and was an all­around athlete. Mia had never been the "favorite" in her family, it was always "Trish this," and "Trish that." It was constantly Trish, Trish, a​nd T​rish.
"Mia, I want to tell you in the calmest way possible. I don't want you to be angry or sorrowful,
I want you to accept what you're going to hear." Trish said in a low and quiet voice.
"Trish I am ready, just pull it off like a bandaid." Mia said smirking.
"Mia I am serious."
Mia I am serious m​imicked Mia. "What?" Trish looked at Mia's hazelnut eyes, and shot her a cold stare,"It was funny." Mia sat and looked at the floor quietly "Okay, sorry continue."
"Okay, so you know that when I was first diagnosed with cancer I was six."
Mia nodded, but couldn't look her in the eye.
"All right then. I came here to tell you that I am not going to live forever." "WOW! You pulled that off like a bandaid."
"I am not finished Mia."
Does she always have to be so pushy? M​ia thought.
Since Trish was older than Mia, she always had power over her. It was how things were, it was sort of like a hierarchy. The king or in this case the oldest had total control over the peasant which is Mia. In spite of this, Mia enjoyed the hierarchy (occasionally) because it reminded her of the prince and the princess game Trish and she used to play ever since she was younger.
"Mia, I want you to be there for mom and dad. I don't want my­­" Trish paused and thought for a minute, "well, you know, affect you. I want you to be strong and happy."
"Move on." Trish delicately said.
Trish. Hello! I am not a baby, I can handle the word "death" M​ia whispered under her breath
Mia was annoyed. She was tired of Trish thinking of her as her baby sister who always needed her protection. She just looked away, and concentrated on the outside window, right beside her tattered red chair. Outside, the scene was gorgeous. A sunset passed over the city that held a dear place in her heart. It was a nice warm sunny Sunday afternoon, around 4:30pm.
"I hope you­­ Mia, are you listening to me?" Trish slightly raised her voice when she noticed Mia wandering off into the sound of the city.
Shoot! I wasn't listening M​ia thought cursing silently.
"Mia if you're not going to bother to listen than we shouldn't have had this conversation." "Trish, I'm sorry...I..I..just you know blanked out." Mia stuttered.
"What? So you're saying the sky is more important than your sister who has cancer?" Trish was furious. She had been pushed to her limits,"Mia I have waited so long to tell you about my cancer, but I didn't know how to say it. It's not that easy." Trish started tearing up
"Trish, I never said it was easy. I just..." Mia trailed off.
"You were just what? Bored? Tired?"
"No, I was annoyed. Annoyed that you always treat me like a baby, and that I was ignored for thirteen years and did not know what the heck was happening" Mia started tearing up as well. "Mia, I thought you would take it seriously. I thought... I thought you could handle this."
Trish started to breath heavily, and was coughing harder than Mia could have ever imagined. She was in a state of panic as Trish spit out bright red blood. Mia had an anxious feeling in her stomach, and then all of a sudden Trish fell to the ground, laying there absolutely still. Mia backed away, worried that this one would send Trish to the other side. "MOM!" Mia howled as loud as she could
Mia's mom came rushing in from the kitchen. Flour on her face, and beige colored dough on her apron.
"Mia, help me bring her to the car!" Tears started to stream down Mia's face.
What have I done? The first time I actually talk to my sister, I mess it all up. I am so stupid.
Mia thought, slapping her head.
"Mom! What do I do?"
"Mia, just stay here, and wait for your dad. Everything will be alright." This reassured her.
Mia's mom, rushed the car with Trish cradled in her arms. Her limp body made Mia feel worse than before. Mia jogged immediately to the car.
"Mia," her mom shouted with a tone Mia had never heard before from her mother, "I told you to wait for your father. I can't talk to you right now."
Mia looked down and began to cry. She wanted to see her sister, she wanted to stay with her sister. She wanted to be there and make up for all the time she had lost and wasted ignoring Trish. She didn't have that time now. She might never have the chance. All she could do was stand there and watch the car drive away. The sky was now dark and the sun was hiding behind the clouds as if playing hide and seek with the moon.
I should've listened. Trish, I'm sorry.