Subdued (18+)✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

63~Worried yet relieved

Pete's mom was waiting outside Aria's mother's house when she got down from the cab. She felt relief when the smiling woman wrapped her in a familiar embrace. If she was smiling, then surely this was a minor situation, right?

"Good afternoon ma. Where's mumsi? Is she inside?" Aria asked as she pulled away. Pete's mom followed her in as she ran, only thoughts of her mom filling her mind. She dumped her bag on the floor and made for her mother's room.

"She's not here; she's at the hospital," Pete's mom called out just before she pushed the door open.

"Hospital? Which hospital? It must be a serious illness then."

"Can you sit down for a moment? There's something we have to talk about." The smile was no longer on the woman's face, instead she was wearing a look similar to the one she'd seen on Pete's face the other day.

Something to talk about usually was bad news. Was it so bad that the older woman hadn't risked talking about on the phone? Aria took the couch closest to her and then folded her arms in front of her. They wouldn't stop shaking so she tucked them underneath her thighs.

"What's going on, ma? I'm getting really worried." Pete's mom sat down beside her and held her hands.

"It's serious but I didn't want you to travel with so much on your mind, that's why I didn't say it on the phone."

"What is it?" Her voice shook as she imagined all kinds of illnesses that could land her mom in the hospital. Was it her blood pressure? Or was it something even worse?

"She has cancer. Breast cancer to be exact."

All the air in the room was vacuumed out, leaving her with nothing but pure panic. She tried inhaling, but her lungs just wouldn't cooperate. The fingers around hers tightened as the older woman continued to talk, but Aria couldn't hear past her panic. Mama Peter slightly shook her as she told her to breath. The woman slowly breathed in and out and kept at it till Aria's breathing regulated.

"Cancer? How? Why?" Her voice shook as she began to sob. She couldn't believe the luck they had. They'd finally escaped a huge debt and now that she wanted to start taking better care of her mother, another bad news was hitting them.

"Who can we question naw? Thankfully, the doctor said she found it early so it can be operated on. It would cost a lot of money and drain Ifeoma physically, mentally and emotionally. That's why I called you, so you'll be here for her."

"Why didn't she tell me? Why's mom always like this?"

"You already know there's nothing we can say to your stubborn mother. She didn't want you to worry that's why she refused to call. She doesn't even know I called you."

"Please, what hospital? Can we go now?"

***

Although the visit with her mother's doctor had gone well, Aria still needed time to collect herself before going to see the woman. The doctor had gone over the treatment schedule for her mother and although the medical bill was astronomical, Aria and the doctors were confident that they could beat cancer.

She dug out her phone from her bag and called Pete. She needed to talk to someone so she could calm down a little before meeting her mom. She couldn't see her in the state she was now. She had to be strong for her mother. After the third time dialing without any response, she decided to just text him.

There was a new message from Kachi but she immediately ignored it. If she added his own to her problems right now, she definitely wouldn't be able to bear it at all. It was such a bad time to be single again. She could imagine Kachi doing everything he could to cheer her up and him distracting her from all her issues. He was also a great listener and a good shoulder to cry on. If only he hadn't chosen to be with someone else.