It's Not Just a Memory

Chapter 7 The Woman of the Ally

*
"Ring ring ring phone call phone call!" I wake up to the wonderfully annoying sound that is my ring tone. I have been meaning to change it, but I keep forgetting too. I pick up my phone from its resting place on my nightstand. I can make out that it says Venni's name on the screen. I pick up the phone and answer.
"Hey Venni what's up dude?" Trying my damn hardest to make it sound like I didn't just get up.
"Nothing much, I just wanted to know if you wanted to go out and get something to eat?"

I contemplate it for a moment before having an answer.
"Sorry Venni, but I have other things to do today". It has been around a week since the accident and Eve told me two days ago that I can visit Mom.
"Okay then see you around". Him asking me to go out with him for something to eat is a bit out of character for him. Especially since I am the one who asks him if he wants to go out. Then again I have been kind of distant recently.
*

As I enter the hospital I get stung by the scent of the unholy level of clean that is hospital clean.  The bland walls and medium size spruce wood receptionist desk and metal detector does not help the image. I walk up to the receptionist and check in.
"Hello, I am here to visit my mothers".
"What's her name?" Giving me the signature fake smile everyone does when they hate their job but don't want to admit it.
"Her name Giusta Materna Oterasu".

I don't think I need to tell them her middle name but oh well.
"Alright, second floor room 2015". They hand me a wristband to put on with "visitor"around it in bold letters.
"Thank you and have a good day". I make my way to the elevators and make my way to the second floor. As soon as the elevator door slides open I start speed walking to her room. I don't pay attention to my surroundings and run into a tall black man. I fall backwards flat on my ass.

The man kneels down and helps me get back up off the ground.
"Hey man, you alright?" His tone is kind yet playful to me. The complete opposite reaction that I expected after running into someone. Instead of being upset that I ran into him like most people he just plays it off as if nothing happened.
"Ow, yeah I'm fine. Thanks for helping me get back up. I'm sorry for running into you. I should watch where I'm going". He chuckles at my apology.
"Nah, you're cool. Where are you heading in a hurry anyway?"

"I'm heading to room 2015". He looks to be pondering something for a moment. As if he is trying to really remember something.
"Ah, it's down the hall and the second to the last room on your left". He starts walking off to the elevators and leaves. I reach the room and read the numbers again to make sure that I am at the right room. "Knock, Knock". The sound rippled through the hall.
"Come in". The subtle sound of her voice fills me with relief and happiness. I open the door to see her in bed watching some show on the tv.

With some weird ass power gifted to her by god or something she immediately knew it was me without looking away from the tv. "Hi Michi!" Excitement coursing through her body genuinely happy that I came to visit.
"Hey Mom, how are you feeling?" Scared of what her answer might be so I squint my eyes a little.
"I'm doing okay, Michi, then again anything is an improvement compared to having an arrow in your body".
"I hope so". I let out a little laugh. It is nice to know that she still has her sense of humor.

"So, Mom, I have a question, and don't give me any of your snarky or smart-alike answers". She leans in from her bed and turns the tv on mute.
"What is it?"
"So, you said the quote on quote dreams I have had recently were memories. So, why couldn't I remember standing up for  Haruko?"
She gives a happy smile acting as if I were being humble.
"The reason is because I have done a great job at raising you Michi". I now have more questions for her. I also should have expected an indirect answer.
"What do you mean?" She chuckles before replying.
"For someone so smart you really are clueless sometimes. You don't remember because helping others in need is in your nature. That's why you don't remember it wasn't a significant thing that you would remember".
"Mom, I'm still confused about what you are talking about, of course I should remember how I met my childhood best friend". I am a little heated by this and she notices.
"Honey, you have a kind soul and have done what's right no matter what. You being nice to someone even if you were hurt in the process is just you so, you wouldn't remember it. When I came to the school to get you that day from school you didn't even cry. You just went on and on about how it was wrong of those kids to bully Haru. Remember this was a choice you made even before you could summon a kokoro-kara". Another wave of realization hit much harder than a couple nights ago.