Vista

divorce

"Mum?"

"E."

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am. Can you meet me at the Attorney's office?"

"What's going on?"

She dropped. I let out a long breath and I put my phone in the back pocket of my jeans.

I quickly left the restrooms and headed back to class to take my backpack.

"Are you Ethan Cheshire?"

"Yes Sir."

"Sit, please."

My mother was devastated. She didn't look like she was okay.

"Denis Cheshire is requesting a divorce, Lena."

"What?!" I muttered.

I looked at my mum, and at the attorney again.

"He requested a witness to sign the letter."

"Why's he not here?"

"He went to Florida." He placed the paper in front of my mother who was weeping. I held her.

"Hey. It's gonna be okay."

"I know, son. I know."

When she regained composure, she signed. Then, we left.

It was only when we reached home that I remembered Emilia was going to come. But the first person I saw when I entered the living room was Emilia. When we entered, she stood. However, my mother didn't realize her presence because climbed the staircase.

"Hey."

"Is everything okay?"

"Um yeah. My dad requested a divorce today and we were just signing it."

"What?"

"Yeah. He did."

The words that came out of my mouth were heavy. I sat on the couch and I cupped my face in my palms.

She heaved a sigh. "I'm sorry, Ethan."

"It's fine. I know it's gonna be fine."

My eyes were slowly failing me.

"Does he have to leave us only now?"

She didn't say anything. Instead, she held my big hands in hers.

I seized them and raked my hands in my hair out of frustration. Tired and devastated, I climbed to Kelsey's room. The door was locked, but just as I turned to leave, I heard her crying.

I was going to return to the couch, but the staircase welcomed me. I sat there and cupped my face in my palms. I wept bitterly. I didn't want to. I knew that the man who'd left us wasn't the man who stood by me when I was just a boy. The real person was eventually going to come back. If he'd been the same all through, I would've fought back. Right now, I was too tired to fight. There was no strength left in me to retaliate for making my mum and sister cry.

However, there was a part of me that still loved him so much. A part of me that would cry if he were present to sign the divorce that day. A part of me that would still run after him even if he had other children out there.

That was the part I knew I had to hide.

The following weeks were hell. Kelsey got admitted the day after. Due to all the stress, my mother got high blood pressure and was admitted the following week. It was so hard for me to cope with school, take care of my sister, and visit my mother three times a day. For up to a month, I stopped playing basketball. Everyone who asked eventually got the news that my parents divorced, and I avoided getting in contact with them. Sometimes, I didn't show up at school at all. What made it even harder was the fact that it was senior year and I had a lot of projects to carry out. Coupled with the fact that my dad left, I had to take care of our home, make sure the maids and servants got paid, and run errands for my mother.

Despite her schedule, Emilia was there for me. Always. Most times, she sat in my mother's ward while I took tests in school. According to her, it was the least she could do. It was something I couldn't do because I couldn't sit for 3 hours, watching my mother's situation. That also meant that she was present when the doctor needed to talk to someone about her situation and got her the medicines she needed when she needed.

One very tough afternoon, I rushed to the hospital after her rate got higher than normal. Emilia had gotten out to see the doctor.

"Mum? Are you okay?" I cupped her jaw with my palm and scanned her face.

"Yes, E. I am now."

I sighed in relief. I turned around to find a chair and I slid in it. Then I reached out for her hand, and I kissed it.

"Where's Emilia?"

"Probably with the doctor."

"She's a good girl." She sighed after a moment.

I nodded in response. If she thought she was taking care of my mum, she was nursing her. That alone was something I would forever owe her for.

"Are you both courting?"

I shook my head. "Just seeing each other. I haven't asked her officially."

She looked at me for some time and then tapped her fingers on the bed. "You should."

"I doubt she'll accept."

She didn't push any further. She knew that if I wanted to talk about it, I would say something more.

"How's K?"

"She's okay. She said she'll be coming by 3."

Emilia appeared at that instant.

"Hi," She smiled at me.

"Hey," I replied, standing up to return her seat.

"No, that's okay." She found another one behind the other side of the bed. Then she sighed.

"Exhausted?"

"No. I just remembered I had to do something for Becca."

"You should rest, Mily."

"I hope I can." She gave me a quick side hug before sprinting out.

"What year is she?"

"Sophomore."

"Wanna talk about her?"

"She's the school's best student. And everyone likes her. And she's a Christian."

"Yeah, she prayed for me a few hours ago."

"She did?"

She nodded. "Yeah. I told her I couldn't feel my heart. She was confused and did the only thing she could think of."

"And how do you feel now?"

"A lot better. My heart should be looking for me right now." She confessed.

I scoffed at her joke. "You're only getting better."

"Well, what can I say? I have a good nurse."

We chuckled.

After that, things were gradually becoming okay again. That, or because I was now aware of my numerous responsibilities and made sure I achieved all at the time. Kelsey became ill but remembered that she was now fatherless and had to be stronger than before.

Emilia and Tony showed up at my house most of the time. Emilia had made it her life's mission to make sure my mum was okay, and Tony made sure I was okay. Beverly came to California to spend time with us, together with Ben.