Noah's Winter

Chapter Twenty Four

*FLASHBACK CONTINUED*

My mother sat up straight, my father put his book down while removing his reading glasses, and my brother stuffed the rest of his sandwich in his mouth.

 "Sure, honey." My mother said, while smiling warily at me. 

I took a deep breath, calming my nerves, and let it out slowly, "I want to go home." All three bodies became utterly still and I could sense the sudden tension in the room.

 "Winter, you have to stay here in order to get your treatments, otherwise you won't be cured." My father told me in a matter of fact way. 

I sighed and narrowed my eyes at him, "I know that."

 My mother furrowed her red  eyebrows, "Then I don't see why you said that, if you already knew you can't go home until you're cured." She said while crossing her arms at her chest.

My parents began to talk quietly to each other and Jake just stared at me, his facial expression mixed with sorrow and pain. He grabbed my fragile hand and squeezed it tight. 

"She said it because she doesn't want to go through another treatment." I looked at my brother in surprise, he seemed so understanding. 

"Winter, that's absolutely absurd. You have to get treated...you WILL get treated." My mother said, completely disregarding Jake, with authority thick in her voice. My brother stood up, he looked beyond mad as he glared at our parents. 

"Don't you get it? She's tired of wasting away in this damned hospital! What if she does not make it? You want the end of her life locked up in a hospital, especially if she doesn't want to be here, it's like a prison!" My brother threw up his arms in exasperation. 

My Mother stood up also, "And what? Just let your sister die, without even trying to save her?!" I was starting to get irritate, they were talking about me like I wasn't here, like I didn't have a say in it.

 Jake glared at our Mother, "What do the last million freaking months mean to you? Gosh, mom, you are so selfish! She's in pain, can't you see that?" I was so shocked as I stared at the scene in front of me.

 My mother turned her glare from Jake to me, and pointed at me with a shaking finger, "You are not the only one in pain, Winter. Think about your family, for heaven's sake, and what about Noah? Hm? He needs you, Winter, to be strong and fight for your life." Tears freely fell from her eyes and she stormed out of the room, muttering something incoherent. My father stood up, walked over to me, and looked at me with sad eyes. 

He bent down and kissed my cheek, "She's just upset, I'll talk to her Guppy. I love you." He stood straight and walked out with slumped shoulders. I felt horrible for this, but when I was gone they could finally live a normal life again, and that's all I wanted.