The Night Of Street 49th

The Night Of Street 49th - Chapter 6

Amelia searches for her mother, whose phone was found near The Midnight Whispers Cafe. After a frustrating conversation with Timmy, she heads to the hospital to check on Olivia, who remains unconscious. Amelia then receives a call from her mother, leading to an emotional reunion at the hospital, but her mother's vague explanations leave Amelia with lingering questions.

Amelia sat beside her mother, resting her head gently on her shoulder, just outside Olivia's hospital room. The sterile scent of the hospital lingered in the air, and the soft beeping of machines from nearby rooms filled the otherwise quiet hallway. Amelia hesitated for a moment before asking the question that had been on her mind for days.

"Mom," she whispered softly, "Where were you for the past week?"

Lily, her mother, remained silent for a few moments, the weight of the question heavy in the air between them. Her expression tightened, and her eyes clouded as if searching for the right words. She finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What could I do, dear? I can't stand being alone in that big house. It feels like I'm wandering around like a ghost," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "Yes, Martha is there, but she only works fixed hours, and she has so much to do herself. She's been with us for years, but with my illness"—Lily paused, her face momentarily tightening in discomfort—"I can't do as much as I used to."

She lowered her gaze, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of her coat.

"And you're always so busy. You're rarely home, and even when you are, I never know when you'll leave again. And Olivia... well, you know how she is." A weak smile briefly flickered across her face before fading. "So, I've been spending more time outside. One of my friends runs a small NGO. I mostly stay there. I can't do much, but I try to help however I can."

As Lily spoke, her voice grew heavier, and soon her words were drowned by the emotion in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. Amelia, hearing the pain in her mother's voice, felt her heart tighten. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around Lily, pulling her into a tight hug, her own tears falling freely now. Amelia buried her face in her mother's shoulder, overcome with guilt and sorrow.

"I'm so sorry, Mom," she murmured, her voice cracking with emotion. "I should've been there for you."

They sat like that for a few minutes, lost in their shared grief, neither wanting to let go. After what felt like an eternity, Amelia slowly pulled back and wiped the tears from her face. She looked at her mother, still holding her hand.

"Mom," she asked gently, "where's your phone? I called and texted you so many times, but I never got a response."

Lily looked away, dabbing at her own tears with the sleeve of her cardigan.

"My phone... it got stolen," she confessed, her voice shaky.

"Stolen?!" Amelia exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock. "When? How? Are you okay?"

Lily quickly nodded, reassuring her.

"I'm fine, sweetheart. It happened two days ago when I was coming back from the NGO. My purse was stolen, and my phone was in it. I reported it to the police, but there's been no update yet."

Amelia frowned, her heart aching to hear that her mother had gone through something so unsettling. But her concern turned to suspicion as another thought crossed her mind.

"Then who did you call Aunt Martha from? You didn't call me."

Lily gave a soft sigh, clearly uncomfortable.

"I didn't want to disturb you," she explained, her voice gentle but firm. "You're always so busy with your work, and I didn't want to burden you with my problems. Martha's been with us for so long, and she's at the house most of the time. I thought it was easier to let her know so she wouldn't worry too much. If I told her, it wouldn't get back to you, and I didn't want you both to be troubled."

Amelia's frustration bubbled up. "Mom, what are you talking about? I get that I'm busy, but you know family comes first for me. Please, don't ever feel like you're a burden."

Lily gave her a small smile, gently stroking Amelia's hair. "Alright, Miss Archaeologist. I won't keep anything from you again. Promise."

Amelia's lips curved into a smile at her mother's light-hearted response. The tension in the air lifted, but Amelia's curiosity remained. She leaned back slightly and asked again, "But, Mom, you still haven't told me—whose phone did you use to call Martha?"

Lily's smile faded. Her expression turned uneasy as she looked away, a shadow crossing her face. Her hands fidgeted nervously in her lap.

"I... I borrowed a phone from one of the ladies at the NGO," she stammered, her voice wavering.

"A lady from the NGO?" Amelia repeated, frowning in confusion. "But MOM, do you know where that phone was found?" Hearing this, Lily looks at Amelia with curious eyes, then stutters, "Wha... where?" 

Amelia looks at her mom and replies, "The Midnight Whispers Cafe."

Surprised by this, Lily raises her eyebrows and slowly says, "That's... that's Olivia's cafe, right? She works there." 

Amelia nods in agreement, saying, "Yes, mom. I found it on a bench outside Olivia's cafe. And you know the strange thing? The lady you mentioned wasn't even there; there was no one around the phone."

Lily's expression turns odd as she reacts with confusion and says, "What???"

"Yes, mom," Amelia continues, her tone serious. "When I called that number, a helper at the cafe answered "And that lady you mentioned, she wasn't there at all. The café helper I talked to said no one was around."

Lily's face grew pale. Her eyes darted to the side, clearly rattled by Amelia's revelation.

"What...? That can't be," Lily muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible.

"Mom, if she was from the NGO, how did she end up leaving her phone outside a café? And who forgets their phone so easily?" Amelia pressed, leaning forward as she pieced the puzzle together.

Lily shifted uncomfortably, her voice now filled with nervous energy.

"Well, when I borrowed her phone, she was heading out for some work. Maybe... maybe she was on her way to the café. You know how popular that café is." Lily forced a weak chuckle, but it felt strained. "And about forgetting things, she does have a bit of a memory problem. She forgets things all the time at the NGO."

Amelia leaned back, staring off into the distance, processing her mother's explanation. "Hmmm... yeah, I guess that makes sense," she mumbled, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Lily exhaled softly, visibly relaxing. "Yes, dear. That must be it. You've been through a lot. Why don't you get some rest? You look exhausted."

Amelia nodded, her body heavy with fatigue. She turned her head from side to side, stretching her neck. "Yeah, maybe I should get some sleep," she agreed, her voice tired.

She stood up from the bench and walked slowly toward Olivia's room. She paused at the door, her hand resting on the handle.

"By the way, Mom," Amelia said, turning her head slightly, "Timmy, still has the phone. We can pick it up and return it to the lady."

At the mention of the name, Lily's head snapped up, her expression suddenly alert.

"Timmy?" she repeated, her voice barely a whisper.

"Yeah, the helper from the café. He's the one who told me about the phone." Amelia pushed the door open and walked inside, leaving Lily in the hallway, blinking rapidly and lost in thought.

How do you interpret Lily's sudden shift in demeanor when Amelia mentions Timmy? What do you think her reaction reveals about her feelings toward him or the situation surrounding her phone? Share your thoughts in the comments!