Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 31

Lucas ran in circles in the corner, holding up a carefully folded paper plane Jay had constructed for him. He would randomly run out of the house and back into the room. Ma made her way into the sitting room, holding a saucer with a teacup on it. Jay was outside planting in the garden, while Emily just sat, staring into the abyss with folded hands. She had not said a word since she came here this evening. Ma wondered what was wrong with her. She could guess, but it was going to be several.

"How is your mother?" Ma asked, concerned.

"She's good. Still the way she is," Emily responded.

"It's good to know she's not feeling worse, but I believe she'll be healed, by God's grace," Ma tried to make her speak.

"Amen," Emily responded softly. Ma heaved a heavy sigh and shook her head.

"Emily, you're cold. You haven't spoken to us since you suddenly came here," Ma said slowly, making her way to drop the cup of tea by Emily's side. "Are you well?"

"Yes...yes..." Emily whispered.

"Did anything happen at the hospital today?" Emily didn't respond; her mouth opened slightly as if she wanted to speak. "Please talk to me," she placed her old hands on Emily's shoulder, causing Emily to divert her attention to her.

"Is it him?" Ma whispered, maintaining eye contact with Emily. "Did you come in contact with that man?"

Emily's lips slowly folded as if she tried to hold herself from breaking down.

She nodded gently. "I thought I had gotten over him...I...I'm still just as I was...I..."

"No, don't say that," Ma said, pitying the young woman in front of her. "You're not still just as you were; you're better now, more confident, independent, and to top it all, you're now a mother. You single-handedly trained Lucas, all by yourself. You are not just as you were."

Emily shook her head in doubt.

"Look at your son," Ma demanded. "He's more important to you than any man on this earth! He was your major motivation for everything you did."

Emily was reluctant.

"Emily, look at your son," she repeated and patiently waited for Emily to calm down and look at her child playing in the corner. "See how happy he is. You have kept him happy all these years. Please don't do this to him."

Emily tried to hold back her tears as she watched him. He suddenly turned to face her and ran to her.

"Mummy, my plane's broken," he showed her his plane, partly destroyed by water. "Mummy, are you crying?" He lifted his small hands to touch her wet cheeks.

Emily laughed embarrassingly, looking at the striking image of Mark in front of her. "No, mommy's fine, it's nothing," she took the plane from him. "This one's beyond fixing; get me another paper, I'll do one for you."

"Right away," he hopped out of the room.

Ma leaned back and maintained her stare. "You better clean those eyes dry, or your paper plane will be gone before you can even make one."

Emily giggled, nodding and cleaning her tears with a napkin.

"I cannot wait till all of this is over," Emily said to Ma.

Ma withdrew her hands from Emily's shoulders and reached for a cup of tea she had previously brought in.

Emily thanked her and proceeded to take a sip. She didn't know why, but Ma's tea always calmed her down. It was almost as if she put antidepressants in them.