War of Love

Chapter 22- Family crisis

Perhaps I should have realized as soon as I got up on this bright and beautiful morning, that something would yet again go wrong this weekend. Or, perhaps I should have listened to the silent pleas of my instincts, tugging and screaming at me to listen. Yet, I somehow manage to brush aside all my worries and all those negative thoughts as I stare at myself in the mirror. I adjust my mask properly, briefly brushing my fingers through my hair. A soft sigh escapes my lips, while I feel a small smile grace my lips.
    Satisfied with my look, I scan my clothes one more time from the mirror, before stepping out. As I walk down the streets, I can't help but feel good with the fresh air I was currently receiving.
   My plans for this weekend was nothing much, I intend to go for a walk. Then perhaps, stop by the shopping mall to get a few things, and...
The sound of my phone's ring tone cuts through the calm atmosphere, startling me. I pause, blinking in surprise before digging into the pocket of my blue Jean jacket to grab my phone. I instinctively answer once I get hold of it.
"Hello," I say, as soon as I'd placed it against my ear. "Am I speaking with Lyria Albert?" A calm voice asks over the phone. My nerves begin to kick in, and I nod in agreement before verbally affirming.
"You need to come to the General City Hospital, down Hillmans Street." The voice proceeds, and I instinctively freeze.
"...why?..." I stutter, "Your father just suffered from a stroke." She adds.
There's a ringing silence in my head long after she hangs up. It takes a lot of energy to remove the phone from my ear, long after the call had ended.
Father.
Tears roll down my cheeks at full force, and with the painful and agonising thoughts of my father laying in a hospital bed. I run, desperately searching for a taxi.
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My legs and chest are throbbing in pain by the time I get there. Still, I don't give in, not as my heart remains hammering in my chest harder, while I run into the hospital with all my might. Making a brief stop at the receptionist's desk to get some information about the latest patient registered into the hospital.
And that's my father.
"Excuse me," I say, pausing to catch my breath and cool down before speaking.
She looks up at me with her black eyes questioningly. I gulp some more air, before resuming.
"Which ward was Mr Albert registered under?" I ask her. She gives me a curt nod, before setting to work on her monitor. After a few seconds which felt like hours and some more clicking on her mouse, she finally looks up at me. Then her eyes fleet back to the monitor's screen while she reads out the information she sees.
"Mr Albert has been registered under ward 234B." She said curtly, I mutter a breathless 'thank you' before running off again.
I run round the hospital like a practical mad lady, though breathless I don't give up searching for my fathers ward. Just when I was about to give up, my feets wander pass a waiting room. One which I would have missed if not for the sobs I heard coming from there, causing me to pause midway in my journey. And make a u-turn.
I retrace my steps back by a few, and then slowly turn to my right. My heart gets caught in my throat, at the sight I see. I don't miss a familiar brown hair, braided neatly in a ponytail. It was Lyla, my older sister, beside her I spot Peter leaning against a wall. Right next to Layla.
And she was consoling a lady. She was sitted on one of the chairs there, with her face buried in her palms. And her blonde hair a veil around her face. I didn't need anyone to tell me who it was.. it was my mother.
I stiffle a sob, as a tear drop falls from my eyes. Unknowingly, I take steps towards them. The look they all have on their faces is anything but pleasant.
I'm not fazed by any of it, I hadn't even come here to console anyone. Though I could feel Layla boring holes into my head with her eyes, I still make my way to dad's ward door. I peek into it through the small glass opening and all at once my eyes begin to tear up once more at the sight. I lean my head against the glass, sobbing quietly as tears roll down my cheeks uncontrollably. Suddenly, I'm pulled from the door, and find myself face to face with mother. My brows knit together in confusion as to why she had done so. Her blonde hair looked dishevelled, and her grey green eyes were swollen from crying too much.
I open my mouth to speak, but then a loud harsh sound echoes into my ears. I place my hand on ny cheek, still feeling the throbbing pain as I slowly lift my head to face her. I blink realizing what had just happened, she had slapped me. I try not to wince as I knew if I turned right now, I would definitely catch Layla smiling at my miserable state. Instead I don't, I face her with a blank calm stare. As much as I can muster, willing it not to crumble while I stared at her.
"You are the reason why my husband is in this state right now." She said, eyes red as she cursed under her breath. "You can't blame me, he's my father." I defend stubbornly. "Don't you dare call him your father you jinxed child!" She yelled pointing a finger at me, as I could vividly see the anger and hatred she had for me.
My heart broke at those words, but as much as I willed my voice to stay calm, it still broke while I spoke.
"I'm still family." I say, "family?" She scoffs. She takes intimidating steps towards me and I find myself taking a few steps back too.
"You were never family, and never will be, you hear me? Now get lost!" She yelled shoving me towards the exit. She wasn't just throwing me out of the hospital but also out of their lives. I stumble, but don't fall. I try my best not to fall as I drag myself out the hospital. I lean against a pillar at the entrance, trying to stabilise myself after what mother had just done. I clutch my phone tightly in my hand, before putting it into my pocket. I wipe my tears, and slowly walk away with shivering hands.
Suddenly, I'm pulled forcefully aside. Before I can retaliate, my face is covered with a dark cloth. I try struggling but it soon gets suffocating inside.
I gradually fall into oblivion, completely losing my senses in the process.
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