Taxi

7. In the stars

Samtou stopped in front of Cassie's house, and this time it was not to drive her to work. But as usual, he made sure he was at his best before texting her.

She came out within a minute, her bright smile casting away all the clouds in the sky. And when she unexpectedly kissed him, Samtou thought he could die in peace.

For their first date, they agreed to do things Cassie would want. That's how Samtou found himself bowling, when he'd never set foot in a bowling club before.

They also went to the cinema, shared some ice cream, visited an art exposition and walked on the beach. The air was cold, so they had a reason to cuddle, and despite the menacing clouds, they could get a glimpse at the sunset. Everything was perfect.

Until he got the call. His aunt was so streaked it was almost impossible to get what she was saying. But Samtou knew it had something to do with his mother, and it was no good news. He didn't need to hear her words distinctly, her agitated state spoke loudly enough.

Cassie seemed to understand too, because Samtou didn't have to tell her. She simply nodded, and they ran as fast as possible towards his car. As soon as he started the car, 'In the stars' by Benson Boone started to play, as an ominous omen.

By the time they arrived at the hospital, it was raining heavily. In any other circumstances, he would have been a gentleman, protecting Cassie from the rain as they ran out of the car towards the building, but this time-he hoped she would forgive him -he ran as fast as he could, leaving her behind to struggle with her heels under the rain.

Samtou violently opened his mother's room door, and was met with a horde of hospital staff, all bustling around his unconscious mother whose machines were beeping frantically.

In a corner of the room, his aunt was crying, and when she noticed him, she shook her head. Samtou closed his eyes to try and calm down. When he felt serene enough, as serene as he could manage to be in such a situation, he walked towards the bed, kneeled next to it and grabbed his mother's hand.

He couldn't do much, and it killed him. But they knew it could happen anytime. She even outpassed the estimated time left she was given, and maybe that made them forget for some time. But Samtou knew it would happen, and he was prepared.

That's what he thought. After all, he was there, when his father died twenty years ago. He was certain he knew what it would feel like to see his mother go. And he thought he was prepared.

But when the incessant beeps turned into a flat sound, and he felt the energy leaving her, the pain that gripped his heart was nothing he could ever be prepared for.