Fractured Bonds

18 -Emma

Present

Cold sweat trickles down my spine as I come back from my run. It's been a hectic week. Richard's hemi hepatectomy was cancelled due to how far the cancer has spread, and even though he's taking chemo, it might not work. The doctors told us to prepare for the worst, not knowing that him dying will be a burden lifted off of the family's shoulders.

Jake and I are on excellent terms now. I've been working from my in-laws' home and enjoy going on a run every morning whenever I'm here. My phone buzzes with a call from my mom, Anitha.

I answer, and mom's voice fills my ear.

"How are things over there?" she asks.

I explain, "No one is talking to Richard, but we take shifts at the hospital just in case. We even hired someone to look after him."

Mom's voice hardens as she says, "The sooner Richard dies, the better."

I'm shocked, though not surprised—Mom has always been unhinged. "Mom, really?"

She presses on, "Well, you know it too! Leave that, I wanted to know if you got a call from 'her'?"

"Yeah, Mom, I did," I respond cautiously, "And you?"

"I did, but don't answer. I received it and it's the usual drama. It'll only hurt you."

I sigh, "Oh, Mom," I sigh, "Okay, Mom. I'll let Eleanor know."

Mom's voice softens slightly, "I already told her about it."

She, then, asks me about how I'm feeling. She's always worrying, both Eleanor and I get it from her and ajji. We talked for a while and I went into the garden and sat there, knowing our conversation on the phone would be long.

Finally, she says, "Take care, Emma. And remember, keep your distance from that mess. Love you baby."

"Thanks, Mom. I will. Talk to you later. Love you too, Mumma."

Ending the call, I take a deep breath, trying to absorb the whirlpool of emotions her words have stirred up. Just another day in this chaotic family saga.

After the call, I come into the house, freshen up and head into the living room, where I see Kathleen, my mother-in-law, sitting on the couch, flipping through an old photo album. She looks up and smiles warmly at me.

"Emma, darling, come sit with me," she says, patting the spot next to her. "I'm looking at baby pictures of Jake and Mike."

I sit down beside her, and she turns the album so I can see. The first picture is of a chubby, adorable baby Jake, grinning up at the camera. "Jake was the cutest baby I had ever seen," Kathleen says, her eyes twinkling. "He was so chubby and adorable. Mike was a cute baby too, but Jake was the cutest."

I laugh at her secret that Jake is her favourite, while looking at the pictures. "He does look adorable."

Kathleen continues flipping through the album, pointing out various pictures and sharing stories. "Have you and Jake ever thought about having kids?" she asks casually.

I feel a pang in my chest and give a vague answer. "We've talked about it, but we're not in a position to make any decisions right now."

I get a flashback to a few months ago as Kathleen continues talking about Jake and Mike's childhood shenanigans. I remember the frantic rush to the ER, the hazy details of being wheeled into the hospital. Everything was a blur—bright lights, muffled voices, the sterile smell of antiseptics. I barely remember the faces of the medical staff who attended to me. It was a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty, but I shake it off, not wanting to dwell on it.

Kathleen doesn't notice my momentary distraction and keeps sharing stories. "You know, Jake was a silent kid. He rarely got into trouble and was kind of a nerd, always with his books and gadgets. Mike, on the other hand, was mischievous. He frequently got into brawls, always coming home with scraped knees and torn clothes. They were quite the duo. You know, Mike changed a lot after that summer with Richard, he became a lot like his brother, but in his own way. It was a lot to take in for a kid."

"Yeah, what Richard did would change the most resilient of people," I give her a bitter smile, listening to her stories, feeling a mix of emotions. Despite the difficult memories, being here with Kathleen and hearing about Jake's childhood brings a sense of warmth and connection.

Just then, my phone buzzes with a call from an unknown number. I glance at it, contemplating whether to pick it up. The same number as last time, but I decide to leave it. I don't want to interrupt this moment with Kathleen. I put my phone down and focus back on the photo album, letting Kathleen's stories wash over me.

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