Two Bassists > C.T.H.

Chapter 4:

September 5, 2016

The last few months have been hard on everybody. My dad is scared to go to work and risk not knowing if something happens to Mom or not. Terra's had a hard time focusing in school, as her teachers have called our house phone and said so. They all say the same thing: That they're deeply sorry, but there's no true excuses. It's utter bullshit, really.

I haven't had just one day since July to sit down and record music, or check my YouTube. When I'm not with my mom, I'm doing chores, grocery shopping, paying bills, helping Terra with homework. Don't get me wrong, I'm very willing to help my family out, but that's my job, and from Tweets and comments from fans, they've noticed I've been distant. Yes, they are my fans, but I don't want pity. Ella already pities me, since she knows my family so well. She really feels guilty about not being here for me.

My dad has also been sensitive about 'family secrets' and 'what happens at home, stays at home,' but pretty soon my fans are going to get annoyed with me and I'm going to have to admit something.

We usually go visit her four times a week: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Today was Monday, and here started another week up.

It was three sharp, the usual time Terra was home from school and dad had Sundays and Fridays off, so it would just be us two. Today I noticed Terra seemed a bit... Off. Like she was planning something. She sat in her room cross legged on her bed with a textbook on her lap. Terra looked at her phone instead, though, the brightness illuminating her face.

I knocked on the door, since she didn't know I was here. She head shot up and surprise covered her face.

"Are you coming to see mom with me or not?" I ask, motioning to the papers next to her on the bed.

"I have homework," Terra says, placing her phone face down on her thigh.

"Then why are you on your phone?" I question.

"Research," She plainly says, then picks up a pencil and one piece of paper without losing eye contact with me.

"I'll tell Mom you were busy," I sigh, slowly backing out of the doorway.

-

Mom's state hadn't changed much since July; except the occasional progression and regression. She usually was watching the news at this time, but the TV was off and she was fiddling with her thin fingers.

When I walked in, her face lit up more than usual. Surprisingly, my mom's first question wasn't 'Where's Terra?' it was 'Can we talk?'

I look at her oddly. "Sure," I say, pulling up the uncomfortable-cushion chair to her hospital bed.

"I want to talk to you about your music," My mom smiles at me, blue eyes glistening. "How has that been?"

"Still good, although I haven't spent much time with it since July," I admit to her.

"What takes up your time so much?" She gasps.

"I don't know if he told you this or not, but Dad's been working longer hours, so I cook dinner, I clean the house, I help Terra with her studying, I make Dad's lunch before he goes to work. I don't know, Mom, we've honestly all been a little worn out."

My mom looks around the room a little bit awkwardly, "I'm sorry, I know how much music means to you. But that's not exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. There's more."

"Okay, ask away," I say with a small smile.

"Did you come alone?" She asks.

"What?"