Help me to Heal

Chapter 2

Why is she crying? My mom's just a little ill, nothing more than a virus of those you kill with a couple medicines. She'll be home in no time, and everything will be back to normal. She'll walk by herself, she'll cook for us, she'll play Barbies with me again in the afternoons... We'll be together again, I'm sure of that.

Remembering all the things we used to do and then stopped doing after that trip makes me realise of how much I miss her, her hugs, her kisses, her voice... Everything about her is perfect, and I know I'll be getting her back from that stupid hospital soon.

"Hey Vicky!" I hear from behind me, waking me from my thoughts. It's Joseph, the closest friend I have so far. He used to be very annoying, always borrowing everything from me, but the teacher made me seat right next to him two weeks ago. We're friends since then. "Want to come over this afternoon?"

I would really like to go. My house has been very quiet and boring these days, and I get really bored with grandma. "I'd be great Joey!" I say with an even faker smile than the one I gave to grandma in the car. "But I... I have to join my mom today, she has an appointment at the salon and wants me to be with her to help her choose her new hairstyle."

What did i just say? I hate lying, and I hate even more lying to my only friend here. I feel guilty, but I can't tell him what's really going on because I'm not really sure of what it is anyway.

"Oh, dont't worry! You can always come any other day" he says, with a warm smile. I really like him, he's honest and kind. He's very intelligent too, he has only gotten A's so far, just like me. I really like to study and get good grades. Mom and dad are happy when I bring home good grades.

"Let's go inside before Mrs. Johnson comes looking for us" Joey says and I follow him down the long and dark hall that leads to our classroom.

As we enter the room, We head to our tables and sit, waiting for the class to begin. The windows are open, letting in the same cool wind as this morning, and all the voices in the room distract me from my thoughts of her. This day is going to be very long.

Mrs. Johnson's voice is soft and nice. She's strict, but I like her so far. I like the way her hair is perfectly styled into a ponytail and decorated with a bow. She always wears her thin glasses and a short-sleeved button down shirt. She looks so much like all the teachers on the movies and cartoons.

The day goes by faster than I thought, and before I can say good bye to Joey, I see my grandma's car parked in front of the school's main entrance. I wave good-bye to him and climb inside.

"How was your day, pumkin?" She asks with a cheery voice and a big smile. "It was okay, my friend Joey invited me over today, but I told him I couldn't come." I tell her, scanning her face for any expression that gives me clues of the situation.

"Oh, that's very nice of him! He sounds like a very sweet boy. Maybe one day soon you can invite him over too, after y..." She stops talking. What?

"After what?" I ask, trying to sound relaxed.

"I... I forgot what I was going to say. Now, grab that bag and let's go, we don't want to keep your mom waiting. But before we get to her room, you have to change." She says with a hard tone. I hadn't noticed we were already at the hospital's parking lot. As we walk inside, I feel my nerves rising and my heart pounding hard against my chest. My hands are sweaty and I feel like crying.

Never in my seven years of life I'd felt this way.

After I come out of the restroom with my clean clothes on, we get into the elevator. It's full, and it doesn't help with my nerves much since I'm afraid of getting into them, specially when there's so much people inside.