The Mask

Chapter 5 Revealing a Life Full of Pain

Katherine POV:

The bell rang signaling that English was over, and so was the entire school day. I walked out of the class with my books, and did my best to avoid even looking at my idiot brothers face.

"Katherine! Wait up!" I heard Hayden yell my name. I was tying to decide how I was going to explain what happened in English to him.

"Hey. I thought your girlfriend would have told you to stay away from me. Though I doubt you would really listen," I said trying to avoid eye contact. Then I realized I still had his Letterman jacket on. I tried to take it off, but Hayden stopped me.

"Keep it for now. It looks better on you. Listen I know this isn't my place, but I just have to ask. What's happening with you and your brother?" Hayden asked. I didn't know how to answer, but I still knew I had to.

"It's complicated, but I'll try not to fight with him anymore. Just so I don't get into to much trouble. I am sorry by the way. That entire problem had nothing to do with you. I have to go. I guess I will see you later," I said running off as fast as I could.

After that I walked home. I was thinking about the day I had heard my dad died. 

FLASHBACK:

It was my Freshman year at North Central High School. My brother was at East Central, because all of his friends went there. It was a normal day in Math class, but I couldn't shake the feeling something bad was going to happen. 

"Katherine Sabri please come to the Front Office immediately. Also bring everything you need," I heard over the PA system. I grabbed my surf and headed down the hall. When I got to the Front Office I saw my mom standing there with tears in her eyes. I looked next to her, and saw my brother looking like he had seen a ghost. 

"Mom. Are you alright? What happened? What's going on? Where's dad?" As soon as I said that mom broke out into tears. 

She drove us to the Hospital, and explained what happened. My dad had been driving on the High way, and he got caught in the middle of a high speed chase. That's all I heard. Everything after that didn't seem to matter. All I heard after that was; coma, might not wake up, and we have to stay strong.

When we arrived at the hospital I asked if I could go into the room alone. I had to fight to get my way, but they finally let me in. He was hooked up to so many machines. I took a seat by his bed, and started to sob.

"Daddy. Daddy please wake up. This family needs you. I need you. Please. Please," I doubt anyone would be able to understand me. I was crying so hard. Then I saw his heart monitor flat line.

Doctors and nurses flooded the room. Two of them grabbed me and told me I needed to leave. I refused. One of the male nurses picked me up, and threw me out of the room. I ran past my mom and brother. I ran outside, and after I got outside I was able to breathe again. 

After a little while I went back inside, and saw a doctor talking to my mom. I went up and listened. 

"We did everything we could. I am so sorry, but his injuries were to severe. I will leave you alone with your family," the doctor said walking away. My mom broke down after that. She started sobbing, and ran to go see my father in the morgue. My brother just walked out of the hospital.

And I was left by myself.

End of flashback:

I was broken out of my thought when I go to my door. I wiped off my tears, and put a smile on my face. I walked in, kicked off my shoes, and walked into my mom's room. I saw my mom eating a bowl of soup, and Lisa tending to her. Lisa is my mom's at home hospice nurse. 

"Hey Lisa. How are you today? Has my mom taken her new medicine yet? I know she doesn't like it," I asked. Lisa gave me a warming smile as if to tell me to stop worrying, and just talk to my mom.

"Hey sweetie. How are you? How was your first day? Did you talk to you- ," my mom was cut off from talking by her harsh coughing. I reached for a handkerchief on the nightstand, and handed it to her. She finally stopped coughing, and took the handkerchief away from her mouth. The white and pure cough was stained with a red substance.

Blood.

I went to take the handkerchief from my mom, but Lisa stopped me. She shook her ahead. I knew why she didn't want me to touch it, but it still hurt that I could't take care off my own mom. Lisa took the cloth, and walked out of the room.

"School was great. I showed up my math teacher, and met this nice guy named Hayden," I told her. She scolded me for telling my math teacher she was wrong, but was happy I proved that I was able to be in honors. I told her about the rest off my day.

I left out the entire brother and English problem though. As much as I hated it putting stress like that on my mom would be really bad for her health. I just don't want to see her health decline any farther than I've already seen.

FLASHBACK:

It had been a year and a half since my father had died, and I didn't think life could get any worse. It was a Saturday, and my mom was out with one of her friends from College, that she kept up with. I was just sitting there thinking about how my brother was never home. 

Just then I heard a knock on the door. I walked to the door, and was hoping that it was my brother. I got just the opposite. A policeman. Two actually. I opened the door, and the policemen looked at me with curious eyes.

"Are you Katherine Sabri? Daughter of  Layla Sabri?" The policemen asks with empathy. I was wondering if my brother got into some trouble. Gosh I wish mom was here.

"Yes. Is everything alright, officer? If this concerns my brother, John, he isn't here right now, but I can tell him to come home," I said as formally as possible.

"No this doesn't concern your brother. When your mom was at work she passed out, and someone called an ambulance. We have been sent to pick you up," the officer said. The drive to the hospital was short and silent.

When I got there a doctor came and told me that my mom had 3rd stage breast cancer and 2nd stage lung cancer. I didn't know what to do. I asked what I should do. He said that I couldn't do anything. That I was still a minor, and it was my mom's choice. I walked into my mom's hospital room, and saw her coughing. Then it hit me.

I was useless.

                                                                                   Dedicated to National Breast Cancer Foundation