100 theme challenge

8. Innocence

"This is for you, uncle," the little girl in front of him held a portion of brownies with vanilla ice cream on top of it and gave it to him, with a big smile carved on her face. "I know you love sweets,"

"And I know you'd skip your lunch again today," he bow his head, looked directly into her eyes. "Don't tell me this is your dessert,"

"I just ate too much I couldn't contain all of them," she said, still holding her brownies. "And mom said I shouldn't waste my food away so maybe it will be better if I give it to you,"

"If you said so," he accepted it, took a scoop and ate it. "Hhmmm, yummy. Thank you,"

"You're welcome," said her again. "By the way, uncle, I have a question,"

"Spill it out," said him while checking on her medical record. She hadn't had her today chemotherapy session. It was scheduled fifteen minutes later.

"What is a divorce trial mean?" his mien suddenly changed. He looked at her, felt extremely uneasy to answer. "Is that bad?"

"I should say it is bad," he took a wheelchair, picked her up from her bed and put her on it. "But really, you don't have to think about that. Where did you heard about that actually?"

"My mom said that she will have a divorce trial tomorrow, so she won't be here till next week," her sentences petrified him. "I was confused. It seems like she was sad, but happy in the same time. I don't know what was that mean and I couldn't ask mom about it, so I asked you,"

"I understand," he said.

"So, will mom be alright?"

"Well, since it was her decision, I think she will be alright," he turned the wheelchair into a room full with some humming devices. "Can I ask about your father?"

"My father? Mom said he died before I was born," she said. "My current dad is my mom's former boss. I'm not too close to him actually, and since I hospitalized, I never meet him anymore,"

"Well, if you ask me, it looks like you are even not too close to your mother either. But that's ok because you still have us. Oh look, here we are," he stopped the wheelchair on a big device and picked her up. "First the MRI, then we'll have some blood test,"

"And then you have to tell me some stories. You still owe me an urban legend about the city's dollhouse, right?"

"Hahahaha, yeah. I almost forgot about it,"

"I hope I will get well soon so we will be able to go to that dollhouse," she said happily.

"Hoo... I never know you like dolls," he pressed some button and that device suddenly growled as he turned it on. "What kind of dolls do you like?"

"The fluffy one," she said as she took of her wig and earrings and gave it to him. "I like teddy bears and pusheen. You know? That grey fat cat with black stripes on its back?"

"Yeah, that cat is quite popular lately. Especially on teenagers," he put the wig and earrings into a paper bag and brought it to the next room. "I'm sure you will be well soon. Then, are you ready?"

"I'm ready,"

***

And that was the last day for them to have that kind of heartwarming conversation...

All of the medical treatments she got was destroying her kidney. Her condition became worse every day and suddenly, she just couldn't open her eyes. She was rushed into the emergency room but they could do nothing.

Her mother was shocked, of course. But she could do nothing either, and her trial seemed lots more important than her daughter's condition. She told them to take anything necessary and she would pay for it no matter what, but her mother never showed up. Not even in her final day.

In the end, that sweet little angel died alone among the humming live supporting devices in her room. When she was declared dead, some of the staffs mourn for her. Those who had not related by blood shed their tears for her while those who she called families still not appeared.

Her mother came hours later only for signing some documents and for preparation of her daughter's cremation. She agreed to let her ashes kept in the small chapel near the hospital and paid a handsome price for it. Then she went away and disappeared, never been seen nor heard in that town anymore.

I'll miss you, lovely angel, your pure soul and innocent curiosity will be always remembered.