Unexpected Love

Chapter 27

Catalina

As a child, you expected your parents to live forever.

They are always supposed to be there, as a confidante, to help you along the way, to teach you about life and to protect you from harm.

That changed a long time ago for me when Papa died. A part of me died with him and it was hell the months afterwards.

Now seeing my mother battling to stay alive, it's like reliving hell all over again.

Emilia Hernandez always has been a small woman. But now, tucked beneath the crisp white sheets, with tubes hooking her body to machines and skin paler than I have ever seen, she seemed even smaller. Almost like a child.

As I held her hand, the coldness of it made me shudder. I immediately missed the warmth they usually held when they cupped your cheeks or gave you a tight hug.

"You've always been strong," I whispered to her.

"You're my inspiration, I hope you remember that because I always remind you. I've seen you fight and successfully raise six children. I've seen you give to others even when we had next to nothing. I've seen you lose the love of your life and pull through to console your children." I continued.

"But most importantly I've seen you love unconditionally. And if you love us, you will use that strength to pull through. You have to be there for my wedding Maman, to see me marry the man of my dreams. You have to see the others be successful. You have to watch Crysa go to nursery, first grade, high school, university. You have to see Junior play his first game and sign for his first team. Maman, you have a lot to live for, please just come back to us."

Nothing.

Just the steady beeping of the heart monitor indicating that she was still there.

I don't know how long I sat there by her side, clutching her hand but I wasn't going to leave.

Javier joined me after what may have been my third hour by her side. Everyone else was in the hall except for Sariena and Carima who had gone home to put Crysa and Junior to bed, bring clothes and food for everyone else.

Cris came in an hour ago but he left already. I think I love him even more than I already do for all the support he is giving me, dropping everything to follow me here.

Cataleya couldn't bear staying in the room too long before she broke into tears all over again. I don't know how I would've been if I had been the one to find her like that.

"Do you feel it?" Javier asked, looking solemnly at Ma.

"The heaviness?" I replied, glancing towards him before turning back.

"Yes," he said.

"That's all I feel right now,"

"Sometimes I wonder what would it have been like if we didn't make it out of that shack." He said out loud. He stared intently through the window at the sky that was tinted pink by sunrise.

"We'd still love each other unconditionally. I know that for sure." I replied.

"Yeah I think that's why we've made it so far," He chuckled, running his hands over his face.

"You know I think the two of us were meant to be born as twins," He said, getting up to stand by the window.

"I know. God probably didn't want it to be too chaotic in the Hernandez household though," I laughed and stood up to join him.

"We've done almost everything together, like when we used to play football everyday by the factory with the boys." He replied,"Oh we must include Joachim. He was our scapegoat for a good while"