A Player's Responsibility

Josh's view chapter 4: Page 2

She came back with the coffee and I could and she was looking very tired. “Has anyone told you anything about your mom? She asked. “No” I sighed “they all seem very busy”. She looked sympathetically at me. “Yeah the can be so inconsiderate at times”. She then turned at looked at me straight in the eye. “Look I have more conditions, I was too uncomfortable to say before but I’m saying it now, let’s get it out of the way”. I was perplexed but I still said “sure tell me what they are”. She took a deep breath “ok here it goes. We are not going to have sex, like maybe never ever, you are not allowed to cheat on me, if you feel like cheating because I know that your body has needs, you just tell me and we’ll break up with no hard feelings, and you’re never allowed to break my heart”. I almost laugh that was the funniest thing I have ever heard in my life, yet alarm bells were ringing in my head (if we are never ever going to have sex, how am I going to win the bet. But whatever I’ll get her to change her mind somehow) “is that all?” I asked half sarcastically. “Yeah, wait, lastly no matter what happens between us I want us to stay friends”.

I looked at her and thought for a moment how I never notice how amazing this girl is, how I could be so blind. The girl is strong, sweet, and kind hearted, with a pureness of heart that surpasses explanation. This girl has a heart of gold that can transform a whole universe. She is the reason I’m not alone right now, she’s the reason I’m not breaking down over my mom’s condition. She’s the reason I’m able to formulate a smile right now. “Of course no matter what we would remain friends” I told her. She smiled “you took your time. You need to stop staring at me like that josh Hutchinson or someone might think you’re in love with me”  she joked. “I’m still considering if I like you Sally Williams, I think love is strong a word” she playing hit me on the solider. My aunt Ann appeared “I went home to get her, some stuff in case she needs to stay in the hospital. Have they said anything?” she asked expectantly. “No they haven’t. What happened exactly?” Ann began to sob a little, with crystal tears of guilt streaming down her eyes.  “You know how your mom is; she said she’s tired of lying on the bed doing nothing, that she’s feeling stronger and better. And she went to wash the dishes and I let her. I was in her room tidying up, when I heard plate breaking and I rush to the kitchen she was on the floor, I was scared she had died and it would be my fault. I’m so sorry Joshua”. The little sob had become an unattractive cry and I was frozen I didn’t know what to do. Luckily sally went up to her and held her in an embraced, and stroked her hair gently comforting her. “It’s not your fault Ann, you didn’t know she was going to faint”.  

Right on cue (and finally, my worry kept growing with every minute I had to wait) the doctor came, “Are you here for Jane Hutchinson?” the doctor asked. “Yeah I’m her son, what going on?”  I said after much trouble formulating a sentence. “I need to speak to you, in my office” (my heart was racing faster it has ever raced before in my life. Was he going to tell me my mom is dead?) “ok.” Was all I managed could say.  “Can I come to?” Ann asked. “Are you a family member” the doctor asked impatiently. “No, but I’m a very good friend” Ann replied.  “No family member only.” He said and I followed him all the way to his office.

He looked at me for a minute in an awkward silence. “This must be very hard for you am sorry”. “Look, please just tell me what happened to my mom. I can take it” I said almost yelling. “Calm down, son. Your mom is alright now”. And my heart stopped racing as fast. “I just wanted to tell you that your mom’s chemo has stopped working, and we are going to stop treatment as the cancer has spread. She needs lots of rest and bed care for the rest of the time she has left”. I didn’t even register what he said after; I didn’t even know when I walked out of the room. All I know was that I was in the comforting arms of Sally Williams, crying like a baby. (What has my world turned into. Life is so unfair. Why my mom.)