You Don't Know Me

Not In The Mood

CHAPTER 27

 'So, where do you want to go?' I shrug my shoulders because that is the last thing on my mind. 'I'm going to go to the hospital, do you want to come?' 

'No.' I blurt out a little too quickly.

 'Okay then.'

'I'll just to go to Lily's house, I'm tired.'

'I'll drop you there then.' I turn to get out of the car but I stop back to look at him. 'Do you mind not telling anyone about mum? I don't want any sympathy and I need to get my head around it.' He puts his arm on my shoulder to silence me and says 'that's fine, I understand.' 

~~~~~~~~~~

Five minutes later, I'm standing outside Lily's doorstep. I ring the doorbell and Liz opens the door. 'What do you want?'

'Just get out of my way.’ I say as I push her, stepping inside the house. Lily appears from the living room and says 'hey.'

'I don't get it Lily; doesn't she have a home or something? Is she like homeless?'

'Firstly, don't refer to me in third person and secondly, it's none of your business!' Lily gives me a look, before saying

'No, she isn't. Her mum is in hospital and wanted her to stay here basically.' I roll my eyes and go up stairs.

~~~~~~~~~~

I take a nice long shower and intend to sleep but Lily, Lucy and Liz all enter the room. I can feel some weird tension, as soon as they enter. It's all silent, as we're all waiting for someone to break it. 'What do you want? I'm kind of tired and I want to sleep.'

'I'm sorry for being such a cow-' Lucy slaps Liz on the shoulder, preventing her from saying anything else. I narrow my eyes at her in confusion. 'And you say this now?'

'Well, I didn't know your mum had cancer-'

'Shut up Liz!' Lucy states. Instantly, I feel the tears emerging. 'Now, look what you've done,' moans Lucy. Lily tries to comfort me but I coldly say 'don't.'

'Why not? You clearly need it.'

'I don't need anything from you.' Lily gasps and asks 'why are you being like this?'

'You told her! You told her my mum had cancer. You go telling people my secrets and then want to comfort me?' It takes me a while to realise that I used past tense. More tears fall and I don't bother hiding them anymore. I decide to go back to the hospital because I'm not in the mood to talk to them, so I say 'I'm going out,' before walking out of the house.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ten minutes later, I arrive at the hospital. I make my way to my mum's hospital room, only to find another family there. There is an old man lying in the hospital bed but he is awake. By his bedside, there are two women who look like sisters, sitting opposite one another. They both have brown wavy hair and look they are in their middle ages. Sitting on one of the chairs is a girl, presumably my age. She has blonde hair, with dark strands along the ends. She has blue eyes and light freckles that aren't very noticeable on her face. She looks familiar but I can't make out where I've seen her. 'Excuse me, this is private family room,' says one of the women, snapping me out of my daze.

 'Where is the woman that was here before you?'

'I think you should leave.'

'Don't tell me what to do.'

'Mum, calm down, its Dave Hayden's daughter.' My eyes widen and I ask 'how do you know my dad's name?'

'Honey, I'm a friend to both of your parents and I know them really well and I'm sorry for your loss.' The woman says as she offers me a sympathetic smile.

'I'm guessing my dad gave you this room?' She nods her head and I say 'then you're a friend of my dad's not my mum's.' I walk out the room and head to reception.

 'Hi, how can I help you?'

'Can you tell me what room Debbie Hayden is? I'm her daughter.'

'Certainly, let me just check for you.'

'Kiera!' I turn around to see the girl from the room standing behind me. How does she know my name? 'What do you want?' I ask her.

'Well, you're looking for your mum right?' I nod my head, confirming her suspicions. 'Well, I know where it is, just follow me.' I look at the receptionist and she just smiles so I follow her and ask 'how do you know my name, I didn't give it to you?'

'Well, I do know you.'

'Why don't I know you then?' She shrugs her shoulders. 'I go to the same school as you and your friends do know me. It's a shame I can't say the same for you.' She tries joking around but I don't laugh or smile. 'I'm sorry, I shouldn't be making jokes when-'

'When my mother is dead?'

'I'm sorry.'

'Stop apologising, I don't want your sympathy.' She just nods her head and says 'by the way I'm Katie.' I nod my head but don't say anything. My mum's doctor approaches me and says 'Kiera, you're looking for your mother's room aren’t you?'

'Yes.’

'You just go straight and you'll see it.'

'Why did you even move her in the first place? Do you just move dead people? Is that one of your jobs?' People walking by stop to give me judgmental stares. 'No of course it's not.'

'So why do you do it then?'

'Your dad wanted to give the room to another patient, a friend of his. Kiera, I have another patient to go to but if you need me, you know where to find me,' he says as he walks past. I just stand there and we hear a woman saying 'teenagers today, they think they own the world, no respect for anyone. Did you see the way she just spoke to that amazing doctor?' She asks another woman standing beside her. I feel my eyes swelling up with tears and I just stand there. Katie goes up to the women and says 'excuse me?' They look at her and she asks 'have you seen yourself?'

'Sorry?'

‘You’re saying teenagers have no respect for anyone but have you seen yourself? Gossiping about people who are minding their own business. You make me sick and in case you haven't noticed, this is a hospital.' The women look shocked, to say the least. 'Come on!' She motions for me to come so I do and we get to my mum's hospital room. Before, I go in she says 'see I brought you here didn't I?' I just smile and nod mumbling a 'thanks.'

'No problem.' She smiles and notices that I'm crying and asks 'what's wrong?' I don't reply so she asks 'The women or your mum?' 

'Both.'

'Come on, you'll be fine. Don't take any notice of them. And if helps, my granddad is dying. I'm sorry, I know it's not the same, I shouldn’t have said that.'

'It's fine,' I croak, managing a smile.

 'I've got to go but I'll see you tomorrow,' she waves, before leaving. I walk into the room, hoping my dad is in here but he's not. I just sit beside my mum, holding her hand and cry myself to sleep.