Paper thin // Joe Sugg au

*19*

My ear was bombarded with the sounds of sobs and sniffling as I held the phone weakly to my ear.

"Mum? Are you okay?" Tears pricked my eyes as the sobbing continued.

"Oh, Milly. Milly she's... she's" It wasn't my mum, it was my aunt. A wave of dread washed over me; there could only be a few possible reasons why my aunt was calling me, crying, on my mum's phone. "She's been referred back... b-back to the... h-hospital. I'm, I'm so sorry. S-s-she wants you there, a-are you able to..." I cut her off, calling down the phone.

"Yes! Oh gosh, yes. Same hospital as before?" Tears ran down my face. I could hear Joe upstairs booking the hospital appointment for Alfie, he'd be down soon.

"Yes, please get here soon. I d-don't know how long... how long she'll last for" My aunt stuttered. My heart dropped. My mum was dying.

"I will get there as soon as possible, tell her I love her so much So, so much" I ended the call and broke down. Tears poured down my face as I pulled my knees up into my chest and howled. The ache in my heart was too strong to ignore. My mum was back in the hospital and this time it seemed worse. So much worse.

"Milly? O my gosh, Milly? What's happened" Nikki ran over to me, almost tripping over from getting up too fast and having only just woken up. She crouched down next to me. slipping her arm around my body. I just cried onto her shoulder. Uncontrollably, I cried and cried and cried. I cried so much that I didn't hear Joe come down, I didn't hear Nikki's words of encouragement and I didn't hear Joe's words of concern. I just cried: hopelessly and achingly.

I was soon dragged out of my crying void and into reality when  I heard a ringing.

"It's my phone, hang on" Nikki said, getting up and walking out of the room to get her phone.

I sniffled. I was still crying and I didn't know what to do with myself.

"She's gone back into the hospital", I muttered, staring at the wall in front of me, "She's worse this time though, I think. My aunt called, told me to get to the hospital as soon as possible"

"Milly, I'm... I'm so sorry. We'll take you now, yeah? We can pick Alfie up along the way, I'll take him in and Nikki can take you to your mum" Joe sat down and looked pitifully at me. I didn't want pity nor sympathy, I wanted my mum.

"Can't you come with me? I mean, y-you know my... m-mum" I struggled on the word mum. Thoughts were whizzing around my head.

She's going to die

I'm not going to have a mum

I've let her die

She's dying

And I haven't been there for her

I've basically let her die.

"She'll appreciate it as well, you're the closest thing to Zoe too and I need her" My tears came stronger now. In a time like this all I needed was Zoe and she wasn't there. She was in a coma. she was in a coma because of me.

"Okay, but I have to get Alfie to his appointment. We'll pick him up on the way and maybe he can wait outside while you see your mum, if that's alright? I'll leave to take him and I'll be back as soon as possible, I promise" I smiled weakly at him. How on earth was he putting up with me? I couldn't help but feel all the regret of leaving from him and pushing him away being piled onto me. And so the words just slipped out of my mouth.

"Thank you Joe, I love you!"

A/n-

This is a bit longer (hoping that's alright). This chapter was so difficult oml, it wouldn't save properly so I've had to unpublish then republish. BUT I THINK I'M FINALLY THERE. Have a good day!!