Waiting For Superman

Sadness Brings Out The Worst

“I don’t understand. I personally walked her up to the door of the clinic,” Glenn said in frustration to the nurse. “So how could she have been knocked down by a car?”

“We’re not sure Sir, but eyewitnesses said that she was trying to cross the road when the car swerved and hit her. According to the police, the driver of the car was drunk,” the nurse explained. Kara shook her head and said, “Look, you probably have the wrong person.”

“Both your contacts were found in her wallet Ma’am,” the nurse said quietly. Kara raised an eyebrow and looked at Glenn questioningly. “Both our contacts?” she asked.

“I made her promise to make an effort to try liking you after you moved back it and it seems like she did like you,” Glenn said with a sigh before turning back to the nurse. “I still think you have the wrong person. Maybe Alice dropped her wallet and the paramedics thought it was from the accident scene.”

The nurse sighed and turned to Kara and said, “Ma’am, I’m sorry but we need you to identify the body.” “What? Identify the body? I’m sorry, but I thought you said Alice was undergoing operation?” Kara asked.

A doctor came up behind the nurse and said, “Hi, I’m Doctor Chiang. Are you Alice’s son and daughter?” “Girlfriend of the son,” Kara muttered to herself.

“Your mother was admitted with a fractured skull, and we soon found out that her brain had starting swelling as well. We did our best to save her but unfortunately…” The doctor trailed off, fidgeting with his glasses.

Glenn’s eyes widened and his hands began shaking. “You mean Alice is… dead?” Kara whispered. The doctor nodded and said, “I truly am very sorry, but we need one of you to identify the body.”

Kara turned to Glenn, but found him crumpled on the floor, head on his knees. She bent down and said quietly, “Do you want me to do it?” Glenn nodded and without looking up said, “Thanks Kara.”

Kara followed the doctor into a room where a body lay covered with a sheet. “I’m sorry, can you give me a moment?” Kara said hoarsely, her hands shaking. She leaned against a wall and closed her eyes, breathing deeply. Despite dealing with countless dead bodies on the job, she simply couldn’t bring herself to look at this body on the table.

“Ma’am, sorry to hurry you but we need to finish up,” the doctor said gently. Kara nodded and walked slowly to the table. The nurse had only removed the sheet enough for her to see Alice’s eyes when she nodded, tears starting to well up in her eyes. “It’s her,” she whispered before running out of the room.

When she walked back over to Glenn, she saw that he was leaning against the wall. “They got the wrong person didn’t they?” he asked, his voice begging. Kara shook her head and said, “I’m sorry Glenn, but it really was Alice.”

Glenn lunged at the doctor and screamed, “Why didn’t you save her? You killed my mum!” The nurse rushed forward, trying to help Kara pry the doctor from Glenn’s grip. “We really tried our best Sir, believe me,” the doctor pleaded as the nurse hurriedly lead him away.

“It’s going to be fine Glenn,” Kara whispered soothingly, wrapping her arms around Glenn and leading him to a nearby chair. “Why didn’t they save her Kara? Why did they let her die?” Glenn asked, looking up at her as tears flowed down his face.

The sight of Glenn crying triggered Kara’s tears as well, and she whispered, “I don’t know Glenn. I just don’t know.” Glenn slumped down in the chair, putting his head on Kara’s shoulder. She looked down at him, and started rubbing soothing circles on his back as she whispered, “It’s going to be fine Glenn. Everything’s going to be okay.”

This was the first time she had ever seen him tear, let alone cry, and the sight of him broke her heart. She let him rest on her shoulder for as long as he wanted to, but he sat up after a while.

“We need to arrange for the funeral and everything,” he said quietly, wiping his tears away. “That can wait Glenn. We don’t have to rush it,” Kara said gently as she sniffled.

“No, I have to do it before this whole thing becomes too much for me to bear,” he said hoarsely. “I think we should bury her.”

Kara bit her lip and said, “Umm… Glenn? Your mum actually told me a few weeks back when we were in the kitchen that she wanted her ashes to be scattered in the sea.”

Glenn looked up sharply and said, “She told you that?” Kara nodded and said, “She said she wanted her ashes scattered in the sea, and she wanted the two of us to be there.”

“Fantastic. Why don’t you plan the funeral and everything then since you’re her daughter?” Glenn said sarcastically, his remark throwing Kara off. “Glenn, I’m just-” Kara said, trying to explain herself but Glenn cut her off.

“You’re not Alice’s daughter Kara. You’re not even officially part of my family. Why would my mother tell you something like that but not tell it to me?” Glenn asked harshly. “Glenn, I’m just telling you what she told me,” Kara whispered, her eyes tearing up again.

“I don’t need you to try and understand my mum better than I do Kara. Just because you don’t have parents doesn’t mean you can still mine,” Glenn hissed. Kara’s eyes tightened at his last comment and she stood up abruptly.

“You think I’m trying to steal your mum from you?” Kara whispered. “It took me a while, but I love Alice too Glenn. But it doesn’t mean I’m stealing her from you.”

Glenn watched Kara storm off before realizing what he had actually said to her. “Kara wait!” he called out, running after her. Kara stopped and turned around saying, “Do this by yourself Glenn. I don’t want to intrude on your family business.”

As Glenn watched Kara walk out of the hospital, he realized one thing: he had just lost two persons he loved the most.