Grow Old Without You (A Camren Story)

Mama

Grow Old Without You (Chapter 62)

Camila

I was calling Lauren's phone, but it was out of service. Lauren, where the hell are you? I have been missing for a month, and you don't answer your phone?

"No answer?" Keana asked as I shook my head, sighing. Amid was lying beside Keana as I was feeding Asha another bottle. "Maybe she's on a vacation?"

"Getting her mind off the fact that we're dead?" I said bitterly as I saw Keana frown.

"Well, we've been missing for almost a month now. I don't know how will I cope." Keana said sighing. "Can you call UNICEF? They'd know what to do with us."

"I've been trying to call UNICEF. The number's busy." I sighed as Keana just nodded her head.

"I'll give it another day." I sat down on the chair. "Don't they have internet here?" I asked as Keana shrugged her shoulders. "I'll ask the nurse." I said walking outside the room.

"You need anything, Maam?"

"I just need a phone to call our Headquarters in America?" I asked as she smiled at me politely.

"We are actually calling on your behalf, and we still can't get ahold of them. We will get to you as soon as we do."

"Thank you so much." I sighed.

"Maam, your friend Abia just got out of surgery."

"Thank God. How long has it been?" I asked the nurse as he looked down his file.

"Maam, she's not in a good condition." He said softly.

"What do you mean?"

"She's never going to wake up, Maam. She's brain dead."

Oh my God.

--

They brought Abia to Keana's room. I told Keana that we just have today to say goodbye to her, then the hospital's not going to support the life support machine. We have until tonight, and still the kids don't even know what's about to happen to their mother.

"No internet? That's messed up." Keana groaned.

"Don't expect rainbows and butterflies over here." I said rolling my eyes.

"You sound like Lauren." She groans again. "Mila, can you get me some painkillers from the doctor? Can't wait to nap the fuck out."

"Damn I would want some of those too, babe." I laughed pushing the call button. "Have a nice nap, Ke." I walked to Abia's bed as I saw her two kids cuddled to her.

"Miya." Amin said looking at me sadly.

"Hey buddy." I walked to him as he was pushing his Mom's arm.

"Mama?"

"She has until tonight, babe. So you need to say goodbye to her. Hug her so tight, okay?" I explained to him as he looked at me with tears in my eyes. I don't know if he understands what I'm saying, but I know they feel it. They feel the worse is about to come.

"Bye Mama." Amid cried as I felt my heart break into a million pieces

"Mama loves you, Amid. Mila loves you too."

---

They had another patient come in our ward, and she was American for sure. I heard them speak about a photoshoot, and cracking her head open. I didn't have time to get to know her, 'cos I got my hands full with the two kids. They have been crying non stop the past hour. I don't even know what to do with them. I gave them food, changed their clothes, but they were hanging on to their mother, then I heard that grueling long beep. Sent shivers down my spine.

I pulled the kids to my chest, as I sat down on the foot of the bed, crying for my departed friend. I didn't know Abia for a long time, but the time we spent surviving in that house would be the best eye opener I could ever have in my life. Now, I have two kids to take care of. I have two kids their mother left to me to have a better life. Abia knew about my life in America. I told her everything, baring my soul to her.

"I will shut the machines so you could say your goodbyes. I'll give you an hour." The nurse said shutting down the machine and giving us the time and space to say goodbye to Abia.

But I don't want to say goodbye. I don't think I'm capable of taking care of her kids. I did take care of them, but now that it's official, I don't know if I could do this. I don't know if I could be the best guardian. I wasn't even a good parent to my own daughter, and now I have two more to take care of. Is this part of the process of redeeming myself?

I'm crying for Abia's dreams for her kids. Her dreams of having a better place to live in with them. A bigger house, a bigger kitchen to cook them all the meals she wanted to teach them. Her dreams of sending them to a good school, so they wouldn't end up like her, a housewife who can't do anything but to be a mother. She wants them to be book smart, and life smart. She wants them to feel safe in the world where bombings are present. She wanted them safe, and taken care of.

Ofcourse all these things are put on hold. The question is, how am I supposed to take care of these two? How am I going to bring them to America, and have them in my custody?

"Come on, Amin." I said, carrying the crying child.

"Mama." He cried to my neck as I balanced him and Asha in my arms.

"I know baby. I know. Mila's here." I whispered as I tried to hush him down. "I'm not going anywhere."

I don't know if it's the lack of sleep, or the tiredness, but I could hear Dinah's voice. And the twins? The fuck. I think I'm hallucinating.

"Aunt Kea?" I heard someone scream as I walked to Kea's curtain. The kids are sleeping so I have to walk carefully. "It's you!"

It's Kara. Oh my God. I'm not dreaming.

"Lo." I whispered, seeing the love of my life. She's here. She's here.

"Mama!"

--

Lauren

She's here. She's right here in front of me. No cuts, no bruises. Just her tear stained brown eyes. She's carrying two kids, two under two years old. The kids were hanging onto her like their life depended on it.

"Mama!" Kara ran to her, sobbing loudly. Lana followed after her as I stared at them. I heard Dinah gasp behind me, seeing everything with her two eyes as she walked to Keana's bed, looking at our fragile looking friend.

"Mama, how?" Lana asked, crying her eyes out. Camila hasn't said a word. She was just crying, covering her mouth to suppress her sob.

"Babies." She finally said, kissing both their heads. "My babies."

"You're safe, Mama." Kara cried, wanting to hug her mother, as I walked closer to them, wiping my eyes in the process.

"Oh Camz." I whispered, pulling her in a hug. I had pull back when I heard the newborn cry in Camila's arms.

"Shhh. Asha. Mila's here." She whispered, trying to calm down the baby.

"Let me--" Dinah said as Camila snapped.

"Nobody touches them." She realized she snapped at us. "I'm sorry." She sighed, tears running down her face.

"It's okay, love." I kissed her head. "It's so good to see you, hear your voice." I whispered to her ear as she kissed my lips. We kissed until I could taste the tears from both our eyes.

"I love you so much." She whispered.

"I love you too."

--
AN :
Hey everyone!! Hope you're not tired of me yet. Lol. Last update for this week, 'cos I'll be busy again this coming week. But I hope this chapter would make up for it. Anyway, I'd love to see some comments on the whole Camila. Amin and Asha situation.
Love you guys, and have a good week ahead!
- Sarah ❤