Before she Died

One Step Away

Part 3

I took a breath before I sat on my bed again. My mom shrugged me. “H-hey, are you okay?! Do some parts of your body hurt?!” I get up from the bed and saw how my mother was so terrified. I held her shoulder and made her stop.

“Mom! Mom!” she was shocked by hearing my voice. “I’m okay! Don’t need to worry. I’m totally fine.” I held her cheek. “Don’t cry please.” then I wiped the tears on her cheeks. I really don’t know why she acted that way, but I felt pain when I saw tears rolling down her cheeks. I smiled at her to convince her.

She pulled and hugged me tightly. “Hey, I said I’m fine.” I whispered as I caressed her back.

“I know. I know. I know.”  She said those words repeatedly, and it is making me worry.  “I know. I know.” then she pulled away and looked at me in the eyes. Tears are still flowing on her cheeks. “I just...” she had hard time continuing her sentence.  “I just want to make sure that…” she sighed and then gave me a sweet smile. “I’m sorry. I just love u so much that I’m starting to overreact when you are hurt and something is bothering you.”

“Mom, did something happen? Why are you acting this way?” she shook her head. “Then why do you have to cry? Didn’t I say I’m fine?” she wiped her tears away and stood up. “Mom, tell me if there is something bothering you. I might be a big help.” I smiled to her.

“There is nothing, my dear. I’m sorry for what happed awhile ago.” then her worried face changed. “Anyway, the breakfast is already ready.” She started walking towards the door when I suddenly remembered I was on the bench in the garden last night when I fell asleep.

“Wait a minute, Mom.” she stayed still, but looked back. “Hmm?”

“I remembered I fell asleep when I was on the bench…” I gasped as my eyes widened when I remembered who I was with that time. I heard Mom chuckled. I think she already read my mind.

“Yes dear. He carried you last night.” then she went out of the room. I was stuck in the moment. I should have not fallen asleep there.

“Whatever. What’s done is done.” I will just tell him my ‘thank you’ when we meet again. I stood up from the bed and went to the bathroom.

Today is so boring. It is Saturday and I have nothing to do. I keep on walking back and forth in the living area. I have been thinking things to do. I want to go to the kitchen and cook, but I know I will just mess up with the kitchen utensils. I don’t know how to cook, that’s it. I sat on the sofa and turned on the T.V. I hope this will help me to lessen this boredom I am feeling. I keep on changing channels and I am still bored, so I’ve given in and turned it off in the end. Actually, I never leave our living room. After the breakfast I had with Mom and Nadine, I immediately went here.

I really don’t know what I was thinking, but the reason I am here is to wait for him. Well, maybe because I will not be comfortable and keep on thinking about what happened last night, not until I give my gratitude to him. That’s me. I will always assure to show my appreciation to someone who helped me. But I guess I can wait no longer. I’m getting tired. Patience is never written on my dictionary. Boredom will never leave me I guess, especially Mom and Nadine is not here, I really have to think something that I could do.

I thought of going to the study room, my father’s study room before. I made an orange juice and went upstairs. I held the doorknob and was about to open the door when I heard something that made me stop.

“What? Are you going to continue this? I’m getting tired!” my eyes widened when I recognized who owns that voice. What is he doing here? Why is he here? How come he is here when I stayed in the living room half day, and I didn’t even see him entering our door? I was going to open the door fully, but I stopped as I heard another voice.

“What do you want us to do? Tell her the truth, and then what? She will runaway again and—“  I thought they went to Aunt Mina’s house?

“I’m tired of pretending! I’m sick of it!” he shouted again.

“Gerald, you were the one who told us that you wanted to help. I saw sincerity within you so, I allowed you. Please don’t make this harder. I love her so much. By just looking at her in pain, I can’t…” I heard Mom’s voice broke down and started to cry. “I can’t take it anymore.”

I breathed deeply and left the door ajar. I hesitantly peeked. I saw Nadine comforting Mom, while Gerald is standing, not so far from the two, wearing a very worried look.

“I understand what you feel, madam. I love her too, but I can no longer pretend. Time flies fast, and we can’t wait for her to remember everything. We have to tell her the truth, before it is too late—before she…” I saw him looked down. “She will be gone.” he added.

I felt weak the moment I heard those words coming from him. I felt like my knees are going to meet the floor in any minute. I tried my best not to break down, but I failed because my hand lost its strength, and the glass of orange juice I was holding is now on the floor, broken into pieces—just like my heart now.