Twice in a Lifetime (Zayn Malik)

Chapter 47. Secret.

I just wanted to set something clear between myself and my lovely readers and that is that Mia's parents have been in her life for her first five years of life but only periodically (like they met twice a year or something). And the last contact they had with Mia was five years ago which was not in person nor phone call, but like a card sending their best wishes or something of the sort. Okay. Continue on.

Chapter 47

Mia's POV

The smell of a hospital was much thicker upstairs as we approached my mother's room. Elliot was leading the way, still holding onto my finger with his small grip and his gift box in the other. Winnie decided to stay back with father to talk with the doctor. Probably about my mother's condition.

He was so persistent in seeing his Grandma that it made me feel horrible. I was her own daughter and how I even contemplated on whether I wanted to see her made me look like a downright terrible one.

If Elliot was in my position, to take care of his Grandma or his own mother, Winnie, he wouldn't have hesitated in making such a decision. I admit this child had so much more compassion than me.

"She's in here. Shhh." His hand moved to his mouth as if to whisper something. "I want to surprise her."

He really was the cutest but the question was who she was going to be more surprised to see - me or Elliot?

Elliot turned the knob of the door and opened it to a small, cozy room. The sunlight shown through the only window in front of us with two beige sofas facing each other. The right of the room had a large empty bookcase which I found very odd. When my eyes traveled to the left, I saw her lying there, eyes closed, on the king sized bed. She looked completely swallowed underneath the white sheets. Her black hair now had white, silver roots, and her young face was blemished with several wrinkles on her forehead and her smile lines. She looked .. pitiful - with the tubes connected to her arm, the one around her nose stretching behind her ears. I never thought we'd meet like this. I never thought she'd be the one more hurt than I was. Physically and emotionally and mentally. All the -ally's.

Elliot scampered across the room to the empty side of the bed, climbed onto it, and sat himself in a pretzel legged position, admiring his grandmother with such adoration. Winnie was right about him. He was such a brave little soldier, not even the slightest intimidated.

"Are you not coming closer, Aunt Mia? I swear she's not a monster. That's what I thought she was when I first saw her but Grandmama is really nice." Elliot spoke, turning his face to me.

I was still standing by the door, my feet planted onto the carpet. I took a deep breath and nodded as an answer. With each step that I took, with each breath I drew, the air got stuffier. Seeing her in this way - in this powerless condition - was a hundred times more different than picturing it in my head. And even though she was basically a stranger to me, at this moment, there was an instant bond. A connection that displaced pity with fear. A fear that I could possibly lose the only mother I would have in this life.

In the most quiet way possible, I seated myself on the chair next to her side of the bed. Elliot shushed me with his finger again, a little giggle escaping his lips. That was enough noise to wake my mother, her eyes slowly lifted from her slumber.

"Elliot, when did you get here?" Her voice was raspy, almost inaudible as she gently stroked his cheek.

"Just now. Look, Grandmama." He said and pointed his finger to me. "I brought my friend."

Her eyes traveled to me, and widened when she noticed who I was. I swear I could see a glistening in her eyes as she observed my face.

"Mia, my dear." Her voice cracked at the end, making me feel horrible.