I am so behind my schoolwork and I still have to do three exams that I have missed for being sick for a few days. My chemistry teacher has been nagging me about the exam that I have to do since he said he wants to go over it in class for other students. My friend asked me to come over at her house so we can do our homework together. I said yes but we always end up being distracted but it’s always fun to hang out with her. As the bell rang I head to my locker right away.
“Hey let’s go!” Shelly said while she tries to put on her sweater while walking. We have been friends for years and it seems like I know everything about her.
“Yeah I’m coming” I told her abruptly. I have a handful of homework to bring home. My phone suddenly vibrated and I checked my phone to see my mom text me. “Can you call me? I have something to tell you and your sisters?” I felt my heart beat faster. There is something about the text that makes me really nervous.
“Hey I can’t go to your house today. My mom just text to call her.” I told my friend while rushing out of school.
“About what?” she ask while trying to keep face with me.
“I actually don’t know” I told her. “I’m really sorry, I have to go. It’s probably really important and I have to text my sisters to come home right away” I rushed to the parking lot and went in my car.
I haven’t seen my mom for a year now and we barely talked. My sisters and I moved in with my dad 3 years ago because he wanted us to and my mom can’t take care of us anymore because of financial problem. Me and my aren’t really close its probably because I grew up with my grandparents and when my mom took me back when I was in grade 3 I didn’t really talked to her. Almost everyone says that I look like my mom and I sometimes act like her. My mom is quiet most of the time and seems to think a lot about things.
I parked my car in our driveway and rushed inside to talk to my mom.
“Hey do you have a calling card?” my sister Cleo asked as she open the door for me.
“It’s in my room.” I answered right away. I removed my sweater and went to my room. My sisters are behind me looking really worried.
I grabbed the calling card and start to dial the number. I have a really bad feeling about this and my stomach is churning like never before. I stared in the blank wall while waiting for my mom to answer. The last time I visited her was last year and she seems really weak. Her and my grandparents said that she has a heart problem and been taking medicine since we left. My mom never wants to talk about it and insured us that she is fine. My mom never wants anyone to pity her or even worry about her.
“Hello” my mom’s voice is shaking
“Hey mom what did you want to tell us?” I asked her and I can hear her sniff like she been crying.
“I went to the doctor to get a check up and the doctor said that I might have a cancer” she said and she started crying. I felt like my whole world stop and I could talk or say anything. I looked at my sisters and their eyes are wide. “What’s wrong? What is it?” Elaine grabbed the phone from me.
I couldn’t help it and i started to cry. I screamed out of anger of not being there for her right now. Cleo tries to calm me down but there’s nothing she can do.
“What’s the matter” my dad asks when he heard us crying.
“Our mom might have cancer” Cleo said while reaching out to my dad.
After Elaine finished talking to my mom we all sat down quietly. We sat there for what felt like forever.
“What are we going to do?” Elaine said trembling.
“I don’t know we still have a month and a half of school” Cleo said
“Can’t we just go home to the Philippines? I really want to see her and be there for her” I told them while trying to hold myself together.
“I doubt dad is going to let us leave, you know school is his number 1 priority for us” Cleo said
“Well mom is my number 1 priority right now” I utter.
I really cannot bear the thought of my mom being alone and I don’t want her to go through this without us. I love my mom and even though we weren’t as close I want to I care about her a lot. My mom always seems so strong, she seems like the person who never needs anyone’s help. I barely see her smile but when she does it is the most heart whelming thing I have ever seen. She is really beautiful which is why I am so proud that I look like her. She also has the kindest heart and to imagine that she must be in pain right now kills me inside.
I remember when I was in grade 3 and she wanted me to skip school so that I could spend my birthday with her. I said no because back then I felt betrayed because I felt like she abandoned me before. I didn’t feel close to her and I didn’t really know what to say. My mom looked at me that day with those eyes that always hunts me. She was hurt and I regret that moment. I care about her and I didn’t understand then why my grandparents had to take care of me.
I have asthma and I am really sickly. I am always in the hospital and has to be watched 24/7. My mom has to work and she would leave us. My grandparents of course took care of me and I became really close to them. I love them a lot and I know my mom was hurt when she sees how I close I was with my grandparents and we don’t even talk.
