When He Noticed Me

Chapter 1

Back to the headboard. Surrounded by pillows and comforters. Breaths so quick and shallow thoughts turned to haze. Eyes adhered to the door directly opposite, seemingly so daunting through the dreary and disheartening shadows of early dawn. The sound of torrential rains pummeling the roof overhead and shaking the sturdy cobblestone walls of the Halston mansion was a deafening crescendo, but not even a hair's breadth similar to the raucous wails of stillness that I wallowed in.

Gods, I wished... 

The silence was devouring my wholeness, so very slowly, leaving me no choice but to feel every single speck of the pain as it burrowed in deeper and deeper... until a tear trickled from the corner of my left eye. I let it be. I couldn't bother myself to remove it. I only bothered to hope that this horrendous tranquility would shatter in defeat to my papa's loving murmur.

It was the twenty-third of December. If papa was still with us, he and Mum would walk into my room through that very closed door at which I was staring, and whisper to me my very first birthday wish with a tender embrace like he always used to do. Then he would welcome Mum into the embrace and whisper- "Happy Birthday... to both my girls..."

So I waited... and waited... waited for a miracle. But what did I get..?

As I rolled onto my side, ripping my gaze away from the door that was never going to reveal the miracle I craved, and soaked my pillows with bitter memories, a loud crash sounded from downstairs.

I sat stark upright, my heart beating wildly as I focused my vision on my door.

I fumbled out of my bed, scattering things from my bedside desk. I wrenched the door open and basically thew myself halfway down the spiral staircase. When I was close enough, I gripped the railing and leapt the side, landing in a crouch on the carpet.

Standing, I turn and make way to the kitchen. 

My heart stops.

"Mum?" I gasp.

Her body twitches slightly against the cold tiles. She lays face down, hair splayed wildly about her head. A large ceramic plate shattered in pieces litters the space around her, and a small stain of blood is visible near her head and hand.

Panic rises like bile within me and I race over to her, not even caring about the dangerous shards I almost cut my feet on.

"Mum!" I cry, gently turning her over and cupping her face in my hands.

"Eve?" A small voice calls, and I freeze.

"Katherine," I say, in a commanding tone. "Pack a bag of clothes, and go through the back door. Go run  to Dylan's house and tell him I sent you to stay the night."

Katherine, hearing my voice, immediately returns to her room to pack as I said.

I return my attention to our mother. She's pale, and a thin layer of sweat covers her face and neck. A trickle of blood starts by the corner of her mouth, and a napkin in her hand, also near the stain on the floor, shows traces of the same red.

"Mum," I sob quietly, shakily pulling her phone from her pocket.

I dial 911.

I cut off the woman who answers.

"8193 Sherring Way, my M- Mum, she's collapsed. Please," I wail. "Help."

The operator asks a few more questions and I mumble my way through them, throwing in the occasional plea. 

I hear the back door slam. 

Soon enough, sirens are loud and nurses are in the kitchen, a stretcher being wheeled in. I help them lift my mother to the stretcher. I head upstairs as they get her situated in the ambulance.

"Can you meet us at the hospital, sweetheart?" A lady asks me.

I nod my head fast, wanting them to get her help as soon as possible. She gives me a grim smile, before rushing out.

On the floor is the napkin that had been clutched in my Mum's hand. I stare a bit at the linen, stained scarlet, but start to move once I hear the ambulance pull away.

I move quickly- seeing, yet not seeing. Hearing, yet completely deaf.

An awkward note rings piercingly in my ears, and the room I'm in shifts in and out of focus.

I find myself stumbling downstairs, a backpack strapped to me firmly. I snatch keys off the counter and leave the house, not bothering to lock the door. I swing myself onto my bike, revving the engine and tearing out of the driveway.

I zoom down streets, weave through the light traffic, running lights and stop signs, until I arrive at the hospital.

I'll pay the damn fines later. It doesn't matter now.

I pull into the lot of the hospital and park haphazardly in a spot that is for E.R. patients. 

I stumble off the bike and force my legs to work until I reach the reception desk. The male sitting there takes in my frazzled appearance.

"Halston? Room 167."

"Thanks," I shout, taking off again.

I run past the elevators, knowing that there are too many other people, and that it'd tale too much longer.

I reach the stair well and pull open the door, taking the steps two or three at a time, finally reaching the eighth floor.

I burst out of the door, nearly ramming into a nurse, then take off down the hallway until I reach her room.

I skid to a stop and take a deep breath, before knocking on the door.

It cracks slightly, and a nurse answers.

"Halston?"

"Yeah." I gasp, shakily and out of breath.

"Come in."

She opens the door wide and I practically jump into the room.

Mum lays on a bed, IVs in her arm and a heart monitor beeping steadily.

I take two large steps, dumping the backpack, and flinging my arms around her.

"Sweetheart?" She calls softly.

"Yes?" I answer.

"I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry." I tell her. "This isn't an ideal birthday."

She lets out a tired laugh.

"Happy birthday."

"You too, Mum."

"Love you, sweetie."

"Love you too, Mum."

~~~

Katherine and I stand hand in hand.

Although we'd aged only a year, it was many in our minds.

Katherine squeezes my hand, and tugs her hand away from mine, placing two single, white roses on the smooth unblemished stone at our feet.

"Happy birthday, Momma."