Bright Eyes

Chapter 3?

I hate going to the hospital. It makes me think that today is the day I'll be crying at my mother's bedside thinking how I could have prevented this. Good thing Sam's text me worried about why I need to come so quickly! I reach my mom's room and see her laying in the hospital bed with her eyes close and Sam sitting next to the window, starring out of it while tears pour down her face. My heart drops. That day I cry is today. Sam notices me, tearing up and smiles.

"You didn't really fall for that, did you?!" she says, standing and walking toward mom's bed. "We're in the clear Mom. You can open your eyes now." At that comment, Mom opens her eyes and adjusts herself into a sitting position.

"You bastards!" I say to them while going to hug Mom.

"Hey don't hate me! It was her idea!" says Sam as she points at Mom.

"What can I say, I got bored and wanted to see my son." Mom says. Excuses, excuses. "I know he wouldn't come unless it was an 'emergency'. What was I supposed to do?"

"How about instead of scaring the crap out of me you let me go to class?"

"All your classes are teaching you is how to draw GOOD stick figures!" she snickers. Mom has always been really supportive of my art ever since I was a kid. Everyday I would draw something for her at school and show her at the end of the day. She would always put it on the refrigerator and keep it there for a week. She not only is supportive of me, but of Sam too. Ever since Sam was in kindergarten, she always wan't to be an actor. She was in every elementary play and once she got into middle school, she singed up for musicals in the local theater. She decided to skip collage and headed straight to New York. There, she was in Broadway productions for what felt every week.

"Aright, all jokes aside, how do you feel?" I ask seriously. 

"I already told you. I feel fine. Everything will go back to normal soon. I can feel it." That tipped me on edge. I was already lied to this morning. I don't want to be lied to by my own mother.

"Mom, you know that's not true," I murmur.

"Alex... shut up," Sam says firmly and I go quiet. But Mom didn't want to let it go.

"What do you mean Alex? Do you NOT want me to get better?"

"Mom, you know that wasn't what I meant..." she interrupts me.

"Well it sure sounded like it. You've been avoiding me since Sam came down from New York."

"You know I've been busy with school work. I'm under a lot of stress."

"And I understand that but.."

"No buts! Don't you remember what it was to be like in college and on top of things, your mother having cancer!" Once I said it, I immediately regretted it. Mom just stared at me with tears welling in her bright blue eyes. How can eyes be so bright while you are sickly pale? The tears leaked onto her cheeks and she looked away. I knew it was time for me to leave. I missed one of my three classes today so I can be more productive. I start to walk out the door when I turn and apologize. It seems like the best thing to do after I broke Mom's heart. I turn back toward the hallway and leave the room in silence.

****

It's been an hour since I came home from my last class when I get a knock on my door. I walk to the door and open it to a pleasant surprise; it was Bella, holding a bottle of wine in one hand and Green Bell ice cream in the other. I texted her what happened after I got out of the hospital.

"You okay. I brought supplies,"Bella says, stepping into apartment.

"Thanks but you know I don't drink."

"That was for me. The ice cream is for you."

"Well in that case you're my savior."

"I'm here for you when you need me. You wanna talk about it?"

"Not really. It would probably make me feel worse."

"That's okay. I have something to ask you instead."

"Shoot."

"WHAT WAS WITH THAT FALL!!! OH MY GOD AND THAT GUY! TOTAL CUTIE!"

"Okay, I didn't do that on purpose."

"I know if you did I would be applauding you." I give her a glance. "What he was cute and totally your type."

"I have a type?"

"You know what I mean! You two looked cute together the way he cradled you in his arms like that."

"First of all, he didn't cradle me, he caught me..."

"TWICE!"

"AND... I looked like a hot mess. I didn't even brush my hair his morning."

"YOU NEVER BRUSH YOUR HAIR!"

"Touche."

"Whatever. Do you have work today?"

"No."

"GREAT! We can do something fun together." I snort.

"Yeah? Like what?"

"We could go to Brundle's"

"You mean you want to go a bar... that I work at... that I have off today?" She looks at me funny and purses her lips.

"Yeah."

"Good luck trying to get me to go."

"C'mon, we never do anything together anymore." I sigh. I can't believe what I'm about to agree on.

"Let me take a shower."