Life Lessons From a Stranger

Her

Hazel woke up to the sound of her mother arguing with his father.

"Look at her, Sarah. She's out of her mind." Her dad said while clenching his teeth.

"She's just sad, that's all," her mother defended her.

"Sad?! We all are but she's mad!" He hissed.

"Watch your mouth, Patrick! She's you daughter," She glared at her husband.

Patrick moved closer to her and put his hands on her shoulder, "This is the third, Sarah. Just send her to the institution."

Sarah was angered by his words, "How can you say that?!"

She stepped away from him, "You are always like this. Avoiding responsibilities. I'm glad I left you." She walked and opened the door for him, "You don't have to come again, and I can take care of my daughter by myself."

Patrick walked out of the room while saying, "You will come begging me one day."

"Don't worry, I have no plan for that," She smiled sarcastically and shut the door.

She walked towards the bed and crossed her hands, "I know you're awake, sit."

Hazel flashed a smile and sat straight, "Hi," she said.

Her mother sighed, "Honey, why did you do that, again? Didn't you promise to stay healthy and go home with me the other day?"

She looked down and clasped her hands. She always do that when she had ran out of words to say or she was trying to tell lies. It was not her intention to make her mother worried about her. She did promise and she was ready to keep it but she saw her again.

Her eyes started teary as she looked at her mother, "I'm sorry," she said.

Her mother held her hands and rubbed it lightly, "Honey, you can't always do this, you know? Do you think she will like it if she knows that you're hurting yourself? You dare leave Mommy be alone in that big house?"

She never intended to hurt herself. She never wanted to make her mother cry. She knew all that but whenever she thought of her, she lost her will, her sanity, and only guilt overwhelmed her. Every time she tried to accept everything, the scenes of that night appeared in front of her again. The only thing she thought she can do was to end all of it, end her guilt and her life.

***

The knock on the door broke the silence in the room. Dr. Amber came in with a nurse. Dr. Amber took the chart at the end of the bed and scanned through it then said a few words to the nurse. The nurse replaced the IV bag, adjusted the drip and then walked out of the room.

Dr. Amber sighed as she spoke, "How are you feeling?"

Hazel felt remorse so she just looked down while answering her, "Good."

Dr. Amber took a chair and sat beside the bed.

"Tell me, Hazel. Why did you break your promise?"