Heartless

Chapter 18 - Part 25

Involves the song Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran. Contains heartbreak, you have been warned. Also, there will be a part 2 to In Love With My Best Friend but not right now.

Shadow

I place the supermarket flowers on the windowsill

'Mother, it's me, Sharinzah, your daughter.' I called softly, picking up the used goblet from her side.

I threw the day old tea from the cup

I tried so hard not to cry as my mother rambled incoherently, her eyes following me as I cleaned up for her. Guilt was coursing though me for leaving her all those years ago, now she was slowly deteriorating into a soulless husk of her former self. She was latching onto any sign of strength from her scarce visitors, so that's what we all had to do. We had to stay strong.

Packed up the photo album Mathew had made
Memories of a life that had been loved
Took the get well soon cards and stuffed animals
Poured the old ginger beer down the sink

Carefully padding across the cold hard floor, I carried hot tomato soup to my mother, and helped her down it. Tears were constantly pricking at my eyes as I looked at her withered form, frail hands grasping mine with jagged and brittle old claws, broken with age. The dank space had not changed since I left, there were fewer clumps of bedding on the floor, but other than that there was no difference. I suppose it came with an old temple.

Dad always told me "don't you cry when you're down"
But mum there's a tear every time that I blink

Shakily, I ran my hand over my face. My other was being squeezed by my sick mother, who was still gazing intently at me. My older sister, Quinsea, had burst into tears when she saw I was practically an identical version of my mother, in looks and voice. Everyone had wanted to see Zirishalk, the cute little baby of the family. I told them she was sick and couldn't come.

Oh I'm in pieces it's tearing me up but I know
A heart that's broke is a heart that's been loved

'Zirishalk.' Came the weak rasp. 'My favourite daughter. I-I want my daughter.'

I couldn't help it. A sob escaped my lips. Somehow I still loved the cruel cat in front of me, no matter what she did to me in my childhood. All of the punishments I took for my sisters, the scars hidden beneath my fur, they had been inflicted by my mother, yet I still loved her. I loved her enough to leave my life in Skyrim and return to this forsaken place.

So I'll sing Hallelujah
You were an angel in the shape of my mum
When I fell down you'd be there holding me up
Spread your wings as you go

'Do you love me?' She asked.

'Of course, mother. I'll love you unconditionally.' I choked out.

And when God takes you back we'll say
Hallelujah
You're home

Then I heard it.

The slightest little breath of stale air exiting the shell of a mother, and then came the screams. High, cold, foreboding screams of unparalleled pain and despair, melodies of loss and songs of how tired I was of all the sadness. After the screams came the thick, flowing tears, breaking free from amber pools, spilling salt into snowy white fur.

She was gone.

My mother was dead.