Don't Tell

Breath

Lia walked upstairs. She had left Lana downstairs.
    Lana got defensive about missing her birthday and Lia didn't want to deal with it. Not right now.
    Lia sat on her bed and looked at the wall. She heard a soft Thud and saw the envelopes on the floor.
   Lia picked her up and began to read them.
One struck her eyes.

    Dear Lia,
        My name is Luca.
    I am 16 years old. Your story inspired me to tell you mine. I have been dealing with anorexia and bulimia for a few years now. And hearing what you've gone through is helped me get help. Thank you Lia. Maybe one day I can see you in concert and meet you in real life.
     Sincerely Luka.

Lia set the mail down and smiled. She had to write him back.
    Lia grabbed a pen and paper and began to write.
  She wrote and told him the next time she would perform live. She said she could meet him back stage and said she would try to send him a ticket so he could meet her. She sealed he envelope and set it on the table to send.
     She felt her fever spike and she groaned. Lia knew it was time to take more medication. She walked downstairs and stopped by the couch. Lana's soft crying was heard from the kitchen.
Alex walked out of the kitchen and stopped when she saw Lia. "Lia this isn't fair to your mother." She said softly and grabbed a box of tissues and disappeared into the kitchen again.
Lia looked at the kitchen entrance.
Alex was right. Lia knew it. Lia was a horrid person.
Lia looked at the restroom and walked back upstairs.
She didn't deserve medication. She didn't deserve to get better. Lia didn't deserve anything.
Lia shut her door and laid on her bed. She fell into a dark sleep. Dreamless.
Lia woke up in a cold sweat. She felt extremely warm and her breathing was starting to become labored. Her skin felt like it was on fire and her head was pounding.
Lia sat up and groaned. She was hit with a wave of nausea. She took deep breathes and leaned against the wall.
    She heard soft mumbled from downstairs.
    Lia felt the sharp pain in her chest return. Like it had down to her days before.
     She winced and tried to ignore it.
   Her breathing became harder and heavier and she felt her chest pain grow worse.
    To the point she could hardly move.
    Lia cried out sharply and fell against the bed post.

     Lana heard a yelp from upstairs and stood up. "I'm going to go check on Lia." She said to Alex and walked upstairs.
    She knocked on Lia's door. "Lia? Are you okay?" She asked.
     Lia heard her mother. She didn't say anything. She didn't deserve her mother's help or her love.
    The door opened slowly.
  Lana walked in. "Lia?"
      Lia closed her eye tightly and whimpered softly.
   Lana walked over to the bed and felt her forehead. "Lia you're on fire!" She said. "Lia you're in pain. What hurts?" Lana asked.
   Lia shook her head. "I'm fine." She said breathless.
   Lana looked at her with worry. "Lia you're not fine. I'm your mother. Let me help you."
      Lia looked her mother in the eye. The one person who raised her. Who chose the poor orphan. And said the most horrible thing she has ever uttered. "You're not my mother." Lia said sharply.
      Lana took a step back. "Lia I-"
   "Get out." Lia said. Her voice coated in venom to cover the pain.
    Lana looked at her with confused eyes and worry. "Okay." She said softly and walked out of the room.
      Lia felt a lump in her throat and began to cry. Making her breathing more difficult by the second until she was gasping for air.
    Her body was in pain and she was burning up. Lia didn't even care.
    She cried. Why would she say that to Lana? The sweetest person in the world.
    She felt her breathing cut off entirely.
   Lia tried to get breath in her lungs that cried for air. She began to shake. "Mum!" She cried with the breath she had left.
     She couldn't get any air. Lia's vision started to get spotted.
     Lana hadn't heard her.
   Lia pulled herself off of the bed and pulled herself into the hall.
    Her legs went weak and she fell as she reached the stairs.
    Lia tried to breath. A small amount of air filled her lungs. It was enough. "Mum!" She said In an airy yell. Her breath cut off. Lia felt her heart pound fiercely in her chest. Again no answer.
Lia pulled herself downstairs with her dialing strength. She made it sucking in the amount of breath that she could.
The air cut off entirely. Lia pulled herself onto the floor of the bottom of the stairs and collapsed.
The darkness hit her.

Lia woke on the couch. A cool wash cloth on her head.
She felt air pull into her lungs. Not a lot but enough.
She opened her eyes.
Fred sat beside her with the cloth. "Good you're awake."
Lia winced and looked at him. "Where's-" she closed her mouth knowing she wouldn't have enough air to finish.
"Lana is in the kitchen. She called the doctor and he told her way to do. After you seemed to be in the clear she slipped in. She needs a break." He said pulling the cloth away.
Fred stood up. He walked to the kitchen. His behavior stern and cold.
Lia deserved that.
She felt lay for a few seconds. Then the heat spiked again.
Lia felt her breath speed up. She whimpered and held a hand against her chest.
She felt strong thin hands pull her against her chest as she pulled Lia into her lap. Lana rubbed her daughters back and kissed her forehead. "Deep breath Lia." She said softly.
Lia leaned into her mother's body and took short deep breaths.
Lana rubbed her bag in small circles. "That's it. Good." She whispered.
Lia closed her eyes and clung to Lana's body. "I'm sorry." She said in two short breaths.
Lana pulled her tighter to her. "Shh. We can talk about it later." She heard her say in a numb, right voice.
Lia heard soft steps walk in and sit on the chair.
Lia felt the pounding in her head return stronger.
Lana held her daughter tightly. This wasn't pneumonia. What was wrong?